AMC 'total force’ rushes to aid of trapped Russian sailors

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Mark Diamond
  • Air Mobility Command Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFPN) --  It was a total force effort by Air Mobility Command active-duty, Reserve and Air National Guard units in a long-distance rescue effort Aug. 5 to free seven Russian sailors trapped in a submarine 625 feet beneath the sea.

The Russian sub became tangled in a fishing net Aug. 4 during a military exercise off Russia's Pacific coast, near the Kamchatka peninsula in Siberia. With the sub’s air supply dwindling, it was ultimately freed by a British submarine Aug. 8.

Gen. John W. Handy, commander of U.S. Transportation Command and Air Mobility Command, said he was impressed with AMC's response to the Russian sub crisis.

"This potentially tragic event showcased the flexibility and unique global-reach capabilities of Air Mobility Command," the general said. "We once again demonstrated the world-class training and skills America's Airmen display day in and day out.

"During a time when our command is operating at a high operations tempo supporting the global war on terrorism, AMC members were still able to execute this rescue operation quickly, safely and professionally,” he said. “America should have no doubts about its Air Force's global mobility mission."

When the call for help was sent out, Tanker Airlift Control Center officials here coordinated multiple airlift and air refueling missions during the deployment phase of the rescue operation. Under control of 18th Air Force, the control center is AMC's hub for planning and directing tanker and transport aircraft operations worldwide.

A C-5 Galaxy assigned to the 60th Air Mobility Wing at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., supported the deployment, carrying nearly 160,000 pounds of equipment and people out of Naval Air Station North Island, Calif. The C-5 was used to move two U.S. Navy rescue submersibles along with associated equipment and people.

"When we received the request for a C-5 at North Island, we started looking for the quickest option," said Col. Richard Richardson, TACC senior director of operations. "TACC controllers looked at all possibilities and determined our best choice was a C-5 over South Dakota that was returning from Spain. We contacted the crew and instructed them to divert to North Island. In approximately three hours, that C-5 was on the ground at North Island preparing the aircraft for loading."

But that would only be the first of several missions, giving control center Airmen little time to enjoy their success.

"As requirements continued to flow into TACC throughout the day, everyone on the … floor felt a sense of urgency and pride in the role they were playing in trying to rescue the trapped Russian sailors," the colonel said.

By the end of the day, control center officials had coordinated three additional airlift missions and associated tanker requirements.

A second airlifter, a C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the Mississippi Air National Guard's 172nd Airlift Wing, flew to New Orleans Naval Air Station and loaded about 95,000 pounds of equipment and people before flying nonstop to Russia.

A C-17 assigned to the 437th AW at Charleston AFB, S.C., flew to Andrews AFB, Md., and picked up a Deep Drone 8000 Remotely Operated Vehicle and associated equipment weighing nearly 71,000 pounds. The aircraft stopped at McChord AFB, Wash., for a fresh aircrew before delivering the cargo to Russia.

A third C-17, assigned to the 62nd AW at McChord, was tasked to move a 60K loader, a 10K forklift and ground command and control people from Yokota Air Base, Japan, to Yelizovo, Russia.

AMC officials said the airlift missions could not have been accomplished as quickly as they were without the support of aerial refueling aircraft. According to a control center senior controller, the refueling aircraft were used during each airlift mission to extend the range of the airlift aircraft and deliver the rescue equipment.

Four refueling aircraft were used to support the operation: A KC-10 Extender from Travis, a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 939th Air Refueling Wing at Portland International Airport, Ore., and two KC-135s from the Alaska Air National Guard’s 168th ARW.

Colonel Richardson said all AMC units leaned forward in supporting the massive rescue mission. The command used aircraft from a variety of sources, including those that were on operational missions and training missions, Homeland Defense tankers, and a C-17 sitting alert, he said.

"This was truly an impressive effort and the overall support was outstanding," the colonel said. "Our ability to respond to a crisis event anywhere around the world was once again validated. In less than 21 hours from initial notification, a C-5 was landing in Yelizovo, Russia, after completing a double aerial refueling."

"Our mission planners, aircrews and support personnel worked nonstop together with other services and nations to ensure vital rescue equipment reached its destination as quickly as possible," General Handy said. "After all my years in the service, the men and women in this command never cease to amaze me. I'm very proud of AMC's role in this rescue mission."

He said the rescue operation also showed AMC's total force capability, as active-duty Airmen, guardsmen and reservists worked side by side to ensure operational success.

"This command cannot do what it does without our partners in the Guard and Reserve," General Handy said. "This operation was no different."