IIRC all the MC-130's and EC-130's that departed Massirah Island for Desert
One in 1980 were over gross weight at take off and were pretty severely
stressed on landing in the Iranian desert. There were some pretty hairy
takeoffs from that site, too.

Sounds like the MH-53's that are working in Afghanistan are being "ridden
hard and put up wet", also.
--
Les
F-4C(WW),D,E,G(WW)/AC-130A/MC-130E EWO (ret)