Adamec, W. Ludwig. The US forces suffered 80 casualties in the operation, with 8 killed and 72 wounded. [30][31], General Tommy Franks declares Operation Anaconda over, later describing it "an unqualified and complete success. The U.S. forces had a mission to secure the escape routes out of the valley. [35] The previous record of 2,310 metres (7,580ft) was set a few days before by his teammate Arron Perry, also of the 3rd Battalion PPCLI. Their vital intelligence was fed back to the AFO and would prove invaluable once the operation started. [6] This operation was the first large-scale battle in the post-2001 War in Afghanistan since the Battle of Tora Bora in December 2001. One team would move to the peak of Takur Ghar, which commanded the southern approach to the Shahi-Kot valley. The operation took place in the Shahi-Kot Valley and Arma Mountains southeast of Zormat. A convoy led by Army Chief Warrant Officer Stanley L. Harriman of the Third Special Forces Group split off from the main TF Hammer force to reach the assigned observation point. AFO's only frustration was that Rakkasan ETAC/JTAC had priority for calling in airstrikes over the AFOs requests and the other SOF reconnaissance teams in and around the valley. Razor 02, which had been diverted to Gardez as Razor 01 was landing on Takur Ghar, returned with the rest of the quick-reaction force and Lieutenant Commander Hyder at 06:25. With the help of the new arrivals and close air support, the force was able to consolidate its position on the peak. At that moment, Slabinski decided to change the primary mission to a rescue mission after Petty Officer Roberts. Some are critical about the success of American and coalition forces but General Tommy Franks who led the attacks against the Taliban in 2001 and oversaw the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and defeat of Saddam Hussein stated that OA was an unqualified and absolute success (p. 346). Operation Anaconda was a necessary evil. Through threat of nearby enemy response elements, hypothermia and shock of wounded personnel, and across nearly 30" of snow in extreme terrain, Mako 21 found a site suitable for an MH-47. This authority would be delegated to subordinate commanders that ultimately shared one common intent. There are countless examples available from various American battles but one, in particular, is notable in OA. They did not possess the desire to overcome changes in their operating environment nor the capability to do so if given the chance. Operation Anaconda has given a substantial vision for the military commanders and the team members. Operation Anaconda demonstrated a breakdown in all six mission command philosophy principles and became the catalyst for changing the way war was conducted by the United States. Mansoor fortified the valley, digging trench systems, building bunkers and firing positions into the ridgelines, many of which would be put to effect during the operation. Here you can choose which regional hub you wish to view, providing you with the most relevant information we have for your specific region. Since the battle of Tora Bora in 2001, OA was the first large scale battle in Afghanistan. Mutual Trust Life Solutions; Pan-American Life Insurance; Annual Report; Company News; Find a Representative; Careers Save Time! 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. Knowledge and experience are increased through self-development, training, education, classwork, and realistic simulations. [11] In this engagement, Staff Sergeant Andrzej Ropel, and Specialist William Geraci, recently transferred in from the Division's Long Range Surveillance Detachment, led the squad under fire to a ridgeline above the "Halfpipe." Because of this, the Razor 01 flew into the same enemy trap that the SEALs had flown into, with no one able to communicate the reality of the situation. Once a war is initiated it is plagued by violence, death, chaos, confusion, complexity, disorder, and uncertainty. For example, in the early planning stages of OA General Mikolashek, General Hagenbeck, and General Franks conflicted with the planning phase because the three shared information, but were each in charge of their generalship. 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. This operation was the first large-scale battle in the US war in Afghanistan since the Battle of Tora Bora in December 2001. Operation Anaconda was a complex battle that took place in the Shahikot Valley of Afghanistan between the U.S. Army and terrorists. Australian SASR soldiers had infiltrated the area prior to the first helicopter crash undetected as part of a long range reconnaissance mission when the Chinooks went down. OPERATION ANACONDA OVERVIEW What follows is a brief summary of the critical events that shaped the planning and conduct of Operation Anaconda, the final and largest battle in the initial invasion of Afghanistan after the attacks of September 11, 2001. 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. One of the generals in overall charge of the events at Takur Ghar ordered the radio frequencies switched to prevent the plan being modified. US Department of Defense. Due to time constraints, a helicopter insertion would be needed for the teams to reach the peak before dawn. Orbiting Apache helicopters attempted to suppress enemy mortar teams, but ran into a wall of RPG and 12.7mm fire, with one Apache losing all of its electronics to an RPG hit. While this operation was considered an overall success, in the end, initial mission plans and the intent were far from being met. "Roberts Ridge" Bantam Dell (New York), 2013. Task Force 11 received time-sensitive intelligence that a possible HVT was travelling within a convoy of al-Qaeda fighters who were attempting to escape by vehicle from Shahikot into Pakistan. It provided an example of the ability of the American military to accomplish the mission in the face of adversity and to succeed regardless of the chances for success. Initially, resources such as air support, heavy mortars, and personnel were not sufficiently allocated for the operation based largely on the inaccurate intelligence assessment. Mission orders that assign tasks and allocate resources became more accurate due to the missteps of Operation Anaconda. The six principles of mission command are: build cohesive teams through mutual trust, create shared understanding, provide a clear commander's intent, exercise disciplined initiative, use mission orders, and accept prudent risk. The operation ran into problems from the outset. "[32] Investigative reporter Seymour Hersh refuted the official account, describing it as "in fact a debacle, plagued by squabbling between the services, bad military planning and avoidable deaths of American soldiers, as well as the escape of key al-Qaeda leaders, likely including Osama bin Laden."[33]. Mako 30 and Lt. Cmdr. Mission orders rely on individual initiative and provide the maximum freedom of choice in how to best accomplish the assigned mission. The exercise of mission command encompasses how Army commanders and staffs apply the foundational mission command philosophy together with the mission command warfighting function, guided by the principles of mission command. [12] In keeping with established strategy in Afghanistan, fire support was to be provided by United States Air Force units, rather than artillery. Debatably, competence is the most essential principle relating directly to the commander. Student's Name University Course Professor Date. A former KSK commander is quoted in the German magazine Stern to have said: 'The pictures of Abu Ghraib, the torture in Iraqi prison camps, did absolutely not surprise me.'[36]. In Operation Anaconda, the Joint Commander (JC) failed to utilize the Air Force capabilities available to him in an effective manner, which significantly extended the duration of the mission and the amount of casualties his forces incurred. The Operation Anaconda is seen as the initial conventional operation style of military in Operation Enduring Freedom. The mission was aimed at destroying the terrorist forces labeled Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. As they discussed a possible mission abort, the helicopter was met with effective RPG fire. Other units that took part are the B Co. 159th Avn Rgt, 75th Ranger Regiment,[18] Joint Special Operations Command and CIA's Special Activities Division and British Royal Marines. The AC-130 was then directed to attack the large groupings of enemy combatants currently exposed on top of the mountain, one to three minutes before the Mako 30 was scheduled to arrive. But the risk was worth the effort to save his teammate and complete his mission. Operation Anaconda was carried out in Shahikot Valley in eastern Afghanistan by the United States forces during early March 2002. Executive Director Global Commercial Operations Amgen. A great example of mutual trust and shared understanding is demonstrated in The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant. Competence is gained by knowledge and experience. The way the operation was planned and executed highlighted the need for a paradigm shift in the way the U.S. conducted military operations. The initiative is disciplined because the decision made when engaged in an operational paradox is controlled within the parameters of the commanders intent. The operation was well-rehearsed to ensure that the mission would be completed in five days. The following is a look at exactly how the principles of mission command were compromised. Mission commanders are trained with methods to analyze risk factors to mitigate them. The battle area occupied about 60 square miles. Registered office: Creative Tower, Fujairah, PO Box 4422, UAE. Purchase the answer to view it. In Sabinskis mind, he was well aware of the risk of returning to the area of initial contact. Mainly due to the multi-head command structure and the lack of time to define correct approaches to solving problems that may be encountered. Previously stated; the commanders intent does not emphasize the why of the mission, but the mission order does. Several soldiers were injured after their jingle trucks overturned, the commanders ordered the trucks to use their headlights, destroying any element of surprise. "[34] He rejects the popular characterization of the operation as a guerilla war.[34]. (1) Even though headquarters published the warning order on 6 January, the Combined Force Air Component . Razor 04 returned to the peak in an attempt to rescue Roberts, offloading Mako 30. Two Chinooks then landed their passengers in cover nearby and the operators took up positions overlooking the convoy. American forces eventually gained the upper hand, inflicting heavy casualties on the Taliban forces and pushing them out of the valley. [37] They were replaced by CTF 82, formed from the headquarters of the 82d Airborne Division and led by the division's commander, Major General John R. Vines. Regardless of mitigation, some risk remains and all from the highest commander to the Soldier in the operational environment understands and accepts the risk. 3 main talking points is Competence, Mutual Trust & Shared Understanding. Task Force K-Bar: ODAs from the 3rd SFG. US and Afghan sources believe at least 200 Taliban and Al Qaida fighters were killed during the initial assault and subsequent rescue mission. Danger, mental and physical injury and death is a risk in any military operation. This operation was launched after several defeats in the past months. Stephen Biddle has characterized Operation Anaconda as a "series of surprisingly orthodox ground battles. TF Rakkasan and TF Hammer fought all day with the AFO teams calling in continuous airstrikes on al-Qaeda positions while Apaches protected the Rakkasans on the valley floor. A paper written by Col. Andrew Milani (Former commander of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment) and Dr. Stephen D. Biddle entitled "Pitfalls of Technology: A Case Study of the battle of Takur Ghar" noted that the Predator was on station 90 minutes after Roberts had fallen; the images that were shot before the Predator had arrived were shot by GRIM-32's Infrared Cameras. This lack of air support demoralized the Afghans and frustrated the special forces. using some of the principles of Competence, mutual trust shared understanding, mission orders, commander's intent, disciplined initiative, and or risk accepted, Analyze and evaluate the major points of the case study for research to write your persuasive essay. Mission orders define the desired results but do not mandate how to achieve them. Task Force Rakkasan: 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, 1st and 2nd battalion 187th Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division. The U.S. forces had not created mutual trust in order to build a cohesive team with this Pashtun militia. Operation Anaconda, a subordinate operation to Operation Enduring Freedom in 2002, was notable for difficulties in integrating US air and ground forces in order to bring combat power to bear on a stronger than originally anticipated foe. If you need assistance with writing your essay, our professional essay writing service is here to help! He realized he would not return home to see his son. Because of the poor initial intelligence assessment, the troops on the ground were initially exposed to a much higher prudent risk factor than what was originally anticipated. There were many factors during this operation that could have led to added failure. One of the most significant and famous operations of the global war on terrorism. [24] Signalman Martin "Jock" Wallace, of the Australian Special Air Service Regiment, was awarded the Medal for Gallantry for his actions during the fighting. The militia did not have an understanding of the bigger picture and just how important they were to the success of the mission. Soldiers also recovered two AK-47 assault rifles, one magazine and 707,000 Iraqi dinar, equal to about $600. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Use your time to develop a deep understanding of your topic to fully explain your stance on the topic. Lang, Katie. The SEAL fire team, Mako 30, was picked up by an MH-47 Chinook helicopter, at 23:23 on 3 March. This operation was the first large-scale battle in the post-2001 War in Afghanistan . Mission Command: Command and Control of Army Forces. 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]. The Afghans had successfully defeated the Soviet Army twice in this valley, and were expecting events to pan out in a similar fashion. Disclaimer: This is an example of a student written essay.Click here for sample essays written by our professional writers. Trust comes from successful shared experiences and training, usually gained incidental to operations but also deliberately developed by the commander. Around midnight, the units of TF Hammer loaded into their vehicles and left their base in Gardez at 333558N 691344E / 33.59944N 69.22889E / 33.59944; 69.22889 (Gardez) for the Shahi-Kot Valley. The military objective was achieved but with a higher loss of life than what was anticipated or warranted. 3 main talking points is Competence, Mutual Trust & Shared Understanding. Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan. Subordinates gain the trust of their commanders by displaying competence and commanders gain the trust of their subordinates by a display of their competence in training, garrison, or combat environments. Analyze the summary of Op Anaconda, provide a brief and short summary of what the mission was (Who, what, when, why, and how). This was the first time this capability had been used for a live combat mission. Using a McMillan TAC-50 .50-calibre rifle, Furlong killed a Taliban fighter armed with an RPK machine gun at a confirmed distance of 2,430 metres (1.51 miles).