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Guardians of the Gulf: The Coast Guard in Operation Iraqi Freedom. First Overseas Combat Deployment of USCG Patrol Boats Since Vietnam Response to a Request for Forces from Central Command Depth of water in Northern Arabian Gulf Placed Limitations on Reach of Larger Naval Combatants
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Guardians of the Gulf: The Coast Guard in Operation Iraqi Freedom • First Overseas Combat Deployment of USCG Patrol Boats Since Vietnam • Response to a Request for Forces from Central Command • Depth of water in Northern Arabian Gulf Placed Limitations on Reach of Larger Naval Combatants • No Navy Patrol Boat Capability
USCG Forces in the Northern Arabian Gulf • 4 110-Foot WPBs • USCGC BOUTWELL • USCGC WALNUT • 2 LEDETs • 3 Port Security Units
March 20th: Initial Combat Operations • Commenced Early Morning • Al Faw Peninsula • Gas and Oil Platforms
WPBs and PSUs Support GOPLATS Operations • ADAK (WPB 1333) • BARANOF (WPB 1318)
Capturing Iraqi Maritime POWs • Crew of Destroyed Iraqi PB-90 • Three Republican Guard Warrant Officers
Mission Success • PSUs • WPBs • PATFORSWA • WALNUT • BOUTWELL