U.S. Landing Is Expected in Prime Time : Marines: Officials hope that show of force will discourage opposition from Somali fighters.

The first large contingent of U.S. Marines scheduled for duty in famine-ravaged Somalia is to land in that country Wednesday morning in what American officials hope will be a strong enough show of force to discourage serious opposition, the Pentagon said Monday.

Defense Department officials said that elements of an 1,800-troop contingent now waiting off shore on amphibious assault ships will be flown by helicopter to Mogadishu to secure the airport and to begin clearing the way for the arrival of equipment and weapons.

Military officials said the initial landing operation is being set up for maximum public relations effect, both in Somalia and in the United States. Part of the landing will occur in prime television time tonight in the eastern United States and is expected to be televised.

Pentagon officials said that some U.S. military Special Forces teams are already on the ground. As is typical in such operations, the first large wave of troops is preceded by special operations commandos and reconnaissance teams who survey the potential danger to landing forces.

The White House on Monday repeated its assertion that American troops will be permitted to take “whatever action they feel is necessary” to ensure order in Somalia, even if it means firing first if they believe they are in danger.

Presidential spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said that, while disarming the Somali gangs is “not a principal objective” of the U.S. mission, “our commanders on the ground will decide when and how to carry out disarming as it’s appropriate. . . .”

He referred questioners to an earlier statement by Marine Corps Commandant Carl Mundy Jr. that, while American troops do not intend to search for arms caches, “obviously if they come upon arms or if they encounter arms and they can collect them, they will.”

The developments came as President-elect Bill Clinton continued to sidestep questions on the Somali operation, telling reporters who asked whether he was satisfied with plans for withdrawing U.S. troops that “we can talk about that later.”

At the same time, First Lady Barbara Bush, speaking to reporters during a special Christmas tour of the White House, defended the Somalia operation, saying that the United States is “doing the right thing. . . . Good people can’t sit back and just watch people starve to death,” she said.

Meanwhile, Navy officials sketched details of their plans to mount a logistics and engineering operation designed to transport equipment to Somalia and dispatch Seabee construction battalions to help build airport and seaport facilities, roads and warehouses.

Officials said the operation will begin Wednesday when Seabees enter the area to widen the aprons at Mogadishu and Baidoa airports, set up ship-unloading operations at Mogadishu’s port and move supplies out quickly toward forward staging areas.

They also said that orders are now in place for fast-sealift and commercial cargo vessels to begin carrying heavy equipment for use by U.S. forces in Somalia.

In Southern California, about 200 Seabees from Port Hueneme will leave by Thursday to join the Somalia mission, with another 600 preparing to ship out later, Navy officials said Monday.

The 600-man Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 40 had been preparing for a regular, seven-month deployment to Guam but got word Friday that it would, instead, head toward Somalia.

Battalion 40 will drill water wells, build roads and put up bases to support the Marines and other armed forces, Port Hueneme officials said, joining up with the regiment of about 200 Seabee supervisors and support staff.

But some Seabees in the battalion bound for Somalia said they are not happy about the change in plans. “I’m really not looking forward to it,” said Petty Officer Lewis Stephan, 22. “It’s going to be living in tents. It’s going to be just like Saudi (Arabia, site of last year’s Operation Desert Storm) all over again. Not much liberty.”

Times special correspondent Maia Davis in Port Hueneme contributed to this report.

The First Wave

The Marines will rush ashore aboard helicopters and amphibious vehicles to seize and secure Mogadishu’s port and airport. That will allow more equipment to come in by air and the port to be used for both military supplies and food for starving Somali civilians. The Marines’ next major task will be to secure Baidoa airfield, 160 miles northwest of Mogadishu.

Key Supply Ship

The Lummus, a supply ship that will back up the troops, carries 775 vehicles and other support equipment, including: M1-A1 tanks Armored assault vehicles Artillery Trucks Forklifts Food Fuel Water Desalinization equipment Tents Blankets Medical supplies Ammunition *

When Will It Start?

First light Wednesday, Pentagon sources say. With the 11-hour time difference, that means mission would begin this evening L.A. time.