Page 84 - Le Operazioni Interforze e Multinazionali nella Storia Militare - ACTA Tomo II

724 XXXIX Congresso della CommIssIone InternazIonale dI storIa mIlItare • CIHm

deemed responsible for the attacks on June and July but he proved an elusive target. Nor
did the UNOSOM structure have a robust intelligence gathering capability. It simply
could not handle such a complex operation. Finally, in exasperation, the UN Secretary
General Boutros Boutros-Ghali asked the U.S. to assist him directly in capturing Aideed.
On 22 August 1993, the new Secretary of Defense, Les Aspin, directed the deploy-
ment of a joint special operations task force (JSOTF) to Somalia in response to attacks
made by Aideed supporters upon American and UNOSOM forces and installations. The
JSOTF, named Task Force Ranger, arrived in Somalia on 28-29 AUG with the not-very
secret mission of capturing Aideed and his key lieutenants and turning them over to
UNOSOM II forces. The task would prove extraordinarily difficult, for Aideed had gone
underground after the AC-130 air raids and ground assaults on his strongholds in June
and July. 16
Reporting directly to national authorities and not to UNOSOM II elements, TF Rang-
er began operations in early September. The different chains of command contributed
to some early missteps, but coordination improved rapidly with the exchange of liaison
officers between the two U.S. headquarters elements. During August and September
1993, the task force conducted six missions into Mogadishu, all of which were tactical
successes, with one on 21 September capturing Osman Atto, one of Aideed’s closest
17
advisers and his chief financial aide.
The situation in Mogadishu worsened even as the raids continued. In one of the most
violent and costly incidents, on 8 September U.S. and Pakistani soldiers were clear-
ing roadblocks near a site known as the Cigarette Factory when they were attacked by
Somali militia using 106-mm. recoilless rifles, RPGs and small arms. Later that same
day, near an abandoned allied checkpoint, the same clearing element was again attacked
by militiamen, this time joined by a mob of approximately 1000 Somali civilians. Six
UNOSOM II soldiers were injured. On 16 and 21 September two roadblock clearing
teams were attacked on 21 October Road. The Pakistanis an armored personnel carrier
and suffered nine casualties, including two killed. On 25 September a U.S. Black Hawk
helicopter was shot down and three soldiers killed.
Early in October, TR Ranger elements conducted their boldest and most costly strike
against members of Aideed’s faction in the heart of his sector of Mogadishu.
The 3 October TF Ranger raid was the most deadly and famous, so I don’t need to
go into many details. Suffice it to say that two U.S. Black Hawk helicopters were shot
down in the middle of Aideed’s stronghold and three others were hit by rocket propelled
grenades. U.S. forces were cut off, taking heavy casualties, until the following morn-
ing when they were rescued by an armored convoy of Malaysian Armored Personnel
Carriers and Pakistani tanks along with two companies of the U.S. QRF from the 10
th
Mountain Division.
18
Casualties included 18 soldiers killed, another 79 wounded, and one captured. The
Malaysian coalition partners had 2 killed and 7 wounded and the Pakistanis suffered 2
16 Ibid., p. 136.
17 Stewart, p.14.
18 Hooker, “Hard Day’s Night”, JFQ: 134.