FReeper Foxhole - Military News in Review - April 28, 2003

various

[snippy_about_it]

28 April 2003

What went right?

Kim Burger JDW Staff Reporter, Nick Cook JDW Aerospace Consultant, Andrew Koch JDW Washington Bureau Chief, Michael Sirak JDW Staff Reporter

With the regime of Saddam Hussein soundly defeated by overwhelming military force, coalition leaders are analysing what initial lessons can be drawn from Operation 'Iraqi Freedom'.

A high-level Pentagon team is already sifting through the data. The team-members will be aware that their conclusions will be leapt upon by proponents of two quite disparate camps: those who will use the war to bolster the process of the military's transformation from a Cold War-era fighting force to one that is lighter, more flexible and technology-reliant; and those who believe that transformation in a highly uncertain global security environment is as much a threat to the military as it is a positive force for change.

Arthur Cebrowski, a retired vice admiral and director of the Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Force Transformation, said he expects analysis of operations in Iraq will reveal a "new air-land dynamic: the discovery of a new 'sweet spot' in the relationship between land and air warfare and a tighter integration of the two. The things that compel that are good sensors networked with good intelligence disseminated through a robust networking system, which then yields speed. Speed turns out to be a very, very important factor," Cebrowski said.

The war was also notable for how 'psyops' - psychological operations - was brought to bear on the enemy in new and unusual ways. Psyops against the Iraqi military included the dropping of more than 40 million leaflets prior to hostilities and during the conflict itself. These leaflets, which urged Iraqi commanders not to use weapons of mass destruction and for front-line troops to desert, appeared to have had the desired effect.

Vice Adm Timothy Keating, head of US naval forces in the Gulf, said on 12 April that the fact that Iraq launched no 'Scud' surface-to-surface ballistic missiles during the war may have been directly attributable to this aspect of the campaign. Others state that it may simply have been because Iraq had no 'Scuds' or that the regime was dissuaded from launching them by the persistence of coalition 'eyes and ears' in the air and on the ground. Psyops also involved the direct 'piping' of propaganda into Iraq via platforms like the US Air Force's (USAF's) EC-130E Commando Solo aircraft.

Special operations forces (SOF), like those who shape psyops strategy, traditionally remain in the shadows, but the degree to which SOF operated in the open in 'Iraqi Freedom' was also unprecedented.

US special forces and intelligence paramilitary forces have been more vital to the overall success of 'Iraqi Freedom' than in any other large-scale conflict, US defence officials say. They were also used in considerable numbers: as many as 10,000 are thought to have been deployed during the course of the war. Their tasks ranged from gathering intelligence on Iraqi troop positions to directing airstrikes and severing enemy lines of communications - a factor, along with the disruption caused by coalition airstrikes, that proved critical in isolating Iraq's heavily centralised command structure from front-line commanders. More

[ppaul]

Song for a Marine

[snippy_about_it]

Jen likes planes, I like ships. Here is one of the Nimitz you just reported on.

[SAMWolf]

PsyOps and Special Forces will be the untold story behind this war.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for the Link PPAUL

[larryjohnson]

Thanks for the Military news. I get USAF news in my mail each day but I know there is more than air superiority. I went on my first long bike ride(10mi) since the snow first flew. It was to my breakfast place, The White House in Jonesboro. Remember the Laugh In person who fell over on his tricycle?. That was me at the only stopsign. My feet were locked in the styrips(sp). I am now icing elbow and knee.

[Eastbound]

Front and center, snippy. Great idea! Thanks. At ease.

[SAMWolf]

LOL! I remember him. I just got this mental picture of you doing that this morning. Thanks for the smile.

[SAMWolf]

1944 Exercise "Tiger" ends with 750 US soldiers dead in D-Day rehearsal after their convoy ships were attacked by German torpedo boats

To be covered in tomorrow's Foxhole, interesting story and not very well known.

[snippy_about_it]

Oh you poor thing.lol. ouch!

Good to see you lj. There really is a lot of stories out there and difficult to decide what to post so just let me know if you have any ideas. Bike riding 101?

[snippy_about_it]

Thank you!

[Pippin]

Good Afternoon, Larry!

[Pippin]

Hi, Sassy!

you have a great day too!

[Pippin]

Okay!

Now to find GailA's coffee pot graphic! :O)

[snippy_about_it]

Hello SassyMom.

[Johnny Gage]

Air Power
EC-130E Commando Solo

The EC-130E Commando Solo (initially known as Volant Solo) is available to commanders for localized targeting of specific avenues of communication. The EC-130E exists in Comfy Levi and Rivet Rider versions. Senior Hunter aircraft flying the SENIOR SCOUT mission support Commando Solo aircraft. A multi-purpose asset capable of conducting both PSYOP and EW, the EC-130E, Commando Solo, is an airborne platform "primarily designed for PSYOP." Commando Solo can conduct psychological broadcast missions in the standard AM, FM, HF, TV and military communications bands. Missions in Bosnia were flown at maximum altitudes possible to ensure optimum propagation patterns. Highly specialized modifications had been made to the latest version of the EC-130E. These included enhanced navigation systems, self-protection equipment, and the capability of broadcasting color television on a multitude of worldwide standards throughout the TV VHF/UHF ranges.

This weapon system is the mainstay information operations aircraft for peacekeeping and peacemaking operations and humanitarian efforts which comprise a large percentage of today's military missions. Commando Solo conducts psychological operations and civil affairs broadcast missions in the standard AM, FM, HF, TV, and military communications bands. Missions are flown at the maximum altitudes possible to ensure optimum propagation patterns. The EC-130 flies either day or night scenarios with equal success, and is air refuelable. A typical mission consists of a single-ship orbit which is offset from the desired target audience. The targets may be either military or civilian personnel. Secondary missions include command and control communications countermeasures (C3CM) and limited intelligence gathering.

With the capability to control the electronic spectrum of radio, television, and military communication bands in a focused area, the Commando Solo aircraft can prepare the battlefield through psychological operations and civil affairs broadcasts. These modified C-130Es provide broadcasting capabilities primarily for psychological operations missions; support disaster relief operations; and perform communications jamming in military spectrum and intelligence gathering. One oversized blade antenna is under each wing with a third extending forward from the vertical fin. A retractable wire antenna is released from the modified beavertail, with a second extending from the belly and held vertical by a 500 pound weight.

Capabilities include:

Reception, analysis, and transmission of various electronic signals to exploit electromagnetic spectrum for maximum battlefield advantage Secondary capabilities include jamming, deception, and manipulation techniques

Broadcasts in frequency spectrums including AM/FM radio, short-wave, television, and military command, control and communications channels.

Rivet Rider modification includes: VHF and UHF Worldwide format color TV Infrared countermeasures [chaff/flare dispensers plus infrared jammers] Vertical trailing wire antenna Fire suppressant foam in fuel tank Radar warning receiver Self-contained navigation system

The modification added a pair of underwing pylon mounted 23X6 foot equipment pods, along with X-antennae mounted on both sides of the vertical fin. Six aircraft have been modified to the Rivet Rider configuration by the contractor, Lockheed Martin; Ontario, California.

Commando Solo and Senior Scout operations may be long or short range missions with extended orbit delays planned at the aircraft operating ceiling, and may require one or multiple air refuelings. Some missions may require a combat profile, with a low altitude profile enroute to the mission orbit area. The electronic environment may be hostile, with enemy ability to jam all communications radios and electronic transmission systems; to intercept and use intelligence information transmitted over nonsecure electronic systems and radios; and to pinpoint the position of the aircraft emitting any electronic transmission or signal.

C130J-30 Aircraft
Max Take-off Weight - 155,000 lb
Operating Altitude - 29,000 ft
Time on Station - 11.5 hrs
Unrefueled range - 2800 NM
Runway Length Required - 2,800 ft

AN/APS-145 Radar
Coverage of a 6 million cubic mile cylinder from sea level to 100,000 ft. 360 degree coverage in 10 seconds
IFF: Continuous detection and tracking of air and surface targets

[SAMWolf]

Comfy Levi and Rivet Rider versions

Interesing version names, I get a picture of the Levi edition of the AMC Gremlim in my mind.

Thanks Johnny.

[snippy_about_it]

It's a few weeks old but I like it.

Paratroopers of 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division remain vigilant, even by moonlight, while pulling perimeter security Thursday morning on the outskirts of the village of Khar Bolah, Afghanistan. Elements of the 504th and 505th PIRs searched the village for weapons and anti-coalition forces Wednsday. (Photo by Pfc. Charles D. Meseke)

[Diver Dave]

Great presentation today, snippy. Appreciated the work you put into it.

I'm heading down to the forward mess decks -Time for more coffee...

[SAMWolf]

Members of the 101st Airborne of the California National Guard display an American flag before the start of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series Auto Club 500 at California Speedway in Fontana, Calif., Sunday, April 27, 2003. (AP Photo/Will Lester)