Operation Bulldog Mammoth Strikes Insurgents Where they Live

Defend America ^ | Dec. 10, 2003 | Sgt. Christopher Stanis

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Task Force 1st Armored Division’s Third Brigade Combat Team soldiers and Iraqi Civil Defense Corps members wait to move to the next stack of apartments during Operation Bulldog. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christopher Stanis More Photos
Operation Bulldog Mammoth Strikes Insurgents Where they Live
By U.S. Army Sgt. Christopher Stanis, 1AD PAO
ABU GHURAYB, Iraq — Task Force 1st Armored Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team from Fort Riley, Kan. conducted a brigade-sized cordon and search of an Abu Ghurayb apartment complex, northwest of Baghdad Dec. 4, making it one of the largest military operations since President George W. Bush declared an end to major combat operations in May. The operation was named Operation Bulldog Mammoth. “Cordon and searches are normally at the platoon and company level,” said Maj. Dale Ringler, 3BCT operations officer. “Very rarely do we (include) two battalions (plus supporting units) and make it a brigade-sized operation.” Forces on ground ranged from infantry to military intelligence, with major players including 2nd Battalion, 70th Armored Regiment; Fort Bragg, N.C., based 1st Bn., 325th Airborne Infantry Reg.; over 300 Iraqi Civil Defense Corps personnel; and an Estonian platoon – all conducting the search of the 2,400 apartments and 53 additional buildings. Two companies from the 709th Military Police Bn. provided an outer cordon. The 1210th Tactical Psychological Operations Team broadcast messages to the complex residents about the coalition’s objective. Two explosive ordnance disposal teams were on site and a platoon of AH-64 Apache helicopters provided air support for the duration of the operation. In total, according to Ringler, approximately 1,447 troops were involved in the five-and-a-half-hour operation. This operation was the wrap up of a trilogy of large-scaled cordon and searches planned by the brigade – the first two were conducted during Operation Iron Hammer. Reports show the Abu Ghurayb area to be a dangerous place for coalition forces, and additional intelligence reports over the past several months narrowed in on the particular apartment complex as a haven for anti-coalition forces. “These are the guys supposedly attacking us,” said Spc. Travis Morrone, Company A, 1-325 AIR, who was part of the operation’s search element. “We had to come take their (weapons) from them.”	Intelligence efforts paying off, the search revealed more than 220 AK-47 assault rifles, along with a number of machine guns, pistols and other rifles; five rocket-propelled grenades and 15 RPG sights; 10 grenades; 12 mortar sights; various electrical components associated with improvised explosive devise construction; Russian-made night vision devices; protective masks; 24 plates of body armor and a U.S.-made vest; Saddam Hussein paraphernalia; and 16 cases of U.S. military meals, ready to eat. Additionally, more than 40 personnel were detained, including three from 2-70’s by-name “black” list of suspects. According to Ringler, the three were caught in the outer cordon while trying to escape the area. “(One man) is possibly responsible for the mortar attack against the MPs in the old Abu Ghurayb Police Station, killing a female (soldier),” Ringler said. This operation is just another “day at the office” for soldiers like Morrone. “For a while we were doing (cordon and searches) every other day,” he said. Now they do them less frequently, but with larger masses of forces. And their proficiency showed in the overall success of Operation Mammoth, according to the 3rd BCT commander. “Our soldiers have become a seasoned combat force,” said Col. Russ Gold, 3BCT commander. “The two battalions conducting this offensive operation also participated in the ground war. They know how to use finesse and brute force, and when to use what means. They are a professional and extremely competent group of soldiers that will act with precision and exactness with little to no guidance.” The key in an operation like this is to give the residents the peace of mind that the coalition is there only to weed out the bad guys, Gold said. No shots were fired during this operation; however, the thought of danger lurking around the corner was not to be dismissed. “One of Col. Gold’s sayings is, he uses the three Ps: be polite, be professional, but be prepared to kill,” Ringler said. “That’s the motto that goes through the brigade.”   Third Brigade Combat Team soldiers and Iraqi Civil Defense Corps members wait to move to the next stack of apartments during a cordon and search of an apartment complex in Abu Ghurayb, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christopher Stanis ________

U.S. Army Spc. Travis Morrone, Company A, 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, carries an armload of AK-47 assault rifles confiscated during Operation Bulldog Mammoth in Abu Ghurayb, Iraq, Dec. 4, 2003. The cordon and search mission covered 2,400 apartments and 53 additional buildings, resulting in the capture of hundreds of weapons and 40 detainees. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christopher Stanis

 

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Two 3rd Brigade Combat Team soldiers pull security while others search apartments during Operation Bulldog Mammoth. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christopher Stanis

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U.S. Army Pfc. Reed Roalf from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, labels AK-47 assault rifles captured during Operation Bulldog Mammoth. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christopher Stanis

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A soldier from Company A, 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment leads away a detainee durng Operation Bulldog Mammoth. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christopher Stanis

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[Spruce]

be polite, be professional, but be prepared to kill

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Task Force 1st Armored Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team from Fort Riley, Kan. conducted a brigade-sized cordon and search of an Abu Ghurayb apartment complex, northwest of Baghdad Dec. 4, making it one of the largest military operations since President George W. Bush declared an end to major combat operations in May.

“One of Col. Gold’s sayings is, he uses the three Ps: be polite, be professional, but be prepared to kill,” Ringler said. “That’s the motto that goes through the brigade.”
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A few details about this major operation, a search of 2,400 apartments and 53 additional buildings ~ w/ pics.

[pissant]

Excellent post. Let's keep the prayers coming for America's finest & within a couple of months the good Iraquis won't have to wear facemasks!

[McGavin999]

They've been really hitting it lately. I think they might have passed the half way mark in rounding these guys up. I can hardly wait for the tribunals to start. They really ought to do some of these small fish while they're waiting to do the big guys. Might just throw the fear of God into some of these young guys who are doing it for the money.

[VOA]

The cordon and search mission covered 2,400 apartments and 53 additional buildings,
resulting in the capture of hundreds of weapons and 40 detainees.

(As reported by THE NEW YORK TIMES, and repeated on The Michael Medved Show
about a month ago):
100 TONS A DAY of military equipment is seized/destroyed by Coalition
forces in Iraq.
An Iraqi-made grenade that cost 10 cents in May costs $2.50; an AK-47 has gone from
$5 to $80 in the same time frame.

The Baathist hold-outs are going to find out that the snake on one of our
Revolutionary-era flags is symbolic of the bite/squeeze we're putting on them.

[Norse]

Best thing to do would be to lay down the crap M-16, have our boys pick up the AK, and destroy the former.

[Monti Cello]

Platoon, company, brigade. How big are these??

[VOA]

I can hardly wait for the tribunals to start.

Like I've said before...tell the baddest-of-the badboys that we've captured that
we're gonna' turn them over to the Japanese "peacekeepers".
And tell them that they are going to be playing the victims in a re-enactment of
"The Rape of Nanking".

[VOA]

U.S. Army Pfc. Reed Roalf from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion,
325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, labels AK-47 assault rifles captured during
Operation Bulldog Mammoth.

You'd think Democrats would be singing the praises of this sort of thing TO THE HEAVENS.

Because they are always in favor of gun control and confiscation...but I guess
when it comes to terrorists thugs, the Democrats are willing to make an exception.

[VeniVidiVici]

Platoon, company, brigade. How big are these??

It really depends on the type of unit. You can round them and get a fairly decent estimate:

Platoon = 40
Company = 160
Battalion = 640
Brigade = 2,560

This will give you some good numbers to work with but it rarely is as cut and dried as this in the US Army. The numbers grow as you add in combat support and combat service support.

You can see a list of units and Order of Battle at:

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/iraq_orbat_toe.htm

[radu]

No shots were fired during this operation;....

WOW!! Considering the numbers of people involved, on both sides, this is incredible! A job very well done!
A lot of thugs off the streets and a WHOLE LOT of weapons that won't be used against the troops now.

Thanks for the ping, RC. I looooove these reports of the fine work our troops are doing.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[DarthMaulrulesok]

Our troops are really destroying 100 tons of enemy arms/ammo a day? Well, that's good, but:

100 tons/day x 30 = 3,000 tons/month.

According to some press reports I've seen, Iraq had 650,000 tons of arms/ammo before the war. (Anyone verify this?)

If so: 650,000/3000 = 216.6
216.6/12 = 18.05 so we will be be about done 18 years from now?

As they say on National Review Online, faster please.

[blackie]

Operation Bulldog Mammoth Strikes Insurgents Where they Live ~ Bump!