Mig hunter
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"Irene", I Repeat "Irene"
"Operation Gothic serpent" was started in Mogadishu Somalia and "Operation Irene" was a part of Gothic Serpent. The call sign Irene was announced from the command center of US Force. Hearing this, 75 Ranger Regiment and Delta force were sent to the Bakaara Market of Mogadishu. Comprising of approximately 200 men, 19 Aircrafts, 12 Vehicles (including 9 Humvees) were dispatched to the designated area with an intention to capture some Loyal Lieutenants of war lord Muhammad Farrah Aidid. US forces had intelligence of these "Loyal Lieutenants" in Olympic Hotel of Bakaara Market. They expected the mission to last not more than an hour.
At their devised time, US forces entered the area. This unlike their expectations turned into a death trap. Somali forces were already alert for the incoming US raid and were fully prepared. Within minutes, they were surrounded from all sides and a fierce fire fight began. Somalis gave intense resistance to the Americans and shot down 2 UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters with RPG and damaged 2 others. Now US forces were badly trapped. About a dozen soldiers were reported killed and about fifty were reported injured. Meanwhile, many ground attempts were made by US troops to reach the hotel and rescue the trapped soldiers. But Somalis erected many road blocks on the roads leading to the hotel. The Somali militia effectively fired on helicopters as well as on ground forces nullifying all efforts of the US troops to extricate their stranded soldiers.
Seeing the intensity of the situation, UN forces in this area were requested to reach for help of US forces. In this area, French, Bangladeshi, Malaysian and Pakistani forces were present. US forces put up a request to reach the area for help, otherwise it was a chance that number of casualties and wounded would multiply higher or all of them might be killed. French and Bangladeshi plainly refused to enter the area, seeing the risk. However, Malaysian forces and Pakistani forces took up the responsibility to help the US forces. Pakistani Cavalry Unit mounted on M84 tanks and 15 FF in the rescue mission while Malaysian Forces joined the mission with their Condor APC to deliver the Pakistani and Malaysian Troops to the area. Pakistan Army Aviation and US Marine choppers provided air cover. At about 1700 hrs. Pakistani contingent was asked to help and rescue the stranded Rangers. The Pakistani force were given the task to lead the Rangers Force / Delta Force from sea port till the Olympic Hotel, give fire support at the site and once the stranded Rangers are rescued then provide cover for the withdrawal of the Force. The operation started at about 2300 hrs. from the sea port.
October 4, 1993
Pakistani and Malaysian forces were able to enter the area in the rain of fire. Although US forces fought gallantly, but they were almost out of ammunition. Pakistani unmounted the APC and entered in the streets to find out the lost US soldiers. They collected them by sweeping street to street. After finding them all, they dispatched the US forces in the APCs and left the area. They faced heavy fire until they reached the Mogadishu Stadium, which was the base of Pakistani forces.
As per plan the US Rangers / QRF started contacting the stranded troops and some troops were extricated. The whole night Pakistani forces provided fire support to US troops and was also fighting the Somali militia who was firing on them from multiple directions. Due to stiff resistance & effective fire by the militia, there was lack of coordination / coherence amongst the various US fighting groups. The US Rangers were not able to contact the group which was in the south of the Olympic Hotel and they were worried as day light was approaching.
The last group was contacted at 0500 hrs. Many US soldiers were accommodated in own APCs. After retrieving the stranded soldiers the force started moving back at about 0530 hrs. The Pakistani troops were at the tail end to protect the force from Somali militia who was chasing them with intense fire from every direction. The complete force reached Soccer Stadium at about 0700 hrs on 4th Oct, 1993. They were provided with first aid, tea & water etc by Pakistan contingent. From there, the US troops were lifted by helicopters to their camp.
According to Colonel Maqbool Afridi, who was serving in 15 FF that time recalls his memories.
"On 4th Oct, in the morning, the Subedar Major came to give the routine OK report, told me jubilantly that, “Americans are saluting our flag” (while passing through our camp). Once the platoon came back, I asked them in light mood that how was the night. They smiled, with glowing faces & shine in their eyes, in loud voices replied “Sir, we have rescued the American Rangers from Somali militia”.
US forces faced 18 causalities and 73 wounded. Moreover, a Blackhawk pilot was held hostage and later released by Aidid Forces. While 1 Pakistani soldier was wounded one Malaysian soldier killed and 7 were wounded. However, 700 Somalis were dead and 1000 were estimated to be wounded.
"Operation Gothic serpent" was started in Mogadishu Somalia and "Operation Irene" was a part of Gothic Serpent. The call sign Irene was announced from the command center of US Force. Hearing this, 75 Ranger Regiment and Delta force were sent to the Bakaara Market of Mogadishu. Comprising of approximately 200 men, 19 Aircrafts, 12 Vehicles (including 9 Humvees) were dispatched to the designated area with an intention to capture some Loyal Lieutenants of war lord Muhammad Farrah Aidid. US forces had intelligence of these "Loyal Lieutenants" in Olympic Hotel of Bakaara Market. They expected the mission to last not more than an hour.
At their devised time, US forces entered the area. This unlike their expectations turned into a death trap. Somali forces were already alert for the incoming US raid and were fully prepared. Within minutes, they were surrounded from all sides and a fierce fire fight began. Somalis gave intense resistance to the Americans and shot down 2 UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters with RPG and damaged 2 others. Now US forces were badly trapped. About a dozen soldiers were reported killed and about fifty were reported injured. Meanwhile, many ground attempts were made by US troops to reach the hotel and rescue the trapped soldiers. But Somalis erected many road blocks on the roads leading to the hotel. The Somali militia effectively fired on helicopters as well as on ground forces nullifying all efforts of the US troops to extricate their stranded soldiers.
Seeing the intensity of the situation, UN forces in this area were requested to reach for help of US forces. In this area, French, Bangladeshi, Malaysian and Pakistani forces were present. US forces put up a request to reach the area for help, otherwise it was a chance that number of casualties and wounded would multiply higher or all of them might be killed. French and Bangladeshi plainly refused to enter the area, seeing the risk. However, Malaysian forces and Pakistani forces took up the responsibility to help the US forces. Pakistani Cavalry Unit mounted on M84 tanks and 15 FF in the rescue mission while Malaysian Forces joined the mission with their Condor APC to deliver the Pakistani and Malaysian Troops to the area. Pakistan Army Aviation and US Marine choppers provided air cover. At about 1700 hrs. Pakistani contingent was asked to help and rescue the stranded Rangers. The Pakistani force were given the task to lead the Rangers Force / Delta Force from sea port till the Olympic Hotel, give fire support at the site and once the stranded Rangers are rescued then provide cover for the withdrawal of the Force. The operation started at about 2300 hrs. from the sea port.
October 4, 1993
Pakistani and Malaysian forces were able to enter the area in the rain of fire. Although US forces fought gallantly, but they were almost out of ammunition. Pakistani unmounted the APC and entered in the streets to find out the lost US soldiers. They collected them by sweeping street to street. After finding them all, they dispatched the US forces in the APCs and left the area. They faced heavy fire until they reached the Mogadishu Stadium, which was the base of Pakistani forces.
As per plan the US Rangers / QRF started contacting the stranded troops and some troops were extricated. The whole night Pakistani forces provided fire support to US troops and was also fighting the Somali militia who was firing on them from multiple directions. Due to stiff resistance & effective fire by the militia, there was lack of coordination / coherence amongst the various US fighting groups. The US Rangers were not able to contact the group which was in the south of the Olympic Hotel and they were worried as day light was approaching.
The last group was contacted at 0500 hrs. Many US soldiers were accommodated in own APCs. After retrieving the stranded soldiers the force started moving back at about 0530 hrs. The Pakistani troops were at the tail end to protect the force from Somali militia who was chasing them with intense fire from every direction. The complete force reached Soccer Stadium at about 0700 hrs on 4th Oct, 1993. They were provided with first aid, tea & water etc by Pakistan contingent. From there, the US troops were lifted by helicopters to their camp.
According to Colonel Maqbool Afridi, who was serving in 15 FF that time recalls his memories.
"On 4th Oct, in the morning, the Subedar Major came to give the routine OK report, told me jubilantly that, “Americans are saluting our flag” (while passing through our camp). Once the platoon came back, I asked them in light mood that how was the night. They smiled, with glowing faces & shine in their eyes, in loud voices replied “Sir, we have rescued the American Rangers from Somali militia”.
US forces faced 18 causalities and 73 wounded. Moreover, a Blackhawk pilot was held hostage and later released by Aidid Forces. While 1 Pakistani soldier was wounded one Malaysian soldier killed and 7 were wounded. However, 700 Somalis were dead and 1000 were estimated to be wounded.
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