WITH THE I MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE IN DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM 25 The proximity of Iraqi forces in Kuwait added an element of unpredictability that gave Imminent Thunder actual as well as simulated combat conditions. General Boomer told his command that he wanted clear thinking from them. He warned it not to let any Iraqi misstep `~snowball out of control.~' He wanted to ensure that the allies, not Saddam Hussein, controlled the future agenda. Central Command was concerned as well. To remove any possibility of provocation and to reduce the exposure of amphibious shipping to missile threats, General Schwarzkopf moved the proposed landing site at Ras Al Mishab (Mishab), located 50 kilometers south of the Kuwait border, a further 97 kilometers southeast to Ras Al Gbar.* Imminent Thunder was a five-phased CentCom-sponsored event. Marine forces participated in each phase. During Phase I, the focus for I MEF was the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing's support of the D-Day air tasking order (ATO). Objectives were to validate the air tasking order while using the Airborne Command and Control Center (ABCCC) on board a Lockheed EC-130E Hercules aircraft. This included exercising the interface with the Marine Air Command and Control System (MACCS) and its Direct Air Support Center (DASC) which coordinated all offensive air operations within the MarCent area of operations. Phase II involved amphibious operations for the purpose of testing fire support coordination `deconfliction" procedures within the amphibious objective area and MarCent sectors during the assault. At the same time, MarCent's ability to provide air support to NavCent during pre-assault and amphibious assault operations was evaluated. Unfortunately, Vice Admiral Mauz was forced to cancel most of the amphibious portions of the exercise for safety reasons because of high seas. Phase III concentrated on linkup and reinforcement operations. MarCent forces participated fully and the many training goals reflected both current and future operations. They included fire support coordination, particularly close air Support procedures, combined training with Saudi forces, exercise of the MEF defense plan including rear area security, employment of surge air operations, mass casualty evacuation, linkup and passage of lines, Direct Air Support Center coordination with the Airborne Command and Control Center, and integration and "deconfliction" of combined arms in the defense. During Phase III there was also a historic employment of Marine aviation as a maneuver element using a concentration of Bell AH-lW Sea Cobra attack helicopters dubbed Task Force Cunningham. From General Boomer's perspective, the employment of attack helicopters as a maneuver element was an experiment. The concept had been put forth by the assistant wing commander, Brigadier General Granvilie "Granny" R. Amos, who had led the Marine air assault at Grenada in 1983, and Lieutenant Colonel Michael M. Kurth, the commanding officer of Marine Light Helicopter Attack Squadron 369. Both bad ~This location is not to be confused with the site of the Ras A' Ghar desalinization plants south of Jubayl.First Page | Prev Page | Next Page | Src Image |