Enterprise F/A-18s Strike Enemy Mortar Position in Iraq

Navy News Stand ^ | Jan.12, 2004

[EggsAckley]

Wow! I don't know why, but this picture is really powerful!

[brazucausa]

Nice Pictures.

[SamAdams76]

I think it is a very good thing that our warplanes are on the offensive against our enemies. These are quick and agile planes and they pack a powerful punch.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

ABOARD USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea (NNS) -- Strike fighter aircraft from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1, flying from the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) in the North Arabian Gulf, attacked an enemy mortar position near Balad, Iraq, north of Baghdad, Jan. 9, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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JDAM, ping!

[SeeRushToldU_So]

Sounds like we did a little practice and sent a little message.

A ton of high explosives might do that to surviors and by bystanders.

[camas]

that should put the fear in the hearts of some @#$%$#@s

[Severa]

Hey I live quite close to NAS Oceana. Sights like that are an everyday thing. Never gets old either, especially to my 4 yr old son. :)

[xzins]

Hearts and minds campaign

Your heart is over here and your mind is way over there.

[pointsal]

Because major TOOLS are on display

[misanthrope]

The BIG "E" is one hell of an old warhorse. I boarded her just before she put to sea after a major refit at Bremerton Wa. in '81. Spent four years cruisin' the WestPac.

I'd surely love to spend a week on her now!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Sometimes they switch places and get together occasionally, lol.

[NonValueAdded]

From the Enterpirse I'd expect Photon Torpedoes or at least Phasers on stun. (Sorry, this was obligatory wasn't it?)

[dagar]

Yep, and "I love jet noise" bumper stickers are everywhere

[mystery-ak]

ping

[Gumption]

I think this one was strictly a "mind" campaign.

[Severa]

*points to her husband's car where there's said bumper sticker* But of course. :) Along with the submarine stickers. Makes for a great conversation piece.

[xzins]

LOL.

Nothing like precision bombing to change even the most resistant of minds.

[Always A Marine]

After reading the headline Enterprise F/A-18s Strike Enemy Mortar Position in Iraq, my first reaction was surprise that a NAVY squadron actually hit such a small target in a Close Air Support (CAS) mission. "It must have been an embarked Marine Corps squadron," speculated I.

How wrong I was! VFA-86 are the Sidewinders -- a Navy squadron. But my skepticism was half rewarded when I noticed that VFA-86 has been homeported for the past three years at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, SC. The jarheads have obviously had a good influence on their Navy cousins! Sierra Hotel...

[mark502inf]

Probably just a training run. Guaranteed there are no Iraqi mortar guys hanging around long enough for an airplane to get there--notice that the target is described as a "position". Unlikely that we will need air support in Iraq, not sufficiently responsive or precise in small unit warfare, particularly with a lot of civvies around. But you never know and, so it is important to rehearse the comms and coordination & terminal procedures every now and then.