The mission was aimed at destroying the terrorist forces labeled Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Action is power and no greater force catapults action like the power of war. Close air support was an element that was not properly planned for in the beginning, but was what ended up being the lifeboat for the ground elements locked in combat with the overwhelming al-Qaeda forces. NOT RATED. [6] Miscommunication between Texas 14 and higher command meant the bombardment was not that extensive and consisted of six bombs. Joint Planning During Operation Anaconda Operation Anaconda was the first large-scale Army combat operation that was carried out as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. Particularly, a mission never goes as planned and Troops are faced with hard decisions. Debatably, competence is the most essential principle relating directly to the commander. It is evident through the course of human events that war is an inherent endeavor revealed within our will to survive. TF Panther was under the command of Colonel James L. Huggins and had two infantry battalions from the 3d Brigade of the 82d Airborne Division and one attached infantry battalion from the division's 1st Brigade. Their vital intelligence was fed back to the AFO and would prove invaluable once the operation started. In the heavy fire fight that followed two Chinooks were shot down and a number of others were severely damaged. Between March 2 and March 16, 2002 1,700 airlifted U.S. troops and 1,000 pro-government Afghan militia battled between 300 and 1,000 al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters to obtain control of the valley. The success of the operation was mainly due to the commanders recognizing and acting on the information received (Fleri, Howard, Hukill, & Searle, 2003). b. (2005). (2007). () The Germans are quoted to have witnessed U.S. [14] TF Anvil consisted of TF Rakkasan and the 1-87 to set up blocking positions and prevent enemy forces from escaping. The operation was well-rehearsed to ensure that the mission would be completed in five days. Operation Anaconda took place in early March 2002 in the Shahikot Valley and the Armagh Mountains, Afghanistan. Mission orders are the guide by which tasks are assigned, resources are allocated and guidance is issued. Mission command philosophy is guided by six principles. Operation Anaconda. The MH-47Es carrying the SEALs caught up to their targets: the lead Chinook landed in front of the convoy; as the occupants leapt out of their vehicles, the door gunner hosed the vehicles down with his minigun, cutting down a number of al-Qaeda terrorists; the second Chinook overshot the column and raked it with minigun fire as it passed. TF Hammer's attack stalled short of entering the valley, due to unexpected heavy small arms and mortar fire, combined with the lack of expected close air support. At approximately 06:10, Razor 01 reached the landing zone. American forces eventually gained the upper hand, inflicting heavy casualties on the Taliban forces and pushing them out of the valley. They did not possess the desire to overcome changes in their operating environment nor the capability to do so if given the chance. The two Apaches were damaged early on in the day, one Apache was forced to return to base when an RPG destroyed its left-side Hellfire mount sending shrapnel through the airframe; as well as being peppered by small arms, further RPG rounds and DShK rounds (one DShK round penetrated the cockpit narrowly missing the pilots). John Chapman was alive and fighting on the peak after the SEALs left rather than being killed outright as thought by Mako 30. From this concept, the philosophy of the seven principles of mission command has become discovered. The fighters were a mix of well equipped Uzbeks, Chechens, and Afghan Arabs. Danger, mental and physical injury and death is a risk in any military operation. Originally, an insertion point 1,400 metres (1,500yd) east of the peak was identified, but due to uncontrollable time constraints, the SEALs of Mako 30 were forced into an insertion to the peak itself. Sgt. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Guidance and Requirements: a. This, plus the actions of the two SASR officers working with the 10th Mountain Division, earned the commander of the Australian SASR force in Afghanistan the US Bronze Star for his unit's outstanding contribution to the war on terrorism. The level or prudent risk instantly increased to an unacceptable level as soon as the battle began. Bahmanyar, Mir. The operational phase of Operation Husky showed some . US Department of Defense. a letter of orders from General Grant to General Sherman. Security expert Bill Roggio argued that al-Qaeda "took a beating during the battle, [but] they were by no means defeated".[9]. 3 main talking points is Competence, Mutual Trust & Shared Understanding. The American military needed Operation Anaconda to happen in order to secure success for future engagements; however, it is regrettable that eight people had to provide the ultimate sacrifice in order to learn the required lessons. [30][31], General Tommy Franks declares Operation Anaconda over, later describing it "an unqualified and complete success. [2] Estimates of Al-Qaeda and Taliban casualties range from 100 to 1,000, with U.S. commanders favoring the higher estimates and Afghan commanders favoring the lower estimates. The following is a look at exactly how the principles of mission command were compromised. According to an interview[36] of some soldiers of the German Special Forces KSK, the post-operation briefing was broken down by an argument between the KSK soldiers and U.S. soldiers. Operation Anaconda remains one of the most significant operations in Operating Enduring Freedom. The record for the longest combat kill by a sniper was set during Operation Anaconda by Canadian Army sniper Corporal Rob Furlong of the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry and held for seven years until surpassed in 2009. We're here to answer any questions you have about our services. Agreeably, competence, and the principle of mutual trust correlate with each other. When the execution of Operation Anaconda occurred, U.S. military presence in Afghanistan was not yet fully mature. The QRF's Chalk 2 moved up the mountain to assist Chalk 1. Huggins also had support from artillery, aviation, military intelligence, and other units. The multiple commanders had no control over the other forces, and allied Afghan forces had equipment support to complete the mission. Operation Anaconda was the first major joint combat operation against the war on terror that the US was committed to winning. If your specific country is not listed, please select the UK version of the site, as this is best suited to international visitors. The intent was to eliminate the presence of the Taliban and Al Qaeda from Shahikot. Just login to the Online Policy Manager to start. Throughout the day, the TACP forward air controllers and Special Forces teams that had infiltrated into the area the previous day assisted in calling in airstrikes from B-1, B-52, F-15, F-18 and F-16 aircraft, inflicting heavy casualties on the Taliban and al Qaeda fighters, but by no means silencing them. Salvation came after dark in the form of an AC-130U Spooky gunship that unlike the faster-moving jets during the day, was able to loiter over the area and provide sustained firepower so the men could be airlifted out under cover of darkness; the group suffered 35 wounded (two chalks of which were casevaced by PaveHawk CSAR choppers) and none killed.[25]. If you need assistance with writing your essay, our professional essay writing service is here to help! Drone footage of the incident shows the mortally wounded Technical Sergeant John A. Chapman drawing fire away from Razor 01 as it landed. On the second day, U.S. forces modified its original plan from a hammer-and-anvil focus to one that would see mass air fires on the valleys eastern sides in support of the U.S. Armys positions there. The Pashtun militia obviously failed to exercise disciplined initiative by failing to take action when unforeseen threats arose. In the Lower Shahikot several imposing mountains dominate the landscape; chief among them is Takur Ghar at the southeastern end of the valley; to the northeast is Tsapare Ghar, dominating the northern entrance to the valley. The mission order briefs the why, who, what, where, when of the mission, but not necessarily how. A total of 8 U.S. soldiers, sailors, and airmen were killed and 82 wounded, along with several Afghan militiamen; U.S. estimates of other casualties vary, indicating rebel casualties between 500 and 800 and at least 14 civilian casualties. US Special Forces Operation, Operation Anaconda was a military operation that took place in early March 2002 as part of the War in Afghanistan. The art of command is used to exercise authority, to provide leadership, and to make timely decisions. (2012). 3. At 03:45, the Ranger quick reaction force was alerted by the DCG to the area. While this operation was considered an overall success, in the end, initial mission plans and the intent were far from being met. Task Force K-Bar: ODAs from the 3rd SFG. These assets were tasked instead to the TF Anvil troops. The operation displayed the militarys capability to adapt to unanticipated changes and overcome them. The supporting tasks fall into two categories, commander tasks, and staff tasks. The signal intelligence also raised the possibility that high-value targets (HVTs) were present in the valley among which were Jalaluddin Haqqani and Saif Rahman. Two Rocket Propelled Grenades slammed into the helicopter, shutting down one of its engines, the electric system, and the hydraulic systems and causing Petty Officer First Class Neil C. Roberts to fall out of the open ramp. This type of shared understanding was not initially achieved by the commanders of the U.S. forces. Mission orders define the desired results but do not mandate how to achieve them. In the wake of Operation Anaconda, relations between US and UK forces on the ground soured when Stars and Stripes, the magazine for American forces and their families, openly criticized the Royal Marines for returning "empty-handed" from their search for al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters claiming that Britain's contribution to the campaign was "disappointing. On February 28, on the eve of the operation, three AFO teams were covertly infiltrated into the valley, one codenamed Juliet was made up of 5 Delta operators with a signals intelligence specialist from the ISA, entered the valley on ATVs from the north, driving through the night in adverse weather conditions, eventually reaching a covert hide on the eastern side of the valley. This was the first time this capability had been used for a live combat mission. The Apaches destroyed some enemy positions harassing the U.S. and Afghan troops, but the insurgents began intentionally firing their RPGs into the air. Further air support was provided by U.S. Navy units and French Air Force Mirage 2000Ds. Ropel was later awarded the Bronze Star Medal with a Valor device for his actions. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. As they discussed a possible mission abort, the helicopter was met with effective RPG fire. (LogOut/ use your time to develop a deep . Mission orders rely on individual initiative and provide the maximum freedom of choice in how to best accomplish the assigned mission. The operation took place in the Shahi-Kot Valley and Arma Mountains southeast of Zormat. 3.3 foreign exchange department (fed) foreign exchange transaction plays a vital role in the economic development of a nation. The two SEAL fire teams, Mako 30 and Mako 21, planned to establish an observation point on either end of the valley. "F-14 Tomcat Units of Operation Enduring Freedom", 2013, Neville, Leigh, Special Forces in the War on Terror (General Military), Osprey Publishing, 2015. The U.S determination of destroying the Taliban supporters and the Al Qaeda organization was greatly achieved in October 2001. [10] Increasing signals and human intelligence indicated a strong presence of Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters in the Shahi-Kot Valley; approximately 150 to 200 fighters were believed to be wintering and possibly preparing for a spring offensive in the valley. US Department of the Army. Americans remained in the battle trusting in each others will to fight, morale, confidence, and the warrior ethos among them. The U.S. forces estimated they had killed at least 500 fighters over the duration of the battle, however journalists later noted that only 23 bodies were found and critics suggested that after a couple days, the operation "was more driven by media obsession, than military necessity". The hot reception resulted in only two of the planned eight CH-47's landing in the LZ. Macpherson, Malcolm. The road was in poor condition and difficulties ensued. Operation Anaconda serves as a powerful model for commanders and army leaders to apply the principles of Mission Command to overcome unpredictable challenges and eventually achieve their potential. Command and control of combat land operations become a critical role of the commander. The expectation was that fighters, as in the case of Tora Bora several months earlier, would flee in the face of an assault and that blocker groups would simply be able to round them up.[11]. The militia did not have an understanding of the bigger picture and just how important they were to the success of the mission. The militia was even told to conduct their operations according to the way they wanted. In the months before OA, the Taliban and Al Qaeda faced several defeats and withdrew to Shahikot. Mission command is accomplished through the execution of staff tasks that are defined by the commander tasks and these tasks define the mission command warfighting function. Only after the adaptation of mission orders did the acceptable prudent risk factor become acceptable. Because of this, the exercise of the disciplined initiative is accomplished and gives subordinates the confidence to apply their judgment in ambiguous situations because everyone at every level knows the missions purpose, key tasks, and desired end state. Chapman was seen fighting in a bunker against multiple enemies before stepping into the open and braving enemy small arms fire one last time to allow the QRF helicopter a bit of breathing room.[6]. Each principal had an individual failure that created an enormous challenge to overcome in order to accomplish the mission. Hyder directed the Chalk 2 leader to continue mission up the mountain and moved, alone, to link up with Mako 21 in order to assist that team's movement away from the peak thereby creating a better situation for air assets to support by fire. Operation Anaconda was a complex battle that took place in the Shahikot Valley of Afghanistan between the U.S. Army and terrorists. The forces used, consisting of the 187th Infantry Regiment ("Rakkasans") of the 101st Airborne Division, led by Colonel Frank Wiercinski, and soldiers of 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, led by Lieutenant Colonel Paul LaCamera, were to be inserted by CH-47D Chinooks, supported by 6 AH-64A Apache helicopters and secure these blocking positions. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/apus/reader.action?docID=817138#. Also on March 4, 2nd Battalion of the Rakkasans air assaulted into the eastern end of the valley, immediately attacking the heights under Apache cover. The Pashtun militia did not possess a clear, shared understanding of the importance of their role in the operation. A great example of mutual trust and shared understanding is demonstrated in The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant. Regardless of mitigation, some risk remains and all from the highest commander to the Soldier in the operational environment understands and accepts the risk. Operation Anaconda was a military battle carried out against al Qaeda and Taliban forces. The TF 11 operators added their firepower. Facing decisive action is a common theme of military service and it leads into the next two and final principles of mission command; discipline initiative and risk acceptance. This essay conducts an analytical overview to Operation Anaconda, a military operation conducted in Eastern Afghanistan in early March of 2002. In the planning phase of the operation, the commander of Delta Force, LTC Pete Blaber ruled out any helicopter infiltration of AFOs into the area as not to alert the terrorists in the valley; in addition to AFOs conducting reconnaissance of routes into and around the valley on modified Polaris ATVs (often in adverse weather conditions on difficult terrain), two teams (codenamed India and Juliet) with 3 and 5 operators (respectively) of highly experienced Delta operators from their squadrons Reconnaissance and Surveillance Troop climbed high into the mountains and gorges of the Shahikot, often in extreme weather conditions, to conduct environmental reconnaissance. "First, technology overconfidence, particularly among high-ranking commanders and staff, deludes American forces into believing they can dissolve the fog of war. Task Force Rakkasan: 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, 1st and 2nd battalion 187th Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division. Though they weren't given a specific mission, they were to establish communication for further instructions upon reaching Gardez, 10 minutes from the mountain. Furthermore, they had no command over the Special Operation Forces (SOF). Operation Anaconda took place in early March 2002 in the Shahi-Kot Valley and Arma Mountains southeast of Zormat, Afghanistan .This operation was the first large-scale battle in the United. There are countless examples available from various American battles but one, in particular, is notable in OA. In Eastern Afghanistan in early March of 2002 DCG to the success of the commander forces, and Armagh. Valley of Afghanistan between the U.S. Army and terrorists Afghan troops, but not necessarily how overcome in to! 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