6 Feb (continuing) during OPERA~ON DESERT STORM. USS GERMANTOWN (I-SD-42) and 30 other amphibious ships arrive in the Arabian Gulf with5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade embarked. USS GERMANTOWN also embarked four air cushion landing craft (LcAC) for combat operations ashore, a first in Navy history. Naval maritime intercept operations continue with over 7,100 merchants challenged, over 860 ships boarded, and 40 diverted. Marines and other troops continue ground maneuvers, and there have been numerous Iraqi reconnaissance probes. Contact has been minimal. To-date, there have been 35 U.S. fatalities: 12 KIA, 23 Non-Combat Fatali- ties; 11 WUA; 24 MIA (6 Navy, 1 USMC); 2 Missing; 8 PO;W (2.Navy, 2 USMC). U.S. troop strength is approximately 503,000, other coalition forces exceed 205,000. 32 nations have forces in place supporting OPERA~ON DESERT STORM (Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, China, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kuwait, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Spain, Syria, United Arab Emirates, United King- dom, United States). The U.S. has lost 23 aircraft (15 fixed-wing in combat, 3 fixed-wing in non- combat mishaps, 5 helicopters lost in non-combat). Coalition has lost 9 aircraft. 33 Iraqi aircraft and 3 helos have been shot down in air-to- air engagements with no U.S. losses. 7 Feb DOD announces that 52,000 sorties have been flown (2,600 today). Objec- tive continues to be interdiction of Iraqi resupply, with over 600 sorties targeting bridges, highways, and railroad lines. Other air-to- ground targets are hit including Republican Guard and other Iraqi forces, command and control facilities and communication lines. Two USN F-14s of USS RANGER's Fighter Squadron Qne downed a MI-8 helo with an AIM-9M Sidewinder missile, a combat first. USN A-6s attacked and heavily damaged 2 Iraqi patrol boats in the northern gulf near the Al Faw peninsula. Using Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV) for spotting, USS WISCONSIN pounded Iraqi artillery, electronic warfare and naval sites with its 16- inch guns. 50 rounds sunk or severely damaged 15 boats, destroyed piers at Khawr al-Mufattah Marina. 19 rounds also fired at artillery and missile sites. USS BIDDLE (CG-34) diverts freighter in North Red Sea. Two F-15s intercepted 3 Iraqi SU-22s transiting to Iran, all were shot down. An A-10 downed a BO-iS helo. Iraq fires a SCUD missile at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Intercepted and de- stroyed by U.S. Patriot missile. No injuries or damage. SECDEF Dick Cheney and cJCS General Colin Powell depart to Saudi Arabia for military assessment of OPERA~ON DESERT STORM. SECNAV activates 528 additional Naval Reservists from 57 units. A-29
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