Why doing Things that Way...?
Another short one, prompted by what appears to be a lots of confusion about the flow and the outcome of the US CSAR operation for the downed F-15E-crewman.
A lots of things a military service does are done the way no civilians would do them. Especially so in the US armed forces - but even more in the US special forces. This is where, in a hyperbole, one could say: ‘equipment, supply and ammo don’t matter: the outcome does’ - even more so in a war that’s as controversial as this one.
Whether the US Air Force has this and that many C-130Js, HC-130Js, and/or MC-130Js in operational condition: ‘doesn’t matter’. How many MH-6 Little Bird helicopters are there around with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne; also known as the ‘Task Force 160/TF.160’), US Army: ‘doesn’t matter’. It doesn’t matter what a pedophile crip is in charge in the White House or what an alcohol&cocaine-addict is in charge of the Pentagon: what does matter is to go in and get everybody out.
Because of this, a lot can be deducted on hand of currently available evidence. Indeed, is simple to deduct if one keeps in mind the training, the equipment, and the situation: these alone are helping draw conclusions about the doctrine, thus the strategy, even about the tactics.
The area where the downed USAF airman was is that of Dehdasht. This is about 240km from Bubiyan Island in Kuwait. Bubiyan is something like ‘the closest confirmed area where the US armed forces are deployed’ (we’ve seen the US Army M142 crews firing their missiles at the Shalamcheh border crossing between Iran and Iraq, earlier yesterday).
On the map, and in theory, the situation was looking bad - considering the ‘concentrations’ of the Iranian armed forces around the area where the downed airman was. Look here:
‘TFB.xx’ stands for ‘Tactical Fighter Base’, a major Iranian air base. Arguably, the TFB.5 was taken over by the IRGC more than a decade ago, and is ever since used for UAVS; the TFB.6 is still the home of the 61st Fighter Wing, IRIAF, equipped with F-4Es. Some 250km north of Dehdash is the TFB.8: the principal home-base of the IRIAF’s F-14-fleet. Sure, both TFB.6 and TFB.8 have been repeatedly targeted, and the Iranian F-14-fleet claimed as ‘obliterated’. But, we’ve seen IRIAF Tomcats in operations ever since. Thus, this was a threat one couldn’t simply ignore.
Even more so, the CSAR-party had to keep in mind plentiful of Iranian Army and IRGC’s bases in the ‘triangle’ Mahshahr-TFB.5-Bushehr/TFB.6. All of these are well-equipped with short-range air defences, including MANPADs, anti-aircraft guns… and, in situations of this kind, even assault rifles can get lethal.
This meant that this operation had to be supported by own interceptors and fighter bombers. In the US Air Force, these are not going anywhere without support from E-3G AWACS, and KC-46 or KC-135 tankers. So, say: 1 E-3G, 4-8 KC-45/KC-135s, and a flight (four jets) each of F-35As, F-15Es, F-16s, plus at least a pair of A-10Cs acting as ‘Sandys’: aircraft providing direct support for the CSAR-party. To complete the picture: don’t forget the UAVs and UCAVs - especially MQ-9s.
Now for the CSAR-party…
At earlier times, the USAF would deploy its MH-53 Super Jolly Green Giant helicopters for tasks of this kind - like it did to pick up the two downed airmen out of Serbia, back in 1999. However, MH-53s were withdrawn from service back in 2008, and replaced by HH-60W Jolly Green IIIs. Apparently, the two Jolly Green IIIs available and ‘closely enough’ to the scene, have been shot up by Iranian police officers while picking up and then evacuating the first of two downed F-15E-airmen, yesterday.
Theoretically, the other option would’ve been to bring in some OV-22 Osprey or MH-53 Super Stallion helicopters of the US Marine Corps. However, seems, these were too far away. That much for the super-turbo-planning for this war…
But, that’s not the kind of thoughts bothering people in charge of the US armed forces. Somewhere up-, or (far more likely), down the chain of command. This all seems to have resulted in the birth of the idea to load two or even four MH-6 Little Bird helicopters of the TF.160 on board of two C-130Js (or two MC-130Js), and to fly them into Iran. Land there, re-assemble the MH-6s, send them to pick up the downed airman, recover him, return to C/MC-130Js, load everybody in again, and get out. ASAP.
Was that ‘dangerous’?
Of course it was. But: nobody said the operation in question was then undertaken ‘along the shortest route’. Along the yellow line on the map above. It’s perfectly possible that a demonstration operation was undertaken somewhere in the north - say: east of Dezful, to distract and/or confuse the Iranians. Point is: C/MC-130Js have enough range to fly over 'all of Iran and back’, before descending upon the Dehdasht area.
The C-130s or MC-130s then landed somewhere in Kuwait, refuelled while picking up the CSAR party and loaded its two or four MH-6s. The nice thing about the latter is that they’re so small and light: when one folds up their rotor, they fit neatly into the cargo hold of a C-130. See the photo here, showing one being pushed out of a MC-130:
The crucial question was that of finding a suitable forward base: the place where the C/MC-130s were to land and unload MH-6s and DELTA-Force operators. Perhaps it’s really so as some say, and the Americans went as far as to pick the minor runway of the Kolah Gazi National Park, about 50km SW of Esfahan. Right now, I’m simply not sure. Alternatively, they’ve picked some similar site closer to the downed airman, somewhere in the Dehdasht area.
One way or the other, the C/MC-130s quickly landed there, the crews have unloaded MH-6s, re-assembled their rotors and went into action. It is possible that each transport carried two MH-6s, and it’s possible that one or two MH-6 have served as gunship/S (configuration visible on the photo above, including Mini-Guns and unguided rockets), while the other (or the other two) have carried DELTA-operators. Right now, not sure: we’re going to find out in the coming days. Certain is that the MH-6s and the DELTA-operators are excellently trained, and both they and MH-6s are excellently equipped for nocturnal combat.
Supported by the A-10Cs and MQ-9s, the CSAR-party then moved on to pick up the downed airman. And because it seems to have reached around the same time quite a party of the tribesmen and/or Basiji did, there was quite a fire-fight: Iranians are reporting 9 KIA and 7 WIA. Americans are reporting no casualties whatsoever. No surprise considering US training, night-vision equipment, and firepower.
Once they’ve picked up the downed airman, the MH-6s returned with the CSAR-party and the downed WSO back to the waiting C/MC-130s. But, then there was the problem. Seems one or both of the MC-130Js got struck in the soft sand off the runway while turning around: while re-positioning - making 180-degree turns - for the take-off. Perhaps after re-loading the MH-6s back into their cargo holds….
Point is: with the IRGC on their heels, there was no other option but to bring in additional C-130s or MC-130s to pick them out. While the CSAR-party was waiting on the ground, its permiter was kept safe by F-22s, F-35s, F-15s, F-16s… plus A-10Cs and MQ-9s. Finally, when the time came, that meant both the two MC-130s and the two MH-6s in their cargo holds had to be blown up - to prevent them from falling into Iranian hands.
Bottom line: cannot but repeat myself that for the total outcome of this operation it doesn't matter how much equipment was lost in the process. Whether it was 2 MC-130Js and two MH-6s, as many say - or any other combination: that’s something left for the accountants after the war is over. If there are any doubts: mind that the USAF and the US Navy have meanwhile spent no less but around 1750 out of some 2,300 AGM-158s available at the start of this conflict. This is how ‘seriously’ the USA mean this one. It’s ‘regardless the cost’. That’s why IQ47 & Co are babbling about ‘obliterated’ and ‘back to stone age’ when it comes to Iran (and are promising even more).
When it comes to this operation, what did matter was to pick up the WSO - a full colonel - out of Iran and get everybody back. Cold fact is: the US-Americans went in, got the downed airman, and everybody came out. Regardless the cost. And they did exactly that.
Live with it, and accept it. There’s a lot more of this war going on and worth your attention.
Tom, unless you are physically removed from any smartphones, notebooks or PCs, I don't see you being absent from this war reporting until the end of the next week. Especially now that Trump has not only reiterated his threat to bomb all power plants and bridges tomorrow, but casually threw a praise to Allah in as well.
Not complaining from my side, Hope you get some rest too.
Never leave one behind, no matter the cost, I understand.
The US about to commit war crimes tomorrow, I don't understand. Am fortunate not to be in the shoes of the officers who are supposed to obey lawless orders.