In January 1980, USS SAIPAN was out to sea to an amphibious landing at Cape Code in preparation for the NATO Exercise ANORAK EXPRESS. Sailing February 14th for Northern Norway, USS SAIPAN entered into her first operational deployment.[1]

Background

Operating with military units from throughout the North Atlantic Treaty Organization USS SAIPAN performed in a mock invasion which placed 1700 US Marines on the beaches of Norway, some 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle.[1]

ANORAK EXPRESS was an exercise planned as an extreme cold weather exercise to test and further develop NATO's response capability under the most demanding combat conditions the harsh climate of Northern Norway could provide. The exercise employed F-15, F-4, F-5, AV-8 and F-104 aircraft, numerous surface craft including USS PONCE and the USS NEWPORT, the United Kingdom's helicopter ship HMS INTREPID, Norwegian frigates, guided missile patrol boats and even elements of Norway's submarine force.[1]

ANORAK EXPRESS was a previously untried concept in amphibious operations. It was also an adventure in which USS SAIPAN and her sister ships combined efforts with the Marine Corps to place over 1700 fully equipped Marines ashore in minutes.[1]

Aircraft embarked[1][2]

  • 1-9x CH-53
  • 3-5x CH-46
  • 5-7x UH-1N
  • 4x AH-1T

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Command history 1980" (PDF). navy.mil.
  2. ↑ "LHA-2". www.gonavy.jp. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
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