Coronado (AGF 11) - Naval Cruise Book

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Kober Collage (by NCC David F. Nuvill) 85

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t 1% f O BY i :?i STEAMIN ' THROUGH THOSE ARABIAN NIGHTS . . . AND DAYS 84 X

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MIDDLE EAST FORCE MISSION AND TASKS Established 1 January 1949, Middle East Force is still the only permanently assigned U. S. Naval force in the Indian Ocean area. COMIDEASTFOR shared base facilities in Bahrain with the British until 1971, when the British withdrew from the area. From that time until mid-1977 the U. S. Navy maintained a 10-acre logistical facility at Jufair, Bahrain, known originally as the Naval Control of Shipping Office and later designated the Flag Admin Unit, Middle East Force. In July 1977, that title was changed to Administrative Support Unit (ADMINSUPU Bahrain), with responsibility for providing assistance to visiting Middle East Force ships and the DOD-sponsored Bahrain School. In terms of assigned units, the Middle East Force is one of the U.S. Navy ' s smallest major commands - normally composed of only three ships, including the permanently assigned flagship USS CORONADO (AGF-11) and two rotating Atlantic Fleet destroyers or frigates. While assigned to MIDEASTFOR, Atlantic units are away from homeport without repair or upkeep services for approximately four months. The only assigned air asset is ADMIN- SUPU ' s Flag UC-12B aircraft and the helicopter carried in CORONADO. Within the broad mission of conducting operations in support of national objectives, there are a number of assigned tasks. One is to plan, arrange and conduct port visits within the Middle East Force operating area to carry out the peacetime function of generating goodwill and making American presence known by showing the flag. The MI- DEASTFOR operating area includes the Red Sea, Persian Gulf and, the western part of the Indian Ocean. Port Visits are conducted in all friendly countries that have shoreline along this area. Among these are Sri Lanka, Sudan, Mauritius, the Republic of Djibouti, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Jordan and Bahrain. Another MIDEASTFOR task is to maintain liaison with U. S. diplomatic representatives, governments and armed services of both friendly and neutral nations. , As an operational commander, COMIDEASTFOR further is tasked with responsibility for search and rescue operations involving Middle East Force units, as well as area coordination for U. S. forces committed to rescue missions. In addition to U. S. Navy assets available for assistance. Military Sealift Command ships also may be requested to help, as well as civil aviation rescue coordination centers located throughout the Middle East and Africa. Finally, afloat units assigned to COMIDEASTFOR operate throughout their deployment without access to U. S. bases, tender support or dedicated underway replenishment forces. COMIDEASTFOR is responsible for coordinat- ing and arranging logistical support of these units. This generally includes resupply of repair parts, consumable supplies, equipment and provisions which are obtained primarily from CONUS. This then is the story of COMIDEASTFOR. Following pages show the pictures of the dedicated men who serve and have served for the past 12 months of this book. ' ' ' We of the CORONADO crew that have put this story of change from LPD to AGF are proud of our staff and have enjoyed serving with them in this ever changing Middle East. Editor NCC D. F. Nuvill crew. 86