- Title: AT SEA: USS BOXER LHD-4 AN AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT SHIP PREPARES FOR WAR AGAINST IRAQ.
- Date: 15th March 2003
- Summary: (W4) AT SEA, NORTHERN ARABIAN GULF (MARCH 15, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. AERIAL OF USS BOXER AT SEA 0.07 2. LAS: CH-46 E SEA KNIGHT LANDING ON USS BOXER. 0.15 3. MV: PERSONNEL ON FLIGHT DECK. 0.18 4. VARIOUS: OF SEA KNIGHT LANDING. (4 SHOTS) 0.33 5. MLV: INTERIOR FLIGHT CONTROL TOWER. 0.38 6. VARIOUS: USS PERSONNEL WRITING NOTES. (3 SHOTS) 0.50 7. MV: USS BOXER CAPTAIN ON BRIDGE. 0.55 8. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) USS BOXER CAPTAIN AND COMANDING OFFICER, CAPTAIN THOMAS CROWLEY, SAYING "There's always been a potential that we were not going to be able to achieve the results of the U.N. sanctions peacefully. So it wouldn't be surprising if it came to conflict." 1.10 9. HAS/MLV: USS BOXER PERSONNEL DRIVING ENGINE TOWARDS PLANE. (2 SHOTS) 1.17 10. VARIOUS: OF USS BOXER PERSONNEL WORKING ON ENGINE INSIDE PLANE. (2 SHOTS) 1.29 11. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) MARINES COMMANDER ABOARD USS BOXER, COLONEL STUART KNOLL, SAYING "We were ready when we got here and the whole trick nowis to remain ready. You know, when you sit out in certain places for a long period of time it is difficult to maintain your motivation." 1.45 12. VARIOUS: OF MARINES AND NAVY WORKING OUT IN THE GYM. (4 SHOTS) 2.22 13. CU: BOOK TITLE 'THE MAN KZIN WARS' 2.26 14. CU: MAN WORKING OUT. 2.30 15. GV: SUNSET BEHIND SEA KNIGHT ON FLIGHT DECK. 2.33 16. GV: WARSHIP AT SEA AT SUNSET. 2.38 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 30th March 2003 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: AT SEA, NORTHERN GULF
- Country: AT SEA
- Reuters ID: LVA4CVS2D67504OVMXIYVRCXJHF5
- Story Text: U.S. Marines and Navy crews in the Northern Arabian
Gulf have completed their preparations for a possible war
against Iraq and one of the commanders says its hard to keep
their motivation going but that they are ready to go to
battle.
The USS Boxer LHD-4 is an amphibious assault ship
currently carrying 2,000 Marines who will provide assault
support for land, air and sea troops building up in the Gulf
in preparation for a war against Iraq.
It is a small aircraft carrier for CH-53 Super Stalions
and CH-46 Sea Knights both of which can carry heavy weaponry
and equipment and marines. The Sea Knight, knicknamed 'the
frog' by the forces because of its appearance, can also
evacuate casualties.
Other carriers used by the marines would have Super
Cobras, Hueys, command and control crafts and F-18s which
would carry out air to air attacks, C-130 Hercules which
provide refuelling platforms and Harrier jets for air to
surface assault.
The USS Boxer's primary mission is to provide assault
support as well as medevac facilities.
It sailed from San Diego two months ago with 6 other Navy
warships and has effectively ended all its preparation.
USS Boxer Commanding Officer Thomas Crowley said he would
not be surprised if there was an attack on Iraq.
"There's always been a potential that we were not going to
be able to achieve the results of the UN sanctions peacefully.
So it wouldn't be surprising if it came to conflict," says
Crowley said.
Marines Commander Colonel Stuart Knoll has other concerns.
The longer the ship and its aircrafts are out at sea the more
likely they are to go wrong and one of the main activities
aboard the Boxer is to constantly carry out repairs and
maintain the aircrafts some of which have seen action as far
back as the Vietnam war.
Men regularly work on the Stallions and the Knights and
sometimes have to replace the entire engines to keep them
working. This kind of work is part of the ongoing preparations
for war.
Another one of Colonel Knoll's worry is that the forces
are sitting and waiting for something to happen which he says
is not good for their motivation.
Although he is confident that the Marines aboard the USS
Boxer will perform admirably in conflict he says it is crucial
to work hard on keeping everyone alert.
"We were ready when we got here and the whole trick now is
to remain ready. You know, when you sit out in certain places
for a long period of time it is difficult to maintain your
motivation," Knoll said.
But there are few activities aboard the ship other than
work. Many of the Marines and their fellow Navy forces work
out at the gym. There are few lounges or televisions on the
ship and most relax after dinner by playing cards or dominos.
Lights go out at 6pm but only smokers, pilots and deck
personnel can see the Arabian sunset. There are few windows in
this carrier and only top officers get the privilege of a
view.
U.S. President George Bush is due to meet with his British
and Spanish counterparts on Sunday (March 16) in the Azores
for talks on the possibility of an attack on Iraq.
Forces based in the region have now entered the sitting
and waiting game as politicians worldwide look for ways of
either provoking or averting a war.
They will keenly listen to the outcome of Sunday's meeting
which has been billed as a last chance for diplomacy.
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