Tuesday, May 10, 2011

THE RAID - Continued

Myths of the OBL raid, explored.

SEAL TEAM SIX CONDUCTED THE RAID ON OSAMA BIN LADEN's HIDEOUT

Not quite - the raid was a JSOC operation - ergo, it was a joint mission of Special Operations assets from across the services.

The SEALs were the assault element, but a raid requires more than that - who flew the helicopters, for example, and where did they come from? What about reconnaissance, sniper overwatch, and a support element to hold down blocking positions and act as a ready reserve if things went south?

The helicopters were most likely from the Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment - the Nightstalkers - of Mogadushu fame.


"Night Stalkers Don't Quit".


Sniper and reconnaissance duties could have been performed by Delta, Marine Force Recon (MARSOC are recent additions to the US Special Operations Command despite the fact that they pioneered small-unit raid tactics in World War II), CIA or a combination thereof.


USMC sniper capabilities are legendary.


Outer security / blocking positions and reserve forces were most likely provided courtesy of the 75th Ranger Regiment.


75th Ranger Regiment on a recent operation in Iraq

Last but not least: who planned the raid, and who oversaw training and rehearsals of the full-blown mission profile? Not the SEALs - I guarantee you. Just ask a SEAL what are the five paragraphs of an Op Order and he'll look at you like you've got a dick growing out of the middle of your forehead.

But don't take my word for it - ask anyone who's ever worked with the SEALs and they'll tell you the same thing.




Today's Bird HERE



.

2 comments:

  1. Is that why SEALs wear those combat boots with the zippers?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Beg to differ - unless you're just slaggin on the Frogs, in which case; drive-on!
    At least in my time in NSW at the operator-level the Team Guys were consummate planners. They really taught - and held us lesser mortals (Boat Guys) - to the fundamentals; phase planning/diagramming, COA's immediate actions, and yes, the five-paragraph OpOrder. I still have in my posession a "Patrol Leaders Handbook" which delves extensively into each paragraph of an OpOrder.
    Can't speak for NSW now, but in the past (80's-90's) the Team Guys were writing and delivering 5-para OpOrds at least as good as any I've seen from SF (and I've seen a number of them over the years)
    V/R
    BoatGuy

    ReplyDelete