First District was tapped for a variety of operations throughout the 1999-2000 timeframe, which is part of the reason MacDowell hasn’t made a move against the UBF. Between actions against pirates, the evacuation of Iceland, escort duty with Operation Omega, and the occasional show-of-force escort of fishing fleets operating at George’s Bank, Gallatin has been busy. The Maritime Rifles also have been very busy indeed.
The Joint Chiefs view First District under MacDowell in much the same way the Department of Defense views Blackwater: they are an armed force available to be used as needed and paid for current operations. There is no long-term responsibility implied in the relationship. While this might be overstating the case a bit, essentially First District is paid in kind for conducting operations on the part of MilGov. MilGov isn’t about to make any sort of long-term investments in developing First District. But then there are plenty of supposedly loyal places receiving nothing. By late 2000, it’s clear that First District is on its own.
MilGov did not share its intelligence with either of the USCG commands in New England. MacDowell wasn’t brought in because the mission was just too sensitive. He might be trusted to provide escort duty or a couple of companies of maritime rifles, but Corpus Christi was just too valuable a prize. After all, MacDowell controls Portsmouth Naval Base and Bath Ironworks. Even more so than Carlucci, MacDowell could well believe that he could refit the sub and use it for his own purposes. No, the MilGov would not want the likes of MacDowell involved in the sub hunt, which is why a Special Operations-type group with no local loyalties was deemed the way to go—despite the fact that the Maritime Rifles were probably the idea choice for the mission.
I can’t say why MilGov chose not to involve Holsgirder’s forces. That’s an open question.
There was great fear that MacDowell would get wind of the hunt for Corpus Christi and get involved. Still, there was little to be done. The MilGov folks responsible for the mission believed that a low-profile SO mission would be quieter and have a much greater chance of success than a large-scale mission with enough manpower and firepower to fend off the local powers. The latter option simply was too expensive, given the constraints on resources in the Atlantic Fleet post-Omega. The SO advocates were right, as it turns out.
First District did receive some supplies in return for assisting with Operation Omega. Most of the goods were of direct value to Gallatin: fuel oil, large-caliber ammunition, and some replacement parts (principally electronics) cannibalized from other Navy vessels. Gallatin used some of this stock during Operation Omega, but there is enough left for MacDowell to use her as a battleship against the UBF.
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