TF RAKKASANTF RAKKASANOPERATION ANACONDAOPERATION ANACONDA

THE BATTLE OF SHAH-I-KOT VALLEY

TF RAKKASANTF RAKKASANOPERATION ANACONDAOPERATION ANACONDA

THE BATTLE OF SHAH-I-KOT VALLEY 2 - 13 MARCH 20022 - 13 MARCH 20022 - 13 MARCH 20022 - 13 MARCH 2002

AGENDAAGENDAINTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

AREA OF OPERATIONS / INTERESTAREA OF OPERATIONS / INTEREST

ENEMY SITUATIONENEMY SITUATION

BRIGADE MISSIONBRIGADE MISSION

BRIGADE COMMANDER’S INTENTBRIGADE COMMANDER’S INTENT

TASK ORGANIZATIONTASK ORGANIZATION

CONCEPT OF THE OPERATIONCONCEPT OF THE OPERATION

THE BATTLE: DAY-BY-DAYTHE BATTLE: DAY-BY-DAY

LESSONS LEARNEDLESSONS LEARNED

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

Tarin KowtTarin Kowt

AREA OF OPERATIONS/AREA OF OPERATIONS/AREA OF INTERESTAREA OF INTEREST

AREA OF OPERATIONS/AREA OF OPERATIONS/AREA OF INTERESTAREA OF INTEREST

KandaharKandahar

QalatQalat

BalkhBalkh

BaghranBaghran

KonduzKonduz

Spin BoldakSpin Boldak

HeratHeratJalalabadJalalabad

Mazar-e Sharif

Mazar-e Sharif

KhowstKhowst

BagramBagram

OBJREMINGTON

OBJREMINGTON

267 NM267 NM GardezGardez

100 NM100 NM

Area of InterestArea of Interest

Area of OperationsArea of Operations

KabulKabul

Richmond, VARichmond, VA

New York, NYNew York, NY

100 Miles100 Miles

300 Miles300 Miles

KENTUCKY

PENNSYLVANIA

NEW YORK

Bagram, AFGBagram, AFG

Kandahar, AFGKandahar, AFGHerat, AFGHerat, AFG

Lexington, KYLexington, KY300 Miles300 Miles

DISTANCES: A PERSPECTIVEDISTANCES: A PERSPECTIVEDISTANCES: A PERSPECTIVEDISTANCES: A PERSPECTIVE

Jacobabad, PKJacobabad, PKWilmington, NCWilmington, NC

250 Miles250 Miles

Philadelphia, PAPhiladelphia, PAOBJ

REMINGTONOBJ

REMINGTON

ZURMATZURMAT

““THE WHALE”THE WHALE”11000’11000’

UPPER SHAH-I-KOT VALLEYUPPER SHAH-I-KOT VALLEY

LOWER SHAH-I-KOT VALLEYLOWER SHAH-I-KOT VALLEY

8500’8500’10200’10200’

OBJ REM

INGTO

N

OBJ REM

INGTO

N

““GINGER”GINGER”NN

GARDEZGARDEZ

9500’9500’

AREA OF OPERATIONSAREA OF OPERATIONSAREA OF OPERATIONSAREA OF OPERATIONS

5km5km5km5km

9km9km9km9km

AREA OF OPERATIONSAREA OF OPERATIONSAREA OF OPERATIONSAREA OF OPERATIONS

AREA OF OPERATIONSAREA OF OPERATIONSAREA OF OPERATIONSAREA OF OPERATIONS

• 82mm MORTAR: USED FOR HIGH VALUE TARGETS SUCH AS COVERING POTENTIAL LZS, AVENUES OF APPROACH, AND SUPPORTING FIRE ON TARGETS WITHIN A KILL ZONE.

• 82mm MORTAR: USED FOR HIGH VALUE TARGETS SUCH AS COVERING POTENTIAL LZS, AVENUES OF APPROACH, AND SUPPORTING FIRE ON TARGETS WITHIN A KILL ZONE.

THE ENEMYTHE ENEMYTHE ENEMYTHE ENEMY

• DShK-38: EMPLOYED WITH EACH FIGHTING POSITION OR BUNKER ORIENTED TOWARDS THE AVENUE OF APPROACH.

• DShK-38: EMPLOYED WITH EACH FIGHTING POSITION OR BUNKER ORIENTED TOWARDS THE AVENUE OF APPROACH.

THE ENEMYTHE ENEMYTHE ENEMYTHE ENEMY

THE ENEMYTHE ENEMYTHE ENEMYTHE ENEMY

TF RAKKASAN MISSIONTF RAKKASAN MISSION

Task Force Rakkasan air assaults H-Hour, D-Day Task Force Rakkasan air assaults H-Hour, D-Day (0200Z, 2 March 2002) into Area of Operations (0200Z, 2 March 2002) into Area of Operations EAGLE to block Al Qaeda withdrawal from EAGLE to block Al Qaeda withdrawal from Objective REMINGTON in order to enable the Objective REMINGTON in order to enable the combat operation of Commander Zia’s Afghan combat operation of Commander Zia’s Afghan Forces (the main effort). On order, Task Force Forces (the main effort). On order, Task Force Rakkasan assists Afghan Forces to block Al Rakkasan assists Afghan Forces to block Al Qaeda escape routes into Pakistan to complete Qaeda escape routes into Pakistan to complete the destruction of the enemy in Area of the destruction of the enemy in Area of Operations EAGLE. On order, redeploys to Operations EAGLE. On order, redeploys to Kandahar Airfield to prepare for future Kandahar Airfield to prepare for future operations.operations.

““THE WHALE”THE WHALE”

CONCEPT OF THE OPERATIONCONCEPT OF THE OPERATION

LOWER SHAHI LOWER SHAHI KOT VALLEYKOT VALLEY

UPPER SHAHI UPPER SHAHI KOT VALLEYKOT VALLEY

MARZAKMARZAK

BABUKHELBABUKHEL

SERKHANKHELSERKHANKHEL

ZKZK

ZIAZIA

ZIAZIA

KKKK

““AMY”AMY”

““BETTY”BETTY”

““CINDY”CINDY”““DIANE”DIANE” ““HEATHER”HEATHER”

BDE TACBDE TAC

““EVE”EVE”““GINGER”GINGER”

TF 64TF 64

TF K-BarTF K-Bar

PRIOR TO D-DAYPRIOR TO D-DAY

• REFINEMENT OF PLANREFINEMENT OF PLAN

• REHEARSALSREHEARSALS

• BATTLE DRILLSBATTLE DRILLS

• INDIVIDUAL TRAININGINDIVIDUAL TRAINING

• FLY-AWAY REHEARSALFLY-AWAY REHEARSAL

D – 4: Division Back-BriefD – 4: Division Back-Brief

D – 2: Sub-Unit RehearsalD – 2: Sub-Unit Rehearsal

D – 2: Pre-Combat PreparationsD – 2: Pre-Combat Preparations

D – 2: Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse!D – 2: Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse!

D – 2: TF RAKKASAN Conducts Fly-D – 2: TF RAKKASAN Conducts Fly-Away RehearsalAway Rehearsal

D – 2: Fly-Away Rehearsal to test D – 2: Fly-Away Rehearsal to test Loads at AltitudeLoads at Altitude

D - Day: Lift 1, Serial 1 D - Day: Lift 1, Serial 1 waits to board aircraft waits to board aircraft

D - Day: Lift 1, Serial 1 prepares to take offD - Day: Lift 1, Serial 1 prepares to take off

SERKHANKHELSERKHANKHELMARZAKMARZAK

BABUKHELBABUKHEL TF 64TF 64

ZKZK

ZIAZIAZIAZIA

KKKK

““AMY”AMY”

““DIANE”DIANE”““HEATHER”HEATHER”

““EVE”EVE”““GINGER”GINGER”

““BETTY”BETTY”

““CINDY”CINDY”

TF K-BarTF K-Bar

D - Day: Fire and ManeuverD - Day: Fire and Maneuver

D - Day: A Forward Observer reports his D - Day: A Forward Observer reports his locationlocation

D - Day: An Apache moves into position to D - Day: An Apache moves into position to answer a call for supportanswer a call for support

D - Day: AQ Position known as “The Compound,”D - Day: AQ Position known as “The Compound,”located west of Blocking Position Cindy located west of Blocking Position Cindy

View looking southeastView looking southeast

SERKHANKHELSERKHANKHELMARZAKMARZAK

BABUKHELBABUKHEL TF 64TF 64

““AMY”AMY”““BETTY”BETTY”

““CINDY”CINDY”““DIANE”DIANE”

BDE TACBDE TAC

““HEATHER”HEATHER”““EVE”EVE”““GINGER”GINGER”

ZKZKKKKK TF K-BarTF K-Bar

D-Day: Command and Control aircraftD-Day: Command and Control aircraft landing at “RAK TAC Ridge”landing at “RAK TAC Ridge”

N

View from Rak TAC looking NortheastView from Rak TAC looking Northeast

D-Day: The Air Liaison Officer calls in an D-Day: The Air Liaison Officer calls in an air strike from “RAK TAC Ridge”air strike from “RAK TAC Ridge”

N

View from Rak TAC looking SoutheastView from Rak TAC looking Southeast

D-Day: Partial view of “The Whale”D-Day: Partial view of “The Whale”

““The Whale”The Whale”

N

View from Rak TAC looking WestView from Rak TAC looking West

D-Day: Air StrikeD-Day: Air Strike on “The Whale”on “The Whale”

N

View from Rak TAC looking NorthwestView from Rak TAC looking Northwest

D-Day: Recon/Security team on “Rak TAC D-Day: Recon/Security team on “Rak TAC Ridge”Ridge”

““The Whale”The Whale”

N

View looking North-Northwest along west side of Rak TAC RidgeView looking North-Northwest along west side of Rak TAC Ridge

D-Day: Engaging Al QaedaD-Day: Engaging Al Qaeda

Blocking PositionBlocking Position AmyAmy

AQ CompoundAQ Compound

N

View looking North from Rak TAC RidgeView looking North from Rak TAC Ridge

D-Day: Air strike into “Ginger Pass”D-Day: Air strike into “Ginger Pass”

““Ginger Pass”Ginger Pass”

““Heather Pass”Heather Pass”Taku Ghar (OBJ Ginger)Taku Ghar (OBJ Ginger)

N

View looking East from Rak TAC RidgeView looking East from Rak TAC Ridge

D + 1: CH-47s returning to Bagram afterD + 1: CH-47s returning to Bagram after

successful insertion of 1-187successful insertion of 1-187

View looking east into “Amy Pass”View looking east into “Amy Pass”

ND + 2: Reoccupying Blocking Position AmyD + 2: Reoccupying Blocking Position Amy

D + 2: Air Defense Gun found during D + 2: Air Defense Gun found during Exploitation of Blocking Position AmyExploitation of Blocking Position Amy

D + 2: The “Gator” is D + 2: The “Gator” is Introduced to combatIntroduced to combat

D + 2: Scanning the ridgeline for D + 2: Scanning the ridgeline for

enemy observation postsenemy observation posts

D + 3: CH-47D dropping off 81mm D + 3: CH-47D dropping off 81mm mortars vic 1-187 BN TACmortars vic 1-187 BN TAC

N

View looking southwestView looking southwest

D + 3: Troops exit aircraft whileD + 3: Troops exit aircraft while air strike goes into Serkhankhelair strike goes into Serkhankhel

““The Whale”The Whale”

N

View looking southwestView looking southwest

MARZAK

BABUKHEL

SERKHANKHEL

BDE TACBDE TAC

““AMY”AMY”

““BETTY”BETTY”

““DIANE”DIANE”““CINDY”CINDY” ““EVE”EVE”

TF 64TF 64

ZKZKKKKK

OBJOBJ

GINGERGINGER

OBJOBJ

GINGERGINGER

TF K-BarTF K-Bar

D + 4: A CH-47D slinging D + 4: A CH-47D slinging in suppliesin supplies

““RAK TAC Ridge”RAK TAC Ridge”MarzakMarzak ““The Mesa”The Mesa”

D + 4: View Looking Southwest fromD + 4: View Looking Southwest fromBlocking Position CindyBlocking Position Cindy

““The Whale”The Whale”

N

BP DianeBP Diane

Taku Ghar (OBJ Ginger)Taku Ghar (OBJ Ginger)

““Ginger Pass”Ginger Pass”

D+4: View of Blocking Position Diane,D+4: View of Blocking Position Diane, OBJ Ginger, and “Ginger Pass” OBJ Ginger, and “Ginger Pass”

N

View looking southView looking south

D+6: FirepowerD+6: Firepower

D + 6: Air strikeD + 6: Air strikeinto Serkhankhelinto Serkhankhel

D + 6: Air strikeD + 6: Air strikeon Babukhelon Babukhel

D + 9: Apaches engage targetsD + 9: Apaches engage targetsIn SerkhankhelIn Serkhankhel

D+11: Insertion of D+11: Insertion of 3PPCLI for Operation 3PPCLI for Operation

HarpoonHarpoon

D + 11: Elements of 3PPCLID + 11: Elements of 3PPCLIland vicinity of “The Whale”land vicinity of “The Whale”

D + 11: 3PPCLI conducts D + 11: 3PPCLI conducts sweep of “The Whale”sweep of “The Whale”

D + 11: 3PPCLI riflemen D + 11: 3PPCLI riflemen provide overwatch of a caveprovide overwatch of a cave

D + 13: View looking southwestD + 13: View looking southwestfrom the top of “The Whale”from the top of “The Whale”

N

D + 14: C Co, 3PPCLI loadsD + 14: C Co, 3PPCLI loads CH-47 for return to BagramCH-47 for return to Bagram

LESSONS LEARNEDLESSONS LEARNED

• MUST HAVE OVER-THE-HORIZON COMMS FOR OUR AIRCRAFT MUST HAVE OVER-THE-HORIZON COMMS FOR OUR AIRCRAFT AND C2 NODES.AND C2 NODES.

• NEED INTRA-THEATER FIXED-WING RESUPPLY CAPABILITY NEED INTRA-THEATER FIXED-WING RESUPPLY CAPABILITY DEDICATED TO THE AIR ASSAULT FORCE.DEDICATED TO THE AIR ASSAULT FORCE.

• PLAN AND RESOURCE FOR FIRE-SUPPORT SYSTEMS ALL PLAN AND RESOURCE FOR FIRE-SUPPORT SYSTEMS ALL WEATHER AND ALL TERRAIN.WEATHER AND ALL TERRAIN.

• NEED THE LIGHT WEIGHT COUNTER-MORTAR RADAR FOR NEED THE LIGHT WEIGHT COUNTER-MORTAR RADAR FOR PORTABLE, OMNI-DIRECTIONAL CAPABILITY.PORTABLE, OMNI-DIRECTIONAL CAPABILITY.

• C2 AIRCRAFT (FIXED OR ROTARY-WING) IS A MUST-HAVE.C2 AIRCRAFT (FIXED OR ROTARY-WING) IS A MUST-HAVE.• NEED LIGHT WEIGHT MOBILITY ONCE ON GROUND.NEED LIGHT WEIGHT MOBILITY ONCE ON GROUND.• EMBEDDED MEDIA ACCURATELY PORTRAY THE ARMY EMBEDDED MEDIA ACCURATELY PORTRAY THE ARMY

STORY.STORY.• CONTINUE TO PRACTICE INTEROPERABILITY BETWEEN CONTINUE TO PRACTICE INTEROPERABILITY BETWEEN

CONVENTIONAL AND SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES.CONVENTIONAL AND SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES.• OPERATION WAS A VALIDATION OF THE ARMY’S CTCs.OPERATION WAS A VALIDATION OF THE ARMY’S CTCs.

NOTABLENOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• FIRST CONVENTIONAL BATTLE OF OPERATION ENDURING FIRST CONVENTIONAL BATTLE OF OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM – AND LARGESTFREEDOM – AND LARGEST

• LARGEST AND LONGEST-DURATION LIGHT-INFANTRY LARGEST AND LONGEST-DURATION LIGHT-INFANTRY ENGAGEMENT SINCE VIET NAMENGAGEMENT SINCE VIET NAM

• HIGHEST-ALTITUDE LAND BATTLE IN U.S. HISTORYHIGHEST-ALTITUDE LAND BATTLE IN U.S. HISTORY

• 14 COMBAT AIR ASSAULTS PERFORMED DURING THE OPERATION 14 COMBAT AIR ASSAULTS PERFORMED DURING THE OPERATION WITHOUT THE LOSS OF A SINGLE SOLDIER OR AIRFRAME IN TASK WITHOUT THE LOSS OF A SINGLE SOLDIER OR AIRFRAME IN TASK FORCE RAKKASAN – 1,411 SOLDIERS INSERTED, 1,411 EXTRACTEDFORCE RAKKASAN – 1,411 SOLDIERS INSERTED, 1,411 EXTRACTED

• FIRST CANADIAN GROUND COMBAT SINCE KOREAFIRST CANADIAN GROUND COMBAT SINCE KOREA

• OPERATION WAS UNDERTAKEN BY A COALITION OF SEVEN OPERATION WAS UNDERTAKEN BY A COALITION OF SEVEN COUNTRIESCOUNTRIES

• CLOSE COMBAT ATTACK MISSIONS WITH APACHE HELICOPTERSCLOSE COMBAT ATTACK MISSIONS WITH APACHE HELICOPTERS

• PROOF OF SURVIVABILTY AND LETHALITY OF APACHE AIRFRAMEPROOF OF SURVIVABILTY AND LETHALITY OF APACHE AIRFRAME

• INTRODUCTION OF THE ‘M-GATOR’ TO COMBAT IN AIR-INTRODUCTION OF THE ‘M-GATOR’ TO COMBAT IN AIR-MECHANIZED ROLEMECHANIZED ROLE

• TRUE JOINT FIGHT: USA, USAF, USN, USMC, AND SOFTRUE JOINT FIGHT: USA, USAF, USN, USMC, AND SOF

TF RAKKASANTF RAKKASAN

“I do not think we fully appreciated how devastating Anaconda was. I do not think the enemy is going to

try to attack and take on the strongest military power in the

Western World.”- Brigadier Roger Lane, CDR, UK Royal Marines

“I do not think we fully appreciated how devastating Anaconda was. I do not think the enemy is going to

try to attack and take on the strongest military power in the

Western World.”- Brigadier Roger Lane, CDR, UK Royal Marines