Operation Iraqi Freedom
The Coast Guard:
Participated in maritime interception operations and coastal security patrols along with U.S Navy and coalition naval forces, enforcing U.N. sanctions prior to hostilities and preventing the movement of Iraqi military forces, or equipment following the commencement of hostilities. These patrols resulted in:
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Identification and seizure of cargoes prohibited by U.N. sanctions by Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell.
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First capture of maritime enemy prisoners of war by Coast Guard Cutter Adak.
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Coast Guard Patrol Boats and Law Enforcement Detachments aided in the interception and seizure of Iraqi mine laying vessels, ensuring that waterways were not threatened and relief ships with their vital aid cargoes could safely reach the key port of Umm Qasr.
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Law Enforcement Detachment 205 located a large cache of Iraqi military equipment and weapons hidden in coastal caves in Southern Iraq.
Provided port security in Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq; including the escort of humanitarian aid shipments into the port of Umm Qasr.
Provided security to Iraqi oil terminals located in the North Arabian Gulf. These facilities are vital to economic recovery in Post-Saddam Iraq.
Provided Maritime Environmental Response expertise in the event of acts of maritime environmental terrorism.
Conducted a navigational survey of the Khor Abd Allah River flowing up to Umm Qasr. Coast Guard Cutter Walnut inspected the poor condition and position of navigational aids -- such as buoys -- and then replaced and corrected the aids to navigation in order to allow for the safe navigation of the river for military, humanitarian and commercial vessels.
Units Deployed
At the height of operations, there were 1250 Coast Guard personnel deployed, including about 500 reservists. This included two large cutters, a buoy tender, eight patrol boats, four port security units, law enforcement detachments and support staff to the Central (CENTCOM) and European (EUCOM) Command theaters of operation, as detailed below.
378-foot high endurance cutters
USCGC Boutwell
(WHEC 719) – homeport: Alameda, Calif. (CENTCOM)
USCGC Dallas (WHEC 716) – homeport: North Charleston, S.C. (EUCOM)
225-foot seagoing buoy tender
USCGC Walnut (WLB 205) – homeport: Honolulu, Hawaii (CENTCOM)
110-foot patrol boats
USCGC Wrangell
(WPB 1332) – homeport: South Portland, Maine (CENTCOM)
USCGC Adak (WPB 1333) – homeport: Sandy Hook, N.J. (CENTCOM)
USCGC Aquidneck (WPB 1309) – homeport: Atlantic Beach, N.C. (CENTCOM)
USCGC Baranof (WPB 1318) – homeport: Miami, Fla. (CENTCOM)
USCGC Grand Isle (WPB 1338) – homeport: Gloucester, Mass. (EUCOM)
USCGC Bainbridge Island (WPB 1343) – homeport: Sandy Hook, N.J. (EUCOM)
USCGC Pea Island (WPB 1347) – homeport: St. Petersburg, Fla. (EUCOM)
USCGC Knight Island (WPB 1348) – homeport: St. Petersburg, Fla. (EUCOM)
Port Security Units
Port Security
Unit 305, home base: Hampton Roads, VA (EUCOM)
Port Security Unit 307, home base: St. Petersburg, FL (EUCOM)
Port Security Unit 308, home base: Gulfport, MS (EUCOM)
Port Security Unit 309, home base: Cleveland, OH (EUCOM)
Port Security Unit 311, home base: San Pedro, CA (CENTCOM)
Port Security Unit 313, home base: Tacoma, WA (CENTCOM)
Tactical Law Enforcement Teams
Detachments from Chesapeake, Va.; Miami, Fla.; and San Diego, Calif. (CENTCOM)
Support Staff
Patrol Boat Support
Squadron Staff (CENTCOM)
Patrol Boat Support Squadron Staff (EUCOM)
Others
Personnel assigned to
Naval Coastal Warfare Group One (CENTCOM)
Personnel assigned to Harbor Defense Command Unit 114 (CENTCOM)
13 members of the National Strike Force (CENTCOM)
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