1st Stinger Battery
Encyclopedia
1st Stinger Battery was an air defense unit of the United States Marine Corps
. They were part of Marine Air Control Group 18
(MACG-18) and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
(1st MAW) and were based at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma
, Okinawa, Japan
.
On December 7, 2006, Headquarters Marine Corps
released a message stating that 1st Stinger would be deactivated during 2007. The battery was officially deactivated on September 28, 2007.
(MAGTF) assets defending forward combat areas, maneuver forces, vital areas, installations, and/or units engaged in special/independent operations.
and the newly fielded Stinger missile, the battery participated in numerous exercises throughout the Pacific Rim.
On October 1, 1986, the Battery was redesignated as 1st Low Altitude Air Defense (LAAD) Battalion. The battalion consisted of two firing batteries and a headquarters and service battery. During Operation Desert Storm, 1st LAAD Battalion deployed a Platoon (-) in the defense of Al Jabal Airfield.
On May 14, 1993, 1st LAAD Battalion was reduced in size and redesignated as 1st Stinger Battery. The Battery consists of four firing platoons and a headquarters and service platoon. In January 1996, the Battery fielded the Avenger Weapon System
, increasing its firepower and targeting capabilities. Over the next several months, the Avengers and man-portable air defense system (MANPADS) vehicles will be phased-out and replaced with the Advanced-MANPADS.
In early February 2007, 1st Stinger battery Marines deployed for the first time in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Their mission was to provide airbase security while in Iraq
for the next seven months..
1st Stinger Battery was the only Marine ground-based air defense unit within the III Marine Expeditionary Force
. The Battery maintained an aggressive training program and operational tempo as its Marines supported exercises within the Western Pacific
and operations with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit
. They returned to Okinawa in August, 2007 and on September 28, 2007, 1st Stinger Battery was deactivated at a ceremony at MCAS Futnema.
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
. They were part of Marine Air Control Group 18
Marine Air Control Group 18
Marine Air Control Group 18 is a United States Marine Corps aviation command and control unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma that is currently composed of 4 squadrons, 1 battery and 1 administrative detachment that provide the 1st Marine Aircraft Wings tactical headquarters and...
(MACG-18) and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
1st Marine Aircraft Wing
The 1st Marine Aircraft Wing is an aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps that serves as the Aviation Combat Element of the III Marine Expeditionary Force. The wing is headquartered at Camp Foster on the island of Okinawa, Japan...
(1st MAW) and were based at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma
Marine Corps Air Station Futenma
Marine Corps Air Station Futenma or MCAS Futenma is a United States Marine Corps base located in Ginowan, northeast of Naha, on the island of Okinawa. It is home to approximately 4,000 Marines of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and has been a U.S. military airbase since the island was occupied...
, Okinawa, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
On December 7, 2006, Headquarters Marine Corps
Headquarters Marine Corps
Headquarters Marine Corps is a headquarters staff within the Department of the Navy which includes the offices of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps and various staff functions...
released a message stating that 1st Stinger would be deactivated during 2007. The battery was officially deactivated on September 28, 2007.
Mission
To provide close-in, low altitude, surface-to-air weapons fires in defense of Marine Air-Ground Task ForceMarine Air-Ground Task Force
The Marine Air-Ground Task Force is a term used by the United States Marine Corps to describe the principal organization for all missions across the range of military operations. MAGTFs are a balanced air-ground, combined arms task organization of Marine Corps forces under a single commander that...
(MAGTF) assets defending forward combat areas, maneuver forces, vital areas, installations, and/or units engaged in special/independent operations.
History
1st Stinger Battery was initially activated on July 1, 1982 at Marine Corps Air Station, Futenma, Okinawa, Japan as 1st Forward Area Air Defense (FAAD) Battery, Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. Employing the Redeye missileFIM-43 Redeye
The General Dynamics FIM-43 Redeye was a man-portable surface-to-air missile system. It used infrared homing to track its target. Production was terminated in September 1969 after about 85,000 rounds had been built - in anticipation of the Redeye II, which later became the FIM-92 Stinger...
and the newly fielded Stinger missile, the battery participated in numerous exercises throughout the Pacific Rim.
On October 1, 1986, the Battery was redesignated as 1st Low Altitude Air Defense (LAAD) Battalion. The battalion consisted of two firing batteries and a headquarters and service battery. During Operation Desert Storm, 1st LAAD Battalion deployed a Platoon (-) in the defense of Al Jabal Airfield.
On May 14, 1993, 1st LAAD Battalion was reduced in size and redesignated as 1st Stinger Battery. The Battery consists of four firing platoons and a headquarters and service platoon. In January 1996, the Battery fielded the Avenger Weapon System
M1097 Avenger
The Avenger Air Defense System, designated AN/TWQ-1 under the Joint Electronics Type Designation System, is a missile system which provides mobile, short-range air defense protection for ground units against cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, low-flying fixed-wing aircraft, and helicopters...
, increasing its firepower and targeting capabilities. Over the next several months, the Avengers and man-portable air defense system (MANPADS) vehicles will be phased-out and replaced with the Advanced-MANPADS.
In early February 2007, 1st Stinger battery Marines deployed for the first time in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Their mission was to provide airbase security while in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
for the next seven months..
1st Stinger Battery was the only Marine ground-based air defense unit within the III Marine Expeditionary Force
III Marine Expeditionary Force
The III Marine Expeditionary Force is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force of the United States Marine Corps that is forward-deployed and able to deploy rapidly and conduct operations across the spectrum from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to amphibious assault and high intensity combat. III...
. The Battery maintained an aggressive training program and operational tempo as its Marines supported exercises within the Western Pacific
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
and operations with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit
31st Marine Expeditionary Unit
The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit is one of seven Marine Expeditionary Units currently in existence in the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Expeditionary Unit is a Marine Air Ground Task Force with a strength of about 2,200 personnel...
. They returned to Okinawa in August, 2007 and on September 28, 2007, 1st Stinger Battery was deactivated at a ceremony at MCAS Futnema.