COAST GUARD UNITS TAKE OVER CAPTURED OIL PLATFORMS IN PERSIAN GULF
The U.S. Coast Guard said members of its Port Security Units 311 and 313 have relieved U.S. Marines of security on two gas and oil platforms in the northern Persian Gulf.
The Marines had held both platforms after U.S. Navy SEALS took them from the Iraqi regime.
Also in the Persian Gulf, the Coast Guard’s 110-foot cutter 'Adak' captured three Iraqi sailors who jumped from their patrol boats moments before it was attacked by coalition forces.
The Coast Guard has about 650 personnel involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom. In addition to the two port security units, there are four 110-foot patrol boats, a 378-foot high-endurance cutter, a 225-foot buoy tender, two law enforcement detachments and a harbor defense command unit.