Heavy Metal (of the rotary kind)

[Alpha_Echo_606]

100222-N-1226D-233 PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 22, 2010) Two CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopters assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 (REIN) land during flight operations aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5). Peleliu is underway conducting an integration training exercise in preparation for a scheduled 2010 deployment to the western Pacific Ocean.(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Omar A. Dominquez/Released)

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

Two CH-53E Super Stallions with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 circle the hills of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton March 4. The flight was part of a training mission which transported more than 100 Marines.

A CH-53E Super Stallions with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 circle the hills of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton March 4. The flight was part of a training mission which transported more than 100 Marines.

Marines with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, prepare to take off in a CH-53E Super Stallion with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton March 4. The helicopters transported more than 100 Marines.

 

[BigIron]

2 of the 3 engines and a very large rotor head....

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

Two CH-53E "Super Stallions" with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 circle the hills of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton March 4. The flight was part of a training mission which transported more than 100 Marines.
Photo by: Lance Cpl. Alexandra M. Harris

 

[HeyJoe]

100308-N-8655E-014 CARIBBEAN SEA (March 8, 2010) Plane captains conduct pre-flight checks on an MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 461 (Reinforced) aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) before flight operations off the coast of Haiti. Bataan is supporting Operation Unified Response after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake caused severe damage in and around Port-au-Prince Jan. 12. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kelvin Edwards/Released)

 

[Pags]

....transported more than 100 Marines.

....transported more than 100 Marines.

....transported more than 100 Marines.

....transported more than 100 Marines.

Did anyone notice how many Marines this training mission transported? I must have missed it.

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

Did anyone notice how many Marines this training mission transported? I must have missed it.

Maybe someone needs remedial reading then. :icon_wink

But to answer your question and for anyone who missed it, I think it was more than 100 Marines.

 

[HeyJoe]

Appears MC1 McKee didn't notice what was stirring up the water around the amphibious assault vehicle....

100317-N-9706M-158 PACIFIC OCEAN (March 17, 2010) An amphibious assault vehicle assigned to the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines based in Camp Pendleton, Calif., transits to the amphibious transport dock ship USS Dubuque (LPD 8) during a composite unit training exercise in preparation for an upcoming deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class David McKee/Released)

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

100601-N-7948R-305 PACIFIC OCEAN (May 1, 2010) A Sailor guides a CH-53E Sea Stallion during flight operations aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5). Peleliu is on a scheduled 2010 deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael Russell/Released)

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

A U.S. Marine directs the pilot of a CH-53 Super Stallion helicopter prior to takeoff during exercise Javelin Thrust 10 in Hawthorne, Nev., June 16, 2010. More than 4,500 Marines are participating in the exercise, which is the largest Marine Corps Reserve exercise of the year. The helicopter is from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 772, Marine Aircraft Group 49, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing. (DoD photo by Capt. Keith A. Stevenson, U.S. Marine Corps/Released)

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

08/03/2010
STALLION INSPECTION
CH-53D Sea Stallions undergo preflight inspections on Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, July 27, 2010. U.S. Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363 used three of these helicopters to transport 10,000 pounds of food and water to Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, on the outskirts of Marja as Marines arrived in the area to launch Operation Wada Kawool. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ryan Rholes

 

[HeyJoe]

100813-N-1226D-048 NORTH ARABIAN SEA (Aug. 13, 2010) A U.S. Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon assigned to Helicopter Mine Countermeasure Squadron (HM) 15 prepares for launch aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5). The amphibious transport dock ship USS Dubuque (LPD 8) steams along side as part of the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) supporting the Pakistan government and military with heavy lift capabilities in flooded regions of Pakistan. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Omar A. Dominquez/Released)

 

[hokieav8r]

D models. You gotta read the book about the planning/events for this SAR effort. Lots of things done right, just a couple more things done wrong. I was surprised to learn that the pentagon started planning that rescue the day after those folks were taken hostage. Took 'em a year to work it up. Too bad it turned into a clusterfuck.

If you are wondering why I am not providing the title of the book it is because I can't remember it at this moment. I am sure someone else will come along and provide it. If not, I'll do so when I get home.

Very Hardcore event worth the mention! Timeless and a testiment to the development of Aviation tactics and the world we're in and at war in today!

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

08/17/2010
VALLEY VIEW
A U.S. Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter attached to the HM-165, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, navigates the countryside of Kalam Valley during humanitarian relief efforts in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, Aug. 17, 2010. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Capt. Paul Duncan

 

[Coasty]

One of the best books about the Iran Hostage rescue is titled "The Guts to Try" by Col. James Kyle. This might be the book your thinking about.