Missouri (BB 63) - Naval Cruise Book

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At l'4O a.m. local time on the 17th of January the Ship launehed Tomehewk land attack missiles at targets deep mslde Iraq. Many wondered what the Iraqi ' 'E response would be. AS dayhght broke' 1 dawned on everyone that the Iraqis Wouid not or could not mount a challenge to t C ship. United States' air supenonty pre vented Iraq from attacking the fleet' The next morning, crewmembers assembled on the main deck to watcht1'1C ship launch more missiles. Ol'1C'3l'DClf3uS moment occurred when one missile failed to launch. The problem was handled ex- pertly and a back-up missile was launched 45 minutes later. The ship also rCCC1VCd 3 report of unidentified aircraft inbound which sent Missouri to General Quarters I t tamed out to be a false alarm, but it got adrenaline tlowing. All told, Missouri got to the right location for launch and met every Tomahawk mission assigned. Alter the missile phase of the War, talk on the ship turned to inevitable gunfire support missions oft the Kuwaiti coast. The Navy and Marine Corps were planning an amphibious assault which turned out to he a tctnt to confuse thc Iraqis. The missiles were launched hundreds of miles away. but the bombardment of Iraqi posi- tions in Kuwait was at close range tless than 20 milt-sl. Missourts tirst shore bombard- ments took place oil' the Saudi!Kuwait border. near the town ot Kathji. After tiring over IOO rounds. the ship was relieved on the gunline hy USS Wisconsin. Missouri returned to lihatji a few days later for additional tire support missions. Later on. as the ground war approached. Missouri made the transit to a tiring area that was gradi tally heing established by minesweep- ers. USS Piineeton and USS Tripoli struck mines which re-entorecd the tact that we were at war. Another gnnline was established and at l 1:15 p.in. on Febmaiy 23. Mis- souri shelled lmqi-occupied Favlaka Is- land. tint it mis the early morning hours ot 2-t February: as the ground war com- meneed. when Missouri directed her tire at lmqi positions inside Kuwait. Assess- ments indicate the big guns knocked out many tortitiecl command posts. anti-air batteries and other targets. Missouri. like the coalition torees. eniergfed xietonous .-if r , ,gif-..5f t ,SQ I ' 211, , -veifgff, ' 1, 2

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