US Navy goes into battle mode

ALAN PERROTT reports on the awesome naval firepower of a nation wounded, but notes it will not find Afghanistan to be an easy target.

The United States Navy is gradually slipping from public view as it assembles a fighting force within striking distance of Afghanistan and terrorist Osama bin Laden.

The carrier battle group led by the USS Carl Vinson is stationed in the Gulf, but has closed down all public information on its location.

A website which normally provides a fix on the aircraft carrier's position has been shut down, the crew has been placed on a news blackout, and outgoing e-mails have been banned.

The carrier and its associated warships recently arrived in the Gulf to relieve the USS Enterprise which had been heading home, but is now stationed in the Indian Ocean.

The USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) is the flagship of Carrier Group Three under the command of Captain Bruce Clingan.

The $US3.9 billion Nimitz-class carrier has a crew of about 5500 and 75 aircraft of the Carrier Air Wing 1.

The wing includes six squadrons: VF-213 Black Lions, HS-6 Indians, VFA-22 Redcocks, VFA-94 Mighty Shrikes, VRC-30 Providers and VAW-117 Wallbangers. The mix of squadrons allows the carrier to operate a wide variety of missions.

The sharp end of this arsenal comes from the Black Lions, which fly F-14 Tomcat fighters and the Redcocks, Mighty Shrikes and Warhawks flying F/A-18 Hornet fighter and attack aircraft.

The Indians fly SH-60 Seahawk helicopters, the Dragonflies fly S-3B Viking anti-submarine and armed scout aircraft, the Wallbangers operate E-2C Hawkeye tactical warning and control system aircraft, and the Black Ravens fly EA-6B Prowler electronic warfare aircraft.

Airborne supplies are provided by the Providers and their C-2A Greyhound cargo aircraft.

The Carl Vinson is accompanied by eight cruisers which act as escorts, several carry cruise missiles which could be launched at targets within Afghanistan.

The USS Enterprise (CVN 65) is the flagship of the Fifth Fleet which is usually stationed in the Gulf.

The Fifth Fleet includes 14 ships, including the carrier, a guided missile cruiser, 4 destroyers, a submarine and 8 support vessels.

The carrier is host to Carrier Air Wing Eight which includes a similar makeup of squadrons as the Carl Vinson.

The USS Enterprise's home website is at present shut down.

The Pentagon has announced that many military websites have been closed or are "under repair" for security reasons.

As well as the carrier-based firepower many land-based military units have been stationed throughout the Gulf since the Gulf War.

Land-based units, including about 25,000 troops, are stationed in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, their ongoing presence is said to be one of the reasons bin Laden hates the United States.

America also operates a military base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. All official military websites associated with the island base have been shut down.

Lined up against these forces is Afghanistan's ruling Muslim Government, the Taleban, which boasts about 45,000 battle-hardened troops and a motley collection of tanks and aircraft.

They are armed with American Stinger shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles which proved successful against Russian helicopters during the Soviet invasion. The Stingers were provided by the CIA.

Unfortunately, despite their apparently overwhelming capabilities, the US and its allies have chosen a difficult nut to crack.

Afghanistan is landlocked with borders 1600km from any ocean and is surrounded by nations either hostile to the US such as Iran, or others such as Russia which are unused to co-operating militarily with the west.

Diplomatic niceties require the US to get permission from neighbouring countries for use of their airspace for attacking missiles or aircraft.

Auckland University political studies lecturer Dr Steve Hoadley said Iran was an historic enemy of Afghanistan, but would still find it difficult to assist the country they love to call the "Great Satan". Iran is also predominantly Shi'ite Muslim while Afghanistan is Sunni.

Pakistan is a more likely ally and provides the shortest route from the Arabian Sea to Afghanistan.

Unfortunately, the US used this route in its last missile attack against bin Laden and told the Pakistan Government afterwards, an act Dr Hoadley said helped in the collapse of Pakistan's previous democratically elected Government.

While the Pakistan Government has announced it will assist with any action against its neighbour, Dr Hoadley said this may be used only as a last resort after all other options have failed.

Map: Opposing forces in the war against terror

Pictures: Day 1 | Day 2

Brooklyn Bridge live webcam

Video

The fatal flights

Emergency telephone numbers for friends and family of victims and survivors

United Airlines

: 0168 1800 932 8555

American Airlines

: 0168 1800 245 0999

NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

: 0800 872 111

US Embassy in Wellington (recorded info): 04 472 2068

Victims and survivors