Page 608 - Le Operazioni Interforze e Multinazionali nella Storia Militare - ACTA Tomo I

608 XXXIX Congresso della CommIssIone InternazIonale dI storIa mIlItare • CIHm

GOLF - Post Office
HOTEL - Radio Boulbinet
INDIA - Electrical power plant
MIKE - Samory barracks
OSCAR - Republican Guard
PAPA - Isthmus
SIERRA - Airport
VICTOR - Patrol Boats
ZULU - PAIGC

On November 19th, eve of the departure, the commander-in-chief António de Spíno-
la went to the island of Soga, to meet with the troops.
At 20H00, on November 20th 1970, TG 27-2, led by Alpoim Calvão, sailed away
from the island of Soga. A P2V5 Portuguese Air Force plane overflew the Task Group,
surveying the status of the route. Other air assets were kept on alert in support of the
operation, particularly during the return to base.
The following day (21st), the ships reached unnoticed the outskirts of Conakry, at
approximately 20H00. At the spreading point, each of the six vessels manoeuvred to the
most suitable location for landing the teams on both shores of the city peninsula. The
patrol boat Orion, flagship of the operation, anchored NNW of the jetty protecting the
harbour, half a mile distant. Out of the remaining ones, three others anchored north of
the city and the other two headed south.

Execution
The action was triggered at 01H45 on the 22nd, a Sunday, with complete surprise,
when only nightlife places were open.
VICTOR team left Orion on rubber boats and headed for the break-water and the pier
where the ships to be neutralized were moored. Once the sentry was eliminated, the team
members entered the P6 patrol boats and started various fires by throwing hand grenades
through the hatches. Running across the pontoon, they did the same to the three Komar
who were alongside the wharf on the north side, returning afterward to the Orion.
In the meantime, team HOTEL left the landing craft Bombarda, in two rubber boats,
in order to take control over Radio Boulbinet. However, after coming ashore, the team
leader, a Portuguese officer, got confused and therefore unable to accomplish the mis-
sion. Consequently, the proclamation of the FNLG was never broadcasted.
Then, in two waves, rubber boats landed teams ALFA, BRAVO, CHARLIE, DELTA,
ECHO, FOXTROT and GOLF. In the Gendarmerie barracks, initial strong resistance
was found, but ultimately dominated; the remaining targets, in downtown Conakry, were
seized with little opposition. However, Sekou Touré was not found at the presidential
palace.
In turn, teams ÓSCAR, INDIA and MIKE, departure from the Large Landing Craft
Montante, towards their objectives. The first, in rubber boats, headed the Republican
Guard barracks. Here, after a fierce combat, achieved the complete control of the site,