From: CMSgt Mike Bergman <bergman@afnews.pa.af.mil>
Subject: Navy Supports Operation Southern Watch
Organization: Hq Air Force News Agency/SCC
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 17:32:09 GMT


From CMSgt Mike Bergman <bergman@afnews.pa.af.mil>

SW15.  NAVY SUPPORTS OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH
By SSgt. Virginia Cadena
Joint Task Force - Southwest Asia Public Affairs
     USS RANGER -- Coalition forces continue to support Operation Southern
Watch enforcing the no-fly zone over Iraq south of the 32nd parallel.
     "The operation to date is a resounding success," said Lt. Gen. Michael J.
Nelson, commander of the Joint Task Force Southwest Asia.
     "There have been no intrusions by Iraqi aircraft south of the 32nd
parallel, and monitoring of ground activities are accomplished every day
without interference," he said.
     Monitoring ground activities over Southern Iraq are aircraft assigned to
the San Diego-based USS Ranger, which came on station in mid-September.  The
aircraft carrier also provides combat air patrols in support of United Nations
Security Resolution 688.
     Having no limit to their movement as long as they remain in international
waters, the Ranger can place itself within miles of Southern Iraq.  Her
aircraft work hand-in-hand with other coalition forces, including those from
the U.S. Air Force.
     "We fly with the Air Force virtually every day, said Navy Capt. Don
Brown, commander of Carrier Air Wing No. 2.  "We use their tanker support
every day, and on many occasions we are integrated into their packages that
actually fly over Iraq."
     An integral part of the Ranger's makeup is its air wing, which consists
of eight squadrons with specific missions.
     With a sortie completion rate nearing 100 percent, missing a sortie is a
rarity on the Ranger -- but it takes about 5,000 people to make that happen.
     As the main part of the battle group supporting Operation Southern Watch,
the Ranger sails with support and supply ships.  The 11-ship battle group
includes the USS Chosin, a guided-missile cruiser from Pascagoula, Miss.
     Considered a protector of aircraft battle groups, the Chosin counters
hostile aircraft and missiles -- and is complemented by advanced
anti-submarine, anti-surface and strike warfare capabilities.
     Last to come aboard the Navy inventory, the Chosin was commissioned in
January 1991, and provides protection for the USS Ranger, which retires in
mid-December.
     Although it has a much smaller crew of 400 people, they are a tightly
knit group.
     "Knowing this is a volatile part of the world makes this crew work
together," said the ship's commander, Navy Capt. Martin J. Mayer.
     "Our people work and train extremely hard, and now that we're faced with
real world threats -- we are ready."
     Continuing its presence in the Gulf, the Navy will replace the Ranger's
air operations in support of Operation Southern Watch with a carrier that has
yet to be named.


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