WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- The U.S. military will add only a few more helicopters to its fleet of 48 supporting tsunami relief in Asia, a Pentagon official said Wednesday.
However, other nations will be contributing more helicopters -- the only way to get relief to many areas -- to bring the total fleet up to about 90.
U.S. Pacific Command chief Adm. Thomas Fargo said Tuesday the U.S. fleet would double in size.
"He misspoke," a Pentagon official said Wednesday. Fargo meant the total relief fleet would increase.
The U.S. military with a force of about 13,435 personnel, is heading up the international military rescue and assistance task force. It is headquartered in Thailand.
Thus far, 48 helicopters, 21 ships and 41 fixed-wing aircraft have delivered 611,000 tons of relief supplies.
