Page 253 · Cruiser-Destroyer Group & DESRON

Exsapantinter! Commander, Destroyer SauadiGn Seren (COMDESRON SEV- EN) served as Anti-Surface Warfare Commander, Anti- Submarine Warfare Commander, Maritime Interception Com- mander, Suface Ship Screen Coordinator, and Lamps Element Coordinator throughout the Constellation Battle Group’s workup and deployment. The 13 man staff was augmented by three personnel assigned temporary additional duty by Commander, Naval Surface Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet as well as an Acoustic Specialist from the Office of Naval Intelligence. Additionally, the staff relied on personnel from Constellation’s Surface Module and Anti-Submarine Module who were fully integrated into staff watch sections and supported DESRON operations. Even with the augmentees and a close working relationship with Constellation, the task was large. The DESRON worked with every ship and aircraft in the Battle Group to ensure the Battle Group Commander had a complete tactical picture of the sur- rounding waters. This task required regularly adjusting the po- sitions of the escort ships, and CVW-2 aircraft search plans, as appropriate to the many areas of the world through which the Battle Group sailed. The primary thrust of the DESRON’s efforts in the Gulf was the coordination of U.S. and multi-national forces in the enforcement a of U.N. sanctions against Iraq by conducting Maritime Inter- piping s ception Operations (MIO). As the Maritime Interception Com- mander, DESRON SEVEN supervised the ships and aircraft assigned to monitor shipping entering and departing Iraqi waters. These vessels were monitored and questioned about their des- ipeline, tination and cargo. Ships which were suspected of violating sanc- Lat pipeline tions were boarded to confirm whether or not they were engaged in illegal trade with Iraq. If the vessel was unable to confirm it had a legal cargo, it was diverted to a nuetral port in the Gulf. The host government of the port to which a ship was diverted then in- vestigated the claims and took appropriate legal action to ensure compliance with U.N. resolutions. DESRON SEVEN’s team effort with Constellation and Carrier | Airwing TWO was crucial to a successful deployment. Fl RACON SHATT AL ARAB LT VESS A