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Appendix G: Naval Gunfire Support

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APPENDIX G
NAVAL GUNFIRE SUPPORT

 

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BATTLESHIP NAVAL GUNFIRE SUPPORT (NGFS) IN OPERATION DESERT STORM

The battleships WISCONSIN and MISSOURI contributed significantly to DESERT STORM in providing naval gunfire support for troops ashore. Their unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) gave them unique reconnaissance capabilities that were extensively used. The two battleships delivered over 2.1 million pounds of ordnance -- the equivalent of 542 A-6 missions. Battle damage assessment (BDA) was available for 41 of 80 missions and indicated that 68% of the targets received heavy damage or worse.

NGFS Data

Number of 16-inch missions fired: Number of 16-inch round fired:
WISCONSIN 33 WISCONSIN 324
MISSOURI 47 MISSOURI 759
Total 80 Total 1083

Total ordnance delivered:
   2,166,000 pounds (approximate)
      4,322 Mk 82 bomb equivalents
          542 A-6 mission equivalents

Spotter services:
   41 (52%) missions were spotted by organic UAV.
   8 (10%) missions were spotted by ground or air spotter.
   31 (38%) missions were pre-planned/not spotted.

Calls for fire:
   (18%) missions were called for by ground forces.
   (82%) missions were pre-planned or self-determined.

Battle damage assessment (BDA):
BDA was not available for 39 missions due to lack of spotter or smoke and/or haze.  BDA was available for 41 missions (68 targets):

    light to moderate damage 32%
    heavy damage 26%
    target neutralized 10%
    target destroyed 32%

Types of targets in NGFS missions:

artillery targets
small boats (in port)
AAW sites
bunkers
infantry in trenches
ammo storage sites
SAM/SSM/rocket launchers
radar/comm/ESM/SIGINT sites
17
13 (1 mission)
10
10
8 (events)
6
5
5
command/observation posts
troops in the open
logistics sites
tanks
buildings
mine fields
pier
trucks
4
4 (events)
3
3
2
2
1
1

 

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Published: Tue Dec 06 15:49:37 EST 2016