12/11/2023 0 Comments Phantom fury 2Predator unmanned aerial vehicles assisted in gaining intelligence on suspected enemy strongholds.Īfter airstrikes and the employment of an intense artillery barrage, six coalition battalions began their assault in the early morning hours of 8 November. Air support was provided by a detachment from Joint Terminal Aircraft Control (JTAC), USAF F-15, F-16, A-10, B-52, and AC-130 gunships. Regimental Combat Teams were augmented by three 7-man SEAL sniper teams and one platoon from the 1 st Recon Battalion, which provided advance reconnaissance. The Army’s 2 nd Brigade, augmented by the 2 nd Recon Battalion and one company from 1 st Battalion, 5 th Marines, was ordered to infiltrate the city and destroy upon contact any fleeing enemy forces. The 1 st Battalion, Black Watch patrolled the main highway to the east of the city. Two follow-on battalions were tasked with clearing buildings, which is an arduous task. They were joined by the 2 nd Battalion, 7/CAV and 2 nd Battalion, 2 nd US Infantry (Mechanized). Phantom Fury Assault Plan Global Security OrgĪfter Seabees from the I MEF Engineer Group disabled electrical power at two substations, RCT-1 and RCT-7 launched an attack along the northern edge of the city. This diversionary unit, under command of the US Army III Corps, would then move to the western approaches and secure Kas Sukr Bridge. Their mission was to capture the Fallujah General Hospital, Blackwater Bridge, the ING building, and villages opposite the Euphrates River in South Fallujah. A diversionary assault from the west and south began with the 36 th Iraqi Commando Battalion (with US Army Special Forces advisors), the 1 st Battalion, 9 th US Infantry, 2 nd Brigade Combat Team, and Company A, 2 nd Battalion, 72 nd Tank Battalion, elements of the 3 rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (Reinforced), and Combat Service Support Battalion 1. Navy SEAL and Marine Reconnaissance sniper teams provided reconnaissance and target marking along the city perimeter. Ground operations began on the night of 7 November 2004. The 1 st Battalion, Black Watch Regiment planned to support US troops along with D Squadron of the SAS, but British political concerns in the UK halted any involvement by British forces in the actual assault. Supporting elements included Iraqi security forces, coalition aircraft, and Special Operations Command snipers. RCT-7 consisted of the 1 st Battalion, 8 th Marines, 1 st Battalion, 3 rd Marines, 1 st Battalion, 12 th Marines, 2 nd Battalion, 2 nd US Infantry, 2 nd Battalion, 12 th Cavalry, and 1 st Battalion, 6 th US Field Artillery. RCT-1 was composed of the 3 rd Battalion, 1 st Marines, 3 rd Battalion, 5 th Marines, elements of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4 and Navy Mobile Construction Battalion 23, and elements of the US 7 th Cavalry. Intelligence suggested that the city’s insurgents were vulnerable to direct attack. The total of coalition forces included 6,500 Marines, 1,500 US soldiers, 2,500 US Navy support personnel, 850 British forces, and around 2,000 Iraqi security forces.Īmerican combat forces were organized into two Regimental Combat Teams. Fallujah the battlefield was prepped by sustained airstrikes and artillery fires. Iraqi interpreters augmented American combat units. In the run-up to the commencement of combat operations, detailed imagery was obtained and used to prepare detailed maps of the city. One thing that does stand out, however, is that the leadership of these groups (wisely, albeit cowardly) removed themselves from Fallujah before the beginning of the Second Battle of Fallujah.Ĭoalition checkpoints were established to prevent anyone from entering the city, and to intercept insurgents attempting to flee. By November, these numbers doubled and included virtually every insurgent group in Iraq: al-Qaeda, Islamic Army of Iraq, Ansar al-Sunna, Army of Mohammed, Army of Mujahedeen, and the Secret Army of Iraq. None of the names of these groups is important because Islamists change their names as frequently as a mother changes her baby’s diapers. In April 2004, Fallujah was defended by about 1,500 Iraqi insurgents with around five-hundred of these being “hardcore” guerrilla fighters and the others “part-time” employees. Military Medals - British and American TraditionsĪrchives Archives Categories Categories Meta.
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