Leyte Gulf (CG 55) - Naval Cruise Book

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Splash one inbound The inevitable plane guard The forces of two powerful battlegroups converged on the mud Atlantlc for a major US!German mlsslle exerclse LEYTE GULF s partlclpatlon ln the second of such exercises The THEODORE ROOSE VELT battlegroup carrled out llve flrlngs on O5 January with the AMERICA battle group followung through the next day For the next week the TR battlegroup sped ahead crosslng the remainder of the Atlantlc and through the Mediterranean Sea arrlvlng at Port Saud Egypt to begun the early mornlng translt of the Suez Ca nal on the 14th As the Unlted Natlons deadllne for an lraql wlthdraw from Ku walt neared and hostllltles agalnst lraq became lmmlnent THEODORE ROOSE VELT and LEYTE GULF were ordered to proceed lmmedlately to the Perslan Gulf at top speed TR battlegroup forms

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THE ADVENTURE BEGINS On a cold December 28, 1990, after be- ing delayed by dense fog, USS LEYTE GULF departed Mayport embarking on a most exciting and memorable deploy- ment. Political tensions were high follow- ing lraq's invasion of Kuwait and United Nations military build-up in the area to oppose Saddam Hussein. There were mixed emotions among the crew as we left loved ones on the pier, but by the 29th the great gray machine known as LEYTE GULF worked as a single cohesive team fine tuning combat skills and effec- tiveness so if the time came we would be ready! 6

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O2 AUG 03 AUG O6 AUG 07 AUG 08 AUG 12 AUG 18 AUG 25 AUG: 29 AUG: 28 DEC: 08 JAN: 09 JAN: 12 JAN: 14 JAN: 16 JAN: 17 JAN: 18 JAN: 19 JAN: 20 JAN: 24 JAN. 25 JAN 26 JAN 29 JAN 18 FEB: 23 FEB: 24 FEB: 25 FEB: 28 FEB: DESERT STORM TIMELINE: Iraq invades Kuwait UN Resolution 660 CCondemns Iraqi invasion1 Naval forces arrive off Saudi Arabia, first U.S. forces on the scene UN Resolution 661 Umposes economic sanctions against lraq1 Operation Desert Shield begins UN Resolution 662 CDeclares Iraqi annexation of Kuwait null and void1 President Bush authorized first call-up of Selected Reservists UN Resolution 664 QCall for immediate release of foreigners from Iraq and Kuwait1 UN Resolution 665 QAuthorizes the use of force to halt maritime shipping to and from lraq1 UN Resolution 678 QAuthorizes the use of force to uphold resolution unless Iraq withdraws by 15 JAN1 LEYTE GULF underway from Mayport LEYTE GULF passes through Strait of Gibraltar Meeting between Secretary of State Baker and Iraqi Foreign Minister Aziz ends in failure U.S. Congress authorize the President to use force to bring Iraq in compliance of UN resolutions LEYTE GULF transits the Suez Canal UN deadline for Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait expires Operation Desert Storm begins at 0200 Iraq launches Scud missiles against Israel and Saudi Arabia LEYTE GULF enters the Gulf of Oman President authorized the call-up of up to 1 million reserves USS NICHOLAS QFFG 471 captures 11 oil platforms LEYTE GULF enters the Persian Gulf USS LOUISVILLE CSSN 7241 becomes first submarine to fire a cruise missile' in combat and the first submarine to fire a shot in anger since WWII LEYTE GULF experiences false chemical attack False Exocet attack Saudi F-15 shoots down to Exocet armed Iraqi F-1 Mirages lraq creates massive oil slick in gulf Iraqi aircraft begin fleeing to Iran Iraqis unsuccessfully attack Khafji, Saudi Arabia USS PRINCETON CCG 591 and USS TRIPOLI QLPH 101 are damaged by mines Iraqis ignite estimated 700 oil wells in Kuwait Ground war begins 404001 Iraqi Scud missile destroys barracks in Dhahran, killing 28 U.S. soldiers HMS GLOUCESTER splashes an Iraqi Sllkworm missile Cease fire declared 40801 local1 04 MAR: LEYTE GULF arrives in northern gulf as ZC , 50nm from Kuwait City, 5nm from minefield 08 MAR: LEYTE GULF relieved by USS HORNE, heads south ESTIMATED IRAGI LOSSES - 42 aircraft in air-to-air engagements - 81 aircraft destroyed on the ground - 137 aircraft flown to Iran - 3,700 of 4,280 battle tanks - 2,400 of 2,870 assorted other armored vehicles - 2,600 of 3,110 assorted artillery pieces - 19 naval vessels sunk, 6 damaged - 40.5 of 42 divisions made combat- ineffective A I I C I 1 li 1 1 Q 1 1 ff 1