Story by JO1 (SW) Daniel A. Bristol
At 6:30 a.m. on Jan. 28, Troubleshooter 615 a HH-60 Seahawk helicopter lifts off from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) somewhere in the Arabian Gulf marking the start of another long day. Unlike plane guard, search and rescue or anti submarine warfare, this mission is slightly different. This particular crew is tasked with flying missions in support of British Coalition troops in southeastern Iraq.
In October 2005 shortly after the aircraft carrier arrived in theater to support Maritime Security Operations and Operation Iraq Freedom, the "Tridents" of Helicopter Squadron (HS) 3 continued the Blue Shark Mission relieving Helicopter Squadron (HS) 7 on board USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).
In the morning before the sun even has a chance to rise, a team of two pilots, one crew chief and two aircrew gunmen of the HS-3 squadron receive their mission brief on board TR and prepare to begin their day flying in the helicopter. HS-3 patrols the inland waterways and southeastern Iraq as part of the Blue Shark Mission, which supports the British Armed Forces in Iraq.
The original Blue Shark Mission began approximately two years ago with Helicopter Squadron (HS) 5 on board USS George Washington (CVN 73). HS-5 started the mission patrolling the waterways and the oil pipelines. When HS-3 assumed the mission, it was expanded to patrolling and assisting the British Soldiers with their peace keeping missions in the area of Iraq known as Multi-National Division Southeast (MND SE).
"The British Army requested us to augment their helicopter support to boost coalition efforts," said Cmdr. Thomas Fitzgerald, HS-3 commanding officer.
MND SE covers the southeastern part of Iraq and the inland waterways, and HS-3 patrols the area as well as the oil pipelines within the area including the two oil platforms; Al Basra Oil Terminal (ABOT) and Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal (KAAOT). HS-3 augments Joint Helicopter Force (JHF), which is comprised of the British Army, the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force, the Royal Marines and the Danish Army.
"They have been an invaluable help, providing us with the extra capacity to carry out more missions such as airborne vehicle checkpoints and security flights," said Sgt. Liam Clarke, Flight Operations Manager, Royal Air Force.
According to Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 1st Class William Rush, on a typical day, the HS-3 team will fly two to three missions with the British.
"We provide personnel transportation for the British as well as aerial support while the British Soldiers perform vehicle inspections at random intersections throughout the area," said Rush. "The crew keep a watchful eye from the helicopter while providing convoy escorts for troops traveling through the area on their way north."
Fitzgerald said HS-3 personnel act as plane guards around TR, and the Blue Shark Mission provides them a chance to do something different.
"Our guys like it," said Fitzgerald. "It's a change of pace for our guys, and it's interesting because we're helping the British Army."
According to Rush, most of the time the locals are just curious about why the helicopters are there. "Most of the time, this area is very calm, and it isn't as hostile as the northern parts of Iraq."
"One of the challenges in this mission is the British maps are a little different from our maps, so it took some time to get use to them," said Rush.
He said he enjoys helping and feels like what HS-3 is doing makes a difference.
"I was here during the elections a couple weeks ago," said Rush. "We had the troops from the Royal Irish Regiment with us, and we were helping to keep the population calm. We are actually helping the troops on the ground, and we have a hand in helping Iraq become a free country."
| Date Taken: | 01.29.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 01.31.2006 09:09 |
| Story ID: | 5252 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 95 |
| Downloads: | 6 |
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