Missions, Ops, Weapons, and Combat Day By Day: Special Forces In Action [1 ed.] 0739442899, 9780739442890

Citation preview

KEVIN DOCKERY and E. ABBREGHT Fa

SPECIAL FORCES IN ACTION

SPECIAL FORCES IN ACTION *** MISSIONS, OPS, WEAPONS, AND COMBAT— DAY BY DAY Kevin Dockery and E. Abbrecht

CITADEL PRESS Kensington Publishing Corp.

CITADEL PRESS books are published by Kensington Publishing Corp. 850 Third Avenue New York, NY 10022

Copyright © 2004

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews. CITADEL PRESS and the Citadel logo are Reg. U.S. Pat & TM Off. Printed in the United States of America

ISBN 0-7394-4289-9 Frontispiece: Crawling through the mud during training—a task conducted by every would-be SEAL or UDT operator, both officer or enlisted man, since the early days of World War II. And the action looks to continue well into the future. U.S. Navy

To my Father— Frank R. Dockery, who set an example and high standard that I still strive to reach.

Thanks, Dad.

7

a)

= &

7

=>

‘

-

we

aa

7

-

ain

7

yo

yt

a

safer! edt

wi

pa

a

_ =f ae ane eSribs “i, a

ina MiGsahbl gh faeita

is

R, : ;

“Oey. t-u >

i

dake = a Ages

ton a by sie yoit :

a

be

ating

ee

i Mele

Kasten

ot

rg

ag

i

tie

ene ©

;

|

; ;

a

7

7

;

:

Contents Introduction

ix

JANUARY

JULY

FEBRUARY

AUGUST

MARCH

SEPTEMBER

APRIL

OCTOBER

MAy

NOVEMBER

JUNE

DECEMBER

Glossary Index’

319 *327

About the Authors

339

vii

cae

Fe

a x

ne

ra

a

Ae

/

f

-

0 toe

Pana

a

a

aey 7 |

oS :

ee

MS = Chae,

‘ae ba 33wreay oe

ie 4 @

cs Md

aes ee

5.

“toes abe = + > ew ., ‘es oe het

euSNS ee Tap, @

awit 7

7

2 2

eeits

i ™

Introduction This book began as a listing of significant events in the history of Naval Special Warfare—the SEALs and the Underwater Demolition Teams. They are the Navy component of the U.S. special operations forces, men who conduct unusual and unconventional missions, often right under the eyes and guns of the enemy. It quickly became obvious that no single special operations unit stands alone; all of their histories are intertwined with one another. So this

book has been expanded to include significant dates and incidents of all of the special operations forces. Our special operations forces trace their lineage back to the beginnings of the United States and earlier. The British fought against unconventional fighters in many small pitched battles as this country won its independence. During the dark days of World War II, the entire world was in danger of losing its independence. Unconventional fighters, guerrillas and commandos, had their genesis in the years the world teetered on the brink of total chaos. The years following the war were unusual in that there were now weapons at hand that were considered so powerful that no one would consider facing them. People hoped war was a thing of the past. But the conflict of ideologies between the Communist East and the Free World of the West simply led to another way to conduct war. The “War of the Flea”—guerrilla and insurgent actions—became the byword of conflicts throughout the world. During the Korean War in the early 1950s, a number of special operations forces that had all but disappeared in the post-World War II era were

INTRODUCTION

resurrected and given new missions. Operating behind the lines, these men performed actions that had effects far greater than their numbers would have suggested possible. When the United States entered the 1960s, a new president recognized that unconventional warfare would be the method of countries forcing their ideologies on smaller nations. In the early years of the decade, new units were founded within the United States military that would soon create a historic name for themselves. The forge where that name, that legend would be shaped was a small country in Southeast Asia. In the jungles and swamps of South Vietnam, the names of the Navy SEALs, the Green Berets, and others,

became synonymous with small units creating havoc among the enemy. Areas where guerrillas and others had thought themselves safe were turned into killing zones by America’s special operations forces. When Vietnam ended, a new kind of war began that had been developing over centuries. Terrorism took battles to a completely unarmed, unsuspecting target—civilians. The special operations forces soon showed the terrorists that their actions would not go unpunished. When in the first year of the new millennium, terrorism conducted an attack against the homeland of freedom,

the United States did not stand idly by. American special operations forces turned against the attackers and those who would give them shelter. Day by day, the pages of this book list some of the actions of all of the U.S. special operations forces. These men conduct some of the most secret operations the world has ever known. Only a handful of these actions are ever revealed to the public: These men are the quiet professionals—they like it that way.

i

an a

aint

SPECIAL FORCES IN ACTION

|)

;

ee

-

| ae

|

y

‘

ws

7

(2a

gio?

that

Gicatay,

~

P

:

an

»

TT

|

oy

-

ae

Ls:

>

>

ay

Dis

44

“

a

aio. | ae

}

ne

7 7 :

1D

"9

=

/ =

,

a ra

:

“o

ales a Pile,

er

a

i

a," . v

as eye Joa. ~

aearel

g

7

i414

Shaw! oh i= ma

< NAMES OF PERS: _ LIdG ELLIS, BMC RABBITT, STG3 GLASSCOCK, AND LDNN_ BON

MISSION

TASK:

GMG]

T

IN [a

_ CAPTURE 4 VCI_ AT SCHEDULED VC CADRE MEETING.

INTEL/INFO SOURCE(S);

_ PRU AGENT INTELL

INSERTION:

TIME: _ 13 4650H

METHOD:

SLICK"

AMS COORD:

_xS 82732

EXTRACTIONs

TIME:

METHOD:

SLICK

AMS COORD:

_XS 882732

BRIEF MISSION

Si

aD

13 1730H

NARRATIVE:

TIME

0

y

FRIENDLY PFRS/MATORIAL CASUALTIES: _ neers NONE eee

ENEMY PERS/MATERIAL CASUALTIRS:

BENTO BU ES

RESULTS, BTC.): _SLICKS WRRER DIVERTED TO LO SE AT! 4 N f tO MIS: M NG_AND

BD COPY

DIST:

(FORM REV. 4/69)

232

September 14 1944 (Pacific)—The invasion of the Yap Island group is canceled. The planned actions are abandoned as being too costly and unnecessary for the further advancement of the war. Nevertheless, a number of ships are already underway for the operation. The men of UDT Four aboard the USS Goldsborough (APD 132) have prepared their equipment for the Yap landings when the news reaches them. 1944 (Pacific)—UDT Seven decides to go in on a demolition swim to destroy obstacles discovered at Peleliu by a prior reconnaissance swim. Steel tripods (hedgehogs) and rows of wood posts are found about seventy-five yards from the beach. Higher on the beach, about thirty yards above the high water mark, further obstacles in the form of log barriers and concrete cribs are also noted. The demolition swim is considered a “disappointing” operation by the men and officers of UDT Seven. This is due to the poor planning of the operation. It adds to the problem of excessive manpower being available and causes even more confusion than usual for the night operation. In spite of this, the landing operations take place as planned.

1944 (Pacific)—UDT Eight conducts its first combat operation. The UDT is assigned to support the landings at Auguar Island in the Palau group. After a thirty-minute bombardment by a battleship, two cruisers, and three destroyers and then being covered by the naval gunfire, UDT Eight conducts a recon of the waters off Green Beach on the southeastern shore of Auguar. No mines or serious obstacles for the upcoming landings are found. This operation is actually a feint to distract the Japanese from the real landings at Red Beach on the northern shore of the island. The next morning at Red Beach, UDT Eight discovers jetted rails (steel rails stuck in the ground at an angle). A later demolition swim is planned for their removal. 1962 (South Vietnam)—The Headquarters Detachment (Provisional) of the Fifth

Special Forces Group arrives.

233

September 15 1944 (Pacific)—The invasion of Peleliu begins. UDTs Six and Seven conduct

reconnaissance and demolition swims in support of the operation. In addition to its own original assignments, UDT Six takes on the targets that were supposed to have been examined by UDT Able before its transport ship was stricken and forced to return to base. 1950 (Korea)—Operation Chromite, the largest amphibious landing since World War IL, is planned to put U.S. and UN troops in Jinsen, Korea, which is within

striking distance of Seoul. UDT One conducts a reconnaissance of the beaches and tidal flats; their information is of significant strategic importance to General Douglas MacArthur and his planners. Few man-made obstacles are found, but the area has extensive mud flats at low tide. Operators from UDT One help guide in the first wave of landing craft for the huge operation, which successfully ends up driving the People’s Army of North Korea back across the seventeenth parallel for the first time. 1970 (USA)—The Navy Seawolves are one of the units that the SEALs give a lot of credit to for the overall success of their efforts in Vietnam. The valor of the Seawolves has never been in question, as is illustrated by the citation for Lieu-

tenant (j.g.) Robert E. Baratko’s Navy Cross. The citation reads: For extraordinary heroism on 15 September 1970 while serving as the aircraft commander of an attack helicopter, attached to Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron THREE, during operations against enemy forces in the Republic of Vietnam. Lieutenant (jg) Baratko participated in a mission to provide cover for a medical evacuation helicopter which had previously attempted to evacuate several seriously wounded personnel in the face of intense enemy fire. As his plane and three others entered the evacuation area, the surrounding treelines erupted with intense fire which downed two aircraft and seriously damaged a third. Lieutenant (jg) Baratko’s aircraft sustained several critical hits, including one

234

through the fuel tank. With the only flyable helicopter on the scene, he provided gun-ship coverage while the medical evacuation helicopter eventually succeeded in rescuing the downed crews. As he was flying this coverage, Lieutenant (jg) Baratko's plane was again subjected to heavy fire and sustained several more hits. After the medical evacuation helicopter departed the area, Lieutenant (jg) Baratko flew to a nearby landing strip with his fuel supply practically exhausted. By his perseverance and great personal valor in the face of almost overwhelming odds, he was directly instrumental in saving the lives of several of his shipmates. His selfless and determined efforts were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. kkk

KK

September 16 1944 (Pacific)—After a thirty-minute bombardment, operators from UDT Eight land on Red Beach at Auguar Island and conduct the only combat demolition

operation of the war for UDT Eight. The UDT operators use 120 pounds of tetryl to blast away the obstacles on the beach. 1967 (South Vietnam)—As part of Operation Crimson Tide, the three platoons of

SEAL Team Two’s Detachment Alfa conduct a day-long island sweep operation. The large operation will destroy a possible VC strongpoint in the Mekong Delta area. The target for the SEALs’ sweep is Tan Dinh Island in the Song Hau Giang River at the southern edge of Ving Long Province. Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Platoons are inserted into the canal bank behind the island (on the southern side) and proceed to burn structures, destroy bunkers,

and capture equipment. After an area is cleared, the SEALs extract and are reinserted at another point. This procedure is repeated during the entire operation, which runs from 0430 to 2000 hours. A total of nine insertions are made.

235

The results of the operation include 3 VC killed, 1 probably killed, about 100 hooches burned, 75 bunkers destroyed, 100 sampans destroyed, 20 sampan motors captured, 2 kilograms of documents captured, along with two male VC captured. Also, three weapons are taken, an M1 Garand, an M1 Carbine, and a Chicom rifle, as well as ammunition for each weapon. One SEAL is wounded

slightly from the fragments of a 40mm M79 grenade, but he is treated and returned to duty quickly.

1994 (Haiti)—A detachment of Navy SEALs conducts a hydrographic reconnaissance of targeted beaches along the coast of Haiti. The beaches near Cap Haitian will be the next landing site for the troops of Operation Uphold Democracy. The waters the SEALs sometimes move through are thick with garbage and refuse. The SEALs also hear drumbeats from the Haitians on shore. At times, there are so many Haitian civilians in areas that the SEALs are supposed to recon that they cannot conduct their full recon without being detected. The SEALs, nevertheless, complete their recons successfully and the information they

gather corresponds with intelligence from other sources, verifying the accuracy of their work in spite of the situation.

September 17 1944 (Pacific)—The invasion of Auguar Island takes place as part of the planned island-hopping campaign in the Pacific. For two weeks after the invasion, the men of UDT Eight work for the beachmaster of the invasion, clearing mines and

destroying floating hazards. 1994 (Haiti)—Former president Jimmy Carter, Senator Sam Nunn, and retired General Colin Powell broker a last-minute deal to allow the incoming forces of Operation Uphold Democracy to land peacefully and restore order. All invasion forces moving toward Haiti are either aborted, diverted, or reconfigured to land

peacefully and unopposed.

236

September 18 1968 BARNDANCE # __ gait

SEAL TEAM»

DATE(S):

OTHER UNITS: 7 PRt

LESEPTSA

3

MSG REF(S):

ARUFUT, TOSD, ISHAM, eee

MISSION

TASK:

LON

Met el foe opal oe aroe cha, ~ 7

»a Vv

Fad! ii ins

F Sen

nie

a

rrig{

-

:

oe pias

a

ean

7

nave

:

tne

a

ie

wun: 4

i

7

*

Line arr

al searienA2a

-

-

a

A

;

SySpe rahe le Mae aeip

ule Sumehiian wag,

—

a

:

eeeou — a

aa

-

Fe

¢

h

’ 9

2-9 7

ve

"ngage

a

==

-

— 7

ah

=


Ti."

bap. amas

the

ae?

Lad

W

.

i

a

>

en

“eee

= =T)

a

a1

sy

aro =

:

=

6

ie

B.-.%

t

;

‘

rs

sf

eed cS cars |

=e

7

Pe

ey

=) 7

a

7

-

ay

é

=

S

or

ie. fia:

eae) ned ities Taos whi

=

2 5 a)

_

* _—

_

-

i ol pi eae. ane

Sate eke ahh ift Tata ERAS opts2 fey pike ‘ost aebperieievatoiacits

. 2 _

ins e/ Lei)

i ihe he Bekaehoyan hh WD fa

=

Fett,

:

beatrte

“9 afin ruta

: pe

a

a

a

-

A.Apt: erie Pia

A:Abita!velit An 4

Fee

Hepatecon (bp srababus Sa lwalih ay rast Yinmon

:— -

a

Dy! :

_

:

v

7

-

1

>

@

S

2

-

-

:

=

on

tS

a

_

_