Nitro (AE 23) - Naval Cruise Book

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i USS NITRO departs Naval Wea- pons Station, Earle. Destination: DESERT SHEILD DESERT STORM X mm V ,, ,, ,, W 'Mrr- WWWM Myne, tl l.L.a.,,.N,,,,,,ffn4, ,lbw funn 4, ju,

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In the months leading up to the Summer of 1990 we witnessed the destruction of the Berlin Wall, reunification of Germany and Eastern Europe s long awaited steps toward democracy. The need for a large defense establishment was questioned as peace was breaking out all over. The juggling of world politics gave Iraq s Saddam Hussein and his military force an opportunity to overrun the small neighboring country of Kuwait Amid this confusion, the world sat by as Kuwait was brutalized and its coffers emptied With only limited initial response from the outside world, Hussein became over confident allowing himself to underestimate to what extent the world would accept his invasion of Kuwait Pesldent Bush quickly began organizing an allied coalition to oppose Hussein. To back this, for- ward deployed U S forces were positioned in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Statesg a massive recall of reservist was begun and supply ships were put at the ready To support these forces ammunition would be required The crew of USS NITRO was called upon to help On September 24 1990 NITRO set out after 12 days advance notice, for a six-week ammunition shuttle run to the Mediterranean lf a conflict was to occur, the necessary ammunition had to be on hand to support it After stops in Flota Spain Augusta Bay Sicily Souda Bay Crete, and a return trip to Rota, over 5 OOO lifts of ammunition had been exchanged in only 18 days This limited mission was completed, and on November 2nd NITRO returned home The allied military buildup in the Middle East contin- ued America made preparations for war On December 28th slightly more than six months ahead of schedule, and only eight weeks after the mini med USS NITRO set out on her Mediterranean Deployment. During the transit across the Atlantic NITRO conducted extensive General Quarters CGQJ and Chemical Biologlcan and Radiological QCBFU training The engineers were busy with an Engineer- ing Material Assessment Team QEMATE to train and prepare the plant for long hours of steaming. Daily work continued yet the cloud of war cast a shadow over almost everyone's thoughts. Presi- dent Bush s demand for Iraq s withdrawal by January 16th was rapidly approaching. 7 , . . . J ' 7 . . - - 7 ' 7 , . , . ' 7 7 ' ' ll 77 ' ' 7 7 7 7 7 , . 7 KG ' ' 77 H ' 7 7 1 u 7 7 7 ' T u

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GENERAL QUARTERS Much of our time was spent at General Quarters. Most times it was only a drill, but later it was real. GENERAL QUARTERS