An SASR patrol moves down a main road during high-visibility security activities in western Iraq. Graphic by David Sibley, Army newspaper

An SASR patrol occupies a low-lying position to remain undetected by passing Iraqis.

SASR personnel talk with locals in Ar Ramadi after the surrender of the Iraqi forces garrisoned in the area.

‘Every day the SASR were in some form of heavy contact with the enemy’ – Col John Mansell, SOCOMD

Firefights in Iraq’s desert

WITH the ground campaign over, details have been made public of how the SASR fought and won in the deserts of western Iraq, achieving their mission without losing a member.

In a media briefing at ADF HQ in Canberra on May 9, SOCOMD Chief of Staff Col John Mansell revealed details of the actions and conditions faced by SASR troopers from the beginning of Op Falconer.

He said the SASR’s specific mission was to deny Iraq the ability to launch theatre ballistic missiles from the western desert.

Other missions included harassing operations, destruction of critical command and control nodes and operations to prevent freedom of movement of the Iraqis in the theatre. These sub-missions all contributed to prevening the launch of theatre ballistic missiles.

Col Mansell said the insertion of the task group in the AO was “quite an achievement”.

“The force inserted by night by vehicle and helicopter into areas remote from friendly conventional forces,” he said.

“The intent was to insert clandestinely and get deep into the assigned area before the sun came up.

“The vehicle insertion involved breaching an earth and boom and trench system in negotiating a network of Iraqi guard posts undetected.

“This was achieved successfully, however, 30km inside Iraq the force bumped into a number of enemy vehicles. These were engaged by fire and then detained.”

He said this incident was one of the first ground contacts of the war and had involved SASR medics rendering first-aid to two wounded Iraqi soldiers.

Because the mission had to continue, the captured Iraqis were released and the Australian force moved on, arriving at their planned objective at first light without further mishap.

The helicopter insertion was also successful – the US helicopter force carrying the Australian troops flew more than 600km into Iraq from the SASR staging base at night, flying at low altitude during poor weather, including conducting a difficult air-to-air refuelling activity and negotiating an extensive enemy air defence system.

“When our people hit the ground, they were at that time by far and away the closest coalition ground elements to Baghdad and they remained that way for a number of days.”

The SASR commander on the ground then began aggressive operations to unmask the enemy’s intent, his location and his strength.

This involved high-tempo offensive patrolling in a controlled sequence across the AO and, at the same time, static surveillance on the main access roads which the Iraqis could deploy Scuds or the main larger conventional reaction forces.

“Virtually every day the SASR were in some form of heavy contact with the enemy.

“This was no accident. The enemy was clearly seeking out the Australian force in a co-ordinated and well-drilled fashion.

“While at the same time the SASR were intentionally meeting him head on with unpredictable shock engagements.

“However, the enemy couldn’t keep pace with this high-tempo shock activity and were ultimately beaten in this phase.”

On the second night in Iraq, a good proportion of the SASR force raided a well-defended radio relay station in a carefully planned and co-ordinated activity at night after methodical ground and airborne surveillance activity.

The attack used carefully placed cut-offs and a sequenced assault to clear the facility. Then it was followed by close air support to destroy the tower.

“Surprise was achieved and a sharp, but one-sided, firefight ensued with a significant number of casualties from the enemy.

“The facility was destroyed, as planned. This operation immediately decreased the Iraqi theatre ballistic missile capability and also sent a very strong message to the Iraqi leadership in Baghdad.”

But the raid stirred up a “hornet’s nest” – the following morning an SASR element was involved in a running firefight for a significant number of hours.

Five or six armed vehicles engaged them but the SASR used superior tactical manoeuvre and an application of heavy weapons to destroy most of the force.

The enemy eventually withdrew in disarray through a number of buildings but they were pursued by well-directed close air support and were ultimately defeated.

“Throughout this firefight, and others, the enemy were engaged by the SASR using a significant number of weapons.

“We used Javelin rocket launchers, heavy machine guns, Mk 19 grenade launchers and sniper rifles.

“This heavy lay down of fire power, coupled with the aggressive front foot approach of the SASR and extensive use of close air support, was enough to break the spirit of the most demanding enemy assault.”

In another contact in the first few days, another small Australian element was confronted with a force of about 50 Iraqis, mounted in civilian four-wheel drive vehicles and trucks.

This enemy force aggressively assaulted the Australians using rocket-propelled grenades, mortars and machine guns.

The SASR held their ground and, despite stoppages on main weapons systems, destroyed the four-wheel drive vehicles and forced the enemy to dismount from their vehicles and trucks, which made them extremely vulnerable.

“The SASR pushed forward aggressively and routed the enemy.

“It was here that one soldier, because of the stoppage mentioned earlier, used all four of the available weapon systems mounted on his long-range patrol vehicle.

“Systematically moving from weapon system to weapon system, he was able to engage the enemy targets at vastly different ranges at enemy in different circumstances.”

Col Mansell said the intensity of this phase was such that the SASR were on full throttle “without any real sleep for 96 hours”.

In contrast to the frantic pace, another SASR element had been concealed in observation positions overlooking Highway 10, remaining undetected.

“This was a significant and equally demanding task given the environmental demands, the numbers of enemy around and also the nomadic Bedouin that move around in this area.

“The contrast was striking. On the one hand, I’ve just described our large force moving at a million miles an hour, daily engaging the enemy with aggressive firefights.

“And, on the other hand, we have a separate force operating with equal skill, equal daring, but with great skill and great stealth. Both were an important contribution to the campaign.”

In the early stages of the campaign it became apparent that the Kilometre 160 feature – which is essentially a cross roads and a truck stop [in central western Iraq] – needed to be neutralised.

At one stage more than 200 Iraqis defended the feature.

SASR elements, using high-powered optics standing off from the target, called in air support on to pinpoint targets over a 48-hour period to destroy the facility.

They then assembled a large vehicle-mounted force to assault and clear the installation but, as expected, the remaining enemy had withdrawn under cover of a sandstorm.

Less than a week into the war, enemy opposition within the Australian AO had been effectively neutralised.

“The enemy’s pro-active and co-ordinated counter special operations tactics that could have worked well against an ill-prepared force was ineffective in the face of an exceptionally aggressively and high tempo warfare waged by the Australians.

“At this point it was clear that the enemy’s ability to launch theatre ballistic missiles from the west [of Iraq] had been neutralised.

“The psychological impact was also significant upon the Iraqis.

“Quite clearly they were unhinged. It was the Special Forces tactic and this objective was also clearly achieved.”

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