NcDeuce
01-27-2004, 03:45 PM
U.S. equipment homeward bound
The first of a number of cargo ships transporting 101st Airborne Division equipment back to the United States left Camp Doha, Kuwait, Saturday.
Loading the division's equipment onto the U.S. Navy ship Benavidez took about three days. Cargo includes a variety of helicopters and ground equipment like Humvees and Light Medium Tactical Vehicles.
All helicopters were shrink wrapped with plastic to protect them from the ocean environment over the course of the voyage.
Most of the equipment belongs to the 159th Aviation Brigade, which redeployed from Iraq to Kuwait earlier this month.
Before being loaded on the ship, all equipment was cleaned, inspected and certified by U.S. customs. After inspection, equipment was stored in secure "sterile yards" to prevent it from getting dirty or being tampered with.
The ship also underwent a day of maintenance while in port.
http://www.theleafchronicle.com/news/stories/20040127/localnews/299987-106425.jpg
Chinook helicopters from the 101st Airborne Division are stored on the upper deck of the USNS Benavidez for shipping back to the United States. The "shrink wrap" plastic coating is used to protect the aircraft from exposure to the salt air.
Well-earned break for the division.
The first of a number of cargo ships transporting 101st Airborne Division equipment back to the United States left Camp Doha, Kuwait, Saturday.
Loading the division's equipment onto the U.S. Navy ship Benavidez took about three days. Cargo includes a variety of helicopters and ground equipment like Humvees and Light Medium Tactical Vehicles.
All helicopters were shrink wrapped with plastic to protect them from the ocean environment over the course of the voyage.
Most of the equipment belongs to the 159th Aviation Brigade, which redeployed from Iraq to Kuwait earlier this month.
Before being loaded on the ship, all equipment was cleaned, inspected and certified by U.S. customs. After inspection, equipment was stored in secure "sterile yards" to prevent it from getting dirty or being tampered with.
The ship also underwent a day of maintenance while in port.
http://www.theleafchronicle.com/news/stories/20040127/localnews/299987-106425.jpg
Chinook helicopters from the 101st Airborne Division are stored on the upper deck of the USNS Benavidez for shipping back to the United States. The "shrink wrap" plastic coating is used to protect the aircraft from exposure to the salt air.
Well-earned break for the division.