Because of this adaptation, the necessary adjustments were made and the tide of the battle would soon turn in favor of the Americans. Action is power and no greater force catapults action like the power of war. Around this time command decided to change the frequencies for satellite radio communications which different units, including the AFO teams in their reconnaissance positions, were relying on to conduct and adapt the mission as the battle unfolded. AFO teams launched further Recce teams into the nearby Naka Valley, hunting for al-Qaeda terrorists that had escaped but did not find anything. You are required to give an in depth introduction of your topic. Operation Anaconda was an American-organized mission that involved the American soldiers who purposed to dig fighting positions in Afghanistan. Naturally, an individual or group disagrees with the ideology of the invasive force and now the prospect of war is introduced into the equation. The Pashtun militia did not possess a clear, shared understanding of the importance of their role in the operation. . Behind every idea is a fundamental structure. This operation was the first large-scale battle in the US war in Afghanistan since the Battle of Tora Bora in December 2001. The purpose of this paper is to give a detailed analysis of the six principles of Mission Command and how they apply to Operation Anaconda. 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. [15], The operation was composed of elements: Task Force Dagger: ODAs from the 5th SFG, B company, 2nd Battalion, 160th SOAR and USAF Combat Controllers. Major General Franklin L. Hagenbeck, Commander, Combined Joint Task Force Mountain, was put in command of the operation. Also, unfortunately, the pilot of the Razor 01 was not told about the enemy's anti-aircraft location on top of the mountain. This operation provided many examples of how the principles of mission command are interwoven into the capability to conduct unified land operations. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. These tasks are mutually supporting in that the commander tasks drives the operations process, develops teams, and informs and influences audiences inside and outside their organizations. The original plan did not survive first contact with the enemy, but coalition force's ability to adapt under fire was able to secure victory. CTF 82's headquarters was at Bagram Airfield, and Vines based TF Panther, his primary maneuver element, at the Kandahar Airfield. Others within AFO and the CIA were making the same connection. From this concept, the philosophy of the seven principles of mission command has become discovered. The events that took place during Operation Anaconda have shown that misapplication of thorough organizational principles can cause unnecessary loss of life and equipment. Americans remained in the battle trusting in each others will to fight, morale, confidence, and the warrior ethos among them. Lambeth, Benjamin. It is composed of two distinct areas, the Lower and Upper Shahi-Kot which run roughly parallel to each other. 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. Command and control have evolved into a well thought out structured philosophy now acknowledged as mission command. It was decided to use U.S. conventional infantry. Commanders and staffs use the science of control to regulate forces and direct the execution of operations to conform to their commanders intent. The Afghans had successfully defeated the Soviet Army twice in this valley, and were expecting events to pan out in a similar fashion. During the SovietAfghan War, Mujahideen leader Malawi Nasrullah Mansoor was in charge of the valley and invited foreign jihadists to base themselves in the Lower Shahikot. Australian soldiers had utilised 'virtual reality' style software for mission rehearsal prior to insertion, and this contributed significantly to their situational awareness in the darkness and poor weather conditions. 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. The primary fire support for the troops was provided by two McDonnell Douglas AH-64 Apaches of the 3rd Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 159th Aviation Brigade ("Eagle Attack"). From past wars to future wars, war has become an evolutionary power. It was a complex operation set in a place and against an enemy that Americans have struggled . Airpower Against Terror Americas Conduct of Enduring Freedom. The AQ then opened up with a DShK as the troops on the ground ran for the only cover on the valley floor in what became known as "Hell's Halfpipe." There were many factors during this operation that could have led to added failure. [24] Signalman Martin "Jock" Wallace, of the Australian Special Air Service Regiment, was awarded the Medal for Gallantry for his actions during the fighting. 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 philosophy of mission command is supported by seven fundamental principles established in ADP 6-0 competence, mutual trust, shared understanding, commanders intent, mission orders, disciplined initiative, risk acceptance (p. 19). The militia did not have an understanding of the bigger picture and just how important they were to the success of the mission. As a result of this action, both Technical Sergeant Chapman and Senior Airman Cunningham were awarded the Air Force Cross, the second highest award for bravery. The militia was even told to conduct their operations according to the way they wanted. 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. 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]. Competence is critical not only for the commander but for the Soldiers subordinate to the commander. US Department of the Army. As TF Hammer continued, it suffered from a lack of unit cohesion because of the transportation difficulties. The two SEAL fire teams, Mako 30 and Mako 21, planned to establish an observation point on either end of the valley. Leaders cannot stress enough the significance of fabricating a command structure for combat operations. Adamec, W. Ludwig. The correspondence between the two displays an understanding of the entire operational environment. At that point TF Devil, a unit formed around the 1st Brigade, 82d Airborne Division arrived to take the lead in tactical-level security operations. The Taliban subsequently portrayed the operation as a "historical battle" and a "beginning of the sacred jihad against the occupation of Afghanistan", praising Saifur Rehman Mansoor's leadership. OA was a US attack on a stronghold in the Shah-I Kot area held by the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. Disclaimer: This is an example of a student written essay.Click here for sample essays written by our professional writers. The exhausted Rakkasans were replaced by fresh elements from the 10th Mountain Division, who continued to clear the southern end of the Shahikot. Operation Anaconda Introduction The philosophy of mission command is guided by six interdependent principles: building mutual trust, creating shared understanding, providing a clear commander's intent, applying specific action, implementing mission commands, and accepting strategic risk. 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. "F-14 Tomcat Units of Operation Enduring Freedom", 2013, Neville, Leigh, Special Forces in the War on Terror (General Military), Osprey Publishing, 2015. [23], Despite heavy opposition, Task Force Rakkasan managed to secure its blocking positions to the north by the middle of the morning. Both teams of SEAL operators now opened fire down on the enemy fighters in a crossfire and the third Chinook landed its operators nearby to investigate a suspicious looking vehicle. 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. Supported by 16 Apaches, 5 USMC Cobras helicopters and several A-10A ground attack aircraft; the Rakkasans methodically cleared an estimated 130 caves, 22 bunkers and 40 buildings to finally secure the valley. AMF (Afghan Militia Forces): Commander Zia (Task Force Hammer), Kamil Khan and Zakim Khan (Task Force Anvil). 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. Operation Anaconda was a necessary evil. 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. Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan: A Case Study of Adaption in, Battle. Purchase the answer to view it. The Apaches destroyed some enemy positions harassing the U.S. and Afghan troops, but the insurgents began intentionally firing their RPGs into the air. . It is now accepted that the level of prudent risk has been maximally mitigated to ensure the greatest chance at success while minimalizing the chance for negative outcomes. This round closed in on around 10 men, including the two Australians and most of the American leadership, landing in the snow and mud right amongst them but failing to detonate. On March 2, 2002, Major General Franklin L. Hagenbeck launched Operation Anaconda to clear al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters from their stronghold in the Shah-i-Kot Valley, Afghanistan. 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