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War Chronology: April 1991

1 April (1991)
Naval forces continue counter air-defensive, combat air patrols, minesweeping and maritime interception operations.

Marine ground forces hold defensive positions.

USS MARVIN SHIELDS (FF-1066), the first West coast ship to return to CONUS, arrives at San Diego CA homeport. During a six-and one-half month deployment, the frigate participated in merchant intercept operations in support of U.N. resolutions, acted as an escort/screen ship for the combined battle force, and assisted in training Kuwaiti Naval Forces as the coalition force prepared for possible hostilities.

2 April 
Naval forces continue counter air-defensive, combat air patrols, minesweeping and maritime interception operations. To-date, 8,598 merchants have been challenged, 1,110 boarded and 58 diverted. Navy has conducted 581 boardings.

Marine ground forces hold defensive positions. DOD reports over 373,000 U.S. personnel are in the theater (42,500+ Navy, 54,500+ USMC). To-date, 167,000+ have redeployed to the U.S. (42,500 Navy, 39,500 USMC). There are 44 Navy ships in the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and Northern Arabian Sea. There are 13 Navy ships in the Red Sea. There are 25 Navy ships in the Mediterranean.

DOD revises U.S. casualty data: 139 KIA. 2 (Died from combat wounds). 111 Non-combat fatalities. 357 WIA. 6 MIA (3 Navy. 0 USMC!. 196,495 National Guard and reservists are on active duty (18,038 Navy, 27,670 USMC). To-date, 1,081 Naval and 2,878 Marine Reservists have been demobilized.

USS CHICAGO (SSN-721) arrives at San Diego CA homeport. During a six-month deployment, the attack submarine worked with U.S. and coalition forces deployed to the Southwest Asia area of operations. A total of 13 Navy submarines conducted surveillance and reconnaissance operations in support of OPERATION DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. Two, USS LOUISVILLE (SSN-724) and USS PITTSBURGH (SSN-720), conducted submarine-launched TOMAHAWK cruise missile attacks against Iraq. 

3 April 
By 12-1 vote, U.N. Security Council approves Resolution 687 to formally end Gulf War. Terms, which become effective when Iraq agrees, are:

  • Iraq must give up weapons of mass destruction. U.N. will inspect and monitor the destruction and removal of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. Iraq forbidden from using, developing or acquiring any additional weapons.
  • Iraq must compensate Kuwait for war damages, including environmental.
  • Establishment of a demilitarized zone extending 6 miles into Iraq, 3 miles into Kuwait. U.N. observer unit will monitor.
  • Recognizes and guarantees 1963 borders between Iraq and Kuwait.
  • Requires Iraq to condemn and renounce terrorism, halt support for international terrorism, forbids terrorist organizations from operating on Iraqi temtory.

Naval forces continue counter air-defensive, combat air patrols, minesweeping and maritime interception operations. Marine ground forces hold defensive positions.

USS AMERICA (CV-66), USS NORMANDY (CG-60), and USS WILLIAM V. PRATT (DDG-44) transit Suez Canal enroute CONUS.

VADM Stanley R. Arthur, Commander U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander Seventh Fleet, RADM Raynor A.K. Taylor, Commander Middle East Force and RADM Robert Sutton, Commander U.S. Naval Logistics Support Force are awarded the Order of Bahrain, First Degree by the Amir of Bahrain for their outstanding professional contributions during OPERATION DESERT STORM.

4 April 
At D + 77, naval forces continue counter air-defensive, combat air patrols, minesweeping and maritime interception operations. To-date, 8,645 merchant ships have been challenged, 1,116 boarded and 59 diverted. The Navy has conducted 582 boardings. There are 42 Navy ships in the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Northern Arabian Sea. There are 10 Navy ships in the Red Sea. There are 21 Navy ships in the Mediterranean. Marine ground forces hold defensive positions, continue redeployments.

DOD reports there are 365,000+ U.S. personnel in the theater (42,500+ Navy, 52,000+ USMC). To-date, 175,000+ have redeployed to the U.S. (42,500 Navy, 42,000 USMC). To-date, 1,081 Naval and 4,245 Marine Reservists have been demobilized; 18,038 Naval and 26,303 Marine Reservists are on active duty.

DOD revises U.S. casualty data: 139 KIA, 2 (Died from combat wounds). 113 Non-combat fatalities. 357 WIA, 6 MIA (3 Navy. 0 USMC) O POW.

Sealift update: To-date, 33 MSC ships have loaded out (totalling 135,000 tons of cargo and equipment) or have been turned around are underway to CONUS. This includes Fast Sealift Ships USNS BELLATRIX,

USNS ALTAIR, and USNS REGULUS plus 12 Ready Reserve Force ships, two Prepositioning Ships, 15 charters and one ship under MSC charter. 36 MSC ships are loading or waiting to load. 

5 April 
Naval forces continue counter air-defensive, combat air patrols, minesweeping and maritime interception operations. Marine ground forces hold defensive positions, redeploy. Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (Light) 42, Detachment 6, arrives at NAVSTA Mayport FL homeport. During six month embarkation aboard USS MOOSBRUGGER, squadron conducted 100+ merchant vessel identifications and/or challenges enforcing United Nations trade sanctions.

6 April 
Iraq accepts United Nations terms for a formal cease-fire in the Persian Gulf War. Naval forces continue counter air-defensive, combat air patrols, minesweeping and maritime interception operations. USS TRIPOLI returns to duty following successful repairs and sea tAals. Marine ground forces hold defensive positions, redeploy. USS MOOSBRUGGER (DD-980) arrives at NAVBASE Charleston SC homeport. During a seven-and-a-half month deployment, the destroyer conducted 67 searches and boardings of merchant ships, including the first boarding of a vessel, confronted a Soviet ship carrying personal and household items for the Iraqi military, carried the Navy SEAL Insertion Forces used to board uncooperative vessels, and escorted convoys transporting troops to Saudi Arabia. 

7 April 
Naval forces continue counter air-defensive, combat air patrols, minesweeping and maritime interception operations. Marine ground forces hold defensive positions, redeploy. USS HALYBURTON diverts a freighter in the N. Red Sea. Fast Sealift Ship USNS BELLATRIX arrives at Savannah GA port with first cargo-load of equipment from Persian Gulf War.

8 April 
Naval forces continue counter air-defensive, combat air patrols, minesweeping and maritime interception operations. Marine ground forces hold defensive positions, redeploy. USS BUNKER HILL (CG-52) arrives at NAVBASE Yokosuka JA homeport. During four month deployment, the AEGIS guided missile cruiser served as the anti-air warfare command ship - "Zulu Whiskey" - in the Arabian Gulf, directing 23 ships and 200+ fighters from six nations in excess of 65,000 combat sorties in the air war over the gulf USS BUNKER HILL also played an important role in launching multiple TOMAHAWK cruise missiles against enemy targets ashore from the gulf.

9 April 
U.N. Security Council approves Resolution 689 establishing a United Nations-lraq-Kuwait Observer Mission (UNIKOM) to monitor permanent cease-fire. Naval forces continue counter air-defensive, combat air patrols, minesweeping and maritime interception operations. 

Marine ground forces hold defensive positions, redeploy.

DOD reports there are 326,000+ U.S. personnel in the theater (34,500+ Navy, 43,000+ USMC). To-date, 214,000 have redeployed to the U.S. (50,500 Navy, 51,000 USMC).

10 April 
Naval forces continue counter air-defensive, combat air patrols, minesweeping and maritime interception operations. Marine ground forces hold defensive positions, redeploy. USS HALEAKALA (AE-25) arrives at Apra Harbor GUAM homeport. During a one-month deployment, the combat logistics force ship replenished 15 ships while underway, and delivered cargo supporting Marine units ashore. Ready Reserve Force cargo ship SS CAPE INSCRIPTION arrives in Houston TX with redeployment cargo. 

11 April 
At D + 84, naval forces continue counter air-defensive, combat air patrols, minesweeping and maritime intercept operations. To-date, 553 mines have been discovered and destroyed. To-date, 8,770 merchants have been intercepted, 1,117 boarded, and 61 diverted. The Navy has conducted 590 boardings. There are 41 Navy ships in the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Northern Arabian Sea, including USS RANGER. There are 8 Navy ships in the Red Sea, including USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT. There are 10 Navy ships in the Mediterranean.

Marine ground forces hold defensive positions, redeploy.

DOD reports there are 310,000+ U.S. personnel in the theater (33,000+ Navy, 38,500+ USMC). To-date, 230,000+ have redeployed to the U.S. (52,000 Navy, 55,500 USMC). To-date, 2,386 Naval and 4,970 Marine Reservists have been demobilized; 16,733 Naval and 25,578 Marine Reservists are on active duty.

DOD revises casualty data: 139 KIA. 2 (Died from combat wounds). 118 Non-combat fatalities. 357 WIA. 6 MIA (3 Navy. 0 USMC). O POW.

Sealift update: To-date, 41 MSC ships have loaded out or have turned around and are underway to CONUS (totalling 168,000 tons of cargo and equipment). 36 ships are loading or waiting to load.

USS LEFTWICH (DD-984) with Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 3 Detachment 5 embarked, arrives at NAVSTA Pearl Harbor homeport. During a five-and-a-half month deployment, the destroyer conducted 200 + merchant ship interceptions and one boarding, was one of the first ships to fire TOMAHAWK cruise missiles, was the first combatant to conduct a wartime reload of TOMAHAWKs for continued operations, with embarked helos and SEALs captured the first Iraqi territory repatriated in the war and enemy prisoners of war, and conducted 16 combat search and rescue cases.

U.N. Security Council declares formal cease-fire ending Persian Gulf War.

Return to Desert Storm introduction

Published: Mon Mar 02 11:33:28 EST 2015