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US Forces Order of Battle - 23 December

This is a "best available" order-of-battle of forces deployed in CENTCOM's part of Southwest Asia, as well as EUCOM forces in Turkey participating in Operation Northern Watch. Even prior to September 11, 2001, the amount of publicly available information concerning aircraft types and specific units has diminished to the point that it is no longer possible to provide a high fidelity profile of current deployments. There are evidently significant gaps in unit identifications, as well as non-trivial uncertainties as to numbers of specific types of aircraft. The presence of significant numbers of civilian contractor personnel at various facilities in the region further complicates accounting for total personnel numbers.

Excluding forces deployed in direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom, there are probably about 52,000 military personnel in the CENTCOM area of responsibility, including about 400 aircraft of all types. The number of troops deployed in the area fluctuates on a daily basis, and has averaged between 20,000 and 25,000 in recent years, with typically about 200 aircraft in the region. Forces in the region include a mix of special operations forces deployed in support of US Central Command operations. To enhance force protection throughout the region, additional military security personnel are also deployed.

Ground forces include a variety of units that are normally deployed in the region, which total about 3,700 troops. Forces in the region include a Patriot missile task force with two batteries deployed in Saudi Arabia and two in Kuwait. The Army Intrinsic Action / Desert Spring training exercises routinely deploy 1,500 to 5,000 troops for rotations of several months. As of early-December 2002 a brigade rotation was virtually complete. Nearly all of the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division had returned to the United States, though comments made by 3rd Division officials to the press have made it clear that the 3rd BDE could redeploy to the region if so ordered. It is believed that the total Army presence in the region is nearly 10,000 soldiers.

The US Air Force's Expeditionary Air and Space Force (EAF) concept and organization sets a guideline for Air Force deployments to operational locations. The EAF is comprised of 10 Aerospace Expeditionary Forces (AEF) each with lead combat and support wings including on-call wings that could be deployed if required. Deployments for active duty units lasts roughly 90-days while Reserve and Guard units deploy typically for 30 - 60 days. Generally one AEF is assigned to Operation Southern Watch and one is assigned to Northern Watch. AEF 7 and AEF 8 units deployed beginning in late November and will remain until the end of February 2003.

The EUCOM Area of Responsibility includes approximately 1,700 Air Force personnel at Incrilik AB Turkey, flying Operation Northern Watch patrols (Though there are roughly 4,000 people at Incirlik in general). Prior to Operation Enduring Freedom, approximately 6,200 Air Force personnel were normally stationed in the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility. As many as 17,500 Air Force personnel may be currently stationed in the CENTCOM and EUCOM areas responsible for operations against Iraq, operating a total of about 280 aircraft of all types.

Naval units include a headquarters and shore-based units comprised of about 1,200 people at Manama in Bahrain. Nearly a thousand civilian mariners are associated with Military Sealift Command ships at Diego Garcia. During the 1990s overall Naval force personnel levels in the CENTCOM AOR typically varied between 8,000 and 15,000. Each Carrier Battlegroup, with its associated Carrier Air Wing, has approximately 11,000 sailors embarked. Each Amphibious Group has about 1,700 sailors, 1,500 Marines, and 700 Marine aviators embarked. As of mid-to-late December 2002 there was one carrier battle group in the area, and one amphibious group, for a total of around 14,000 naval personnel. These units included about 128 helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. A total of about 446 Vertical Launch System cells are available for Tomahawk cruise missiles, which is roughly twice the average number typically deployed in recent years. Based on estimates of prior deployments, perhaps as many as 150 Tomahawks are actually deployed. The cruise missile force can be augmented significantly within days.

Currently, there are about 370 combatant and direct support aircraft in the Iraq [CENTCOM and EUCOM] Area of Responsibility, which total includes air to air, air to ground, dual role, direct support, and attack helicopters.

Note: While this listing is dated, one should keep in mind that the page is often edited numerous times during a particular edition, sometimes daily. One should visit the page often to get the most up-to-date listing of affairs.

Recent Developments

A report from Knight Ridder dated December 20, 2002 indicates that the USNS Pilalaau (TAKR 304) was loading equipment in Beaumont, Texas on December 19, 2002. While it is not clear what the Pililaau was carrying, Beaumont is the port of embarkation for the 1st Cavalry Division and for the 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized). It is unclear whether or not these units have received an alert and are preparing to deploy, as they are primarily tasked for operations in Korea, though the 1st Cavalry is part of the secondary force package for CENTCOM.

Furthermore, the same Knight Ridder story reported that the USNS Yano (TAKR 297) would be loading equipment on or about December 20 at Charleston, S.C. The report speculates that the equipment being loaded belongs to the 3rd Infantry Division.

Additionally, the Washington Post reports in a story dated December 20, 2002 that the USNS Watson (TAKR 310) and the USNS Charlton (TAKR 314) both sailed into the Persian Gulf since December 10, 2002. Both of these units are part of the afloat prepositioning squadron located at Diego Garcia.

In light of this information, the Order of Battle has been edited to reflect that elements of the 2x2 Brigade Set and the 1x1 Brigade set at Diego Garcia have been relocated to Kuwait.

This would bring the total number of brigade sets located in Southwest Asia to at least 6 possibly as much as 7 or 8 due to recent shipments from the United States. This roughly enough equipment for 2-3 Divisions.

Florida news sources began reporting on December 18, 2002 that two units of the Florida Army National Guard were alerted to prepare for a possible mobilization and deployment. The units, the 2-124 Infantry and 3-124 Infantry Regiments. These units are aligned with the 24th Infantry Division and the XVIII Airborne Corps, units that are both Force Packaged for the CENTCOM AOR. While it is unclear if these units will particate in an upcoming war with Iraq, (or even activated) it is a possibility.

An Associated Press story dated December 17, 2002 quotes troops based in Djibouti at Camp Lemonier that are from the 101st Airborne Division. That unit has been identified as the 551st Military Police Company, and element of the 716th Military Police Battalion.

The Constellation Battle Group arrived in the AOR of the 5th Fleet on December 14, 2002. She and the units attached to the battle group have been added to the listing. Navy documents dated December 18, 2002 place the Constellation as being in the Persian Gulf.

The USS Abraham Lincoln and her Battle Group have departed the Persian Gulf and are currently in the Indian Ocean transiting back to the United States. Her listing on the Order of Battle is being removed.

The USS Harry S Truman and her battle group arrived in the Mediterranean recently and is believed to be operating in the central Med.

For up-to-date information on the current carrier situation visit our Where Are the Carriers? page.

On December 15, 2002 the BBC and other media sources in the United Kingdom reported that the HMS Ark Royal, a destroyer, a frigate, and a submarine will be departing for the Persian Gulf after the New Year. This deployment has been previously scheduled, though the task force was headed to the Far East. It is not clear whether or not her ultimate destination has changed, but reports indicate that her schedule has been moved up so that she would be available for a potential war in Iraq.

On December 18, 2002 reports surfaced from the British press, that UK Ministry of Defence began contracting roll-on, roll-off vessels to transport armour and equipment from the Isles and locations in Germany.

The HMS Argyll was replaced by the HMS Cardiff for the UK Armilla Patrol on November 1, 2002. Thanks to Andre Guthardt of Germany for pointing out the correction.