Attacking the Cruise Missile Threat
Abstract
Marines of the I Marine Expeditionary Force (IMEF) Headquarters are on alert in their forward-deployed position at Camp Commando Kuwait awaiting the initiation of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF). A U.S. Air Force officer attached to IMEF monitors a terminal that will alert the headquarters of any detected ballistic missile or cruise missile attacks. Seven to nine minutes of warning are planned for a ballistic missile attack, and three to five minutes are assumed for a cruise missile attack. Once inbound missiles are detected, standard procedures are to sound the Scud alert, notify subordinate units, don nuclear-biological-chemical (NBC) protective masks and, except for watch-standers, head for underground bunkers. Marines deployed north and east of the headquarters suddenly observe a low-flying missile passing overhead, pointed towards Kuwait in the direction of Camp Commando. IMEF's air defense computer terminals display nothing out of the ordinary, and no Scud alert is sounded. Marines in the headquarters are astonished and surprised to hear the signature of a low-flying jet engine overhead, followed by the noise and concussion from a large warhead blast.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 08, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA421607
Entities
People
- Darren Sawyer
- Lyle Powell
- Phil Tissue
- Ron Perkins
Organizations
- National Defense University