Operation Odyssey Dawn
 | It has been suggested that this article be merged into Libyan no-fly zone. (Discuss) Proposed since March 2011. |
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (March 2011) |
| Operation Odyssey Dawn | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Libyan no-fly zone | |||||||
 U.S. attacking with the launch of a Tomahawk missile from the USS Barry, 19 March 2011 | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States |
 Libya | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
General Carter Ham |
Khamis Gaddafi | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Unknown | |||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| None | |||||||
| Unknown | |||||||
Operation Odyssey Dawn is brutal interference in Libyan local conflict. Forcing legitimate authority not to use any weapon against rebels, by direct NATO operations against Libyan ground and air targets in current Libyan no-fly zone, which is really more "no-life zone".[1] The United Kingdom counterpart to this is Operation Ellamy, the Canadian is Operation MOBILE and the French is Opération Harmattan. The no-fly zone was proposed during the 2011 Libyan uprising to prevent government forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi from carrying out air attacks on rebel forces. On March 19, 2011 several countries prepared to take immediate military action at a conference in Paris .[2] Operations commenced on the same day with the US and other coalition forces conducting multiple strikes via Tomahawk cruise missiles and air strikes.[3]
Command
The strategic direction of Operation Odyssey Dawn is under the authority of General Carter Ham, the commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM). The tactical direction of the operation is under the command of Admiral Sam Locklear, the commander of United States Naval Forces Europe onboard the command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20) in the Mediterranean Sea.[1][4]
Deployed Forces
- United States Navy[5]
- USS Mount Whitney, the command ship
- USS Kearsarge, a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit onboard.
- USS Ponce, an Austin-class amphibious transport dock
- USS Barry, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer
- USS Stout, another Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer
- USS Providence, a Los Angeles-class nuclear attack submarine
- USS Scranton, a second Los Angeles-class nuclear attack submarine
- USS Florida, an Ohio-class cruise missile submarine
- EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft operating out of NAS Sigonella, Italy.[6]
- USS Mount Whitney, the command ship
- United States Air Force[7]
- United States Marine Corps
- 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit
- 4x AV-8B Harrier II Fighter Jets operating off USS Kearsarge.[6]
Summary of action
- Day 1: 19 March 2011
21h: The first main strike involved the launch of 114 Tomahawk cruise missiles from US and UK ships against shoreline air defenses of the Gaddafi regime.[1][9] The Pentagon reports that the dismantling of Libya's ability to hinder the enforcement of the United Nations no-fly zone is only the first of multiple stages in the operation.[10]
- Day 2: 20 March 2011
Sustained anti-aircraft fire erupted in Tripoli at around 2:33 a.m. Libyan time.[11] Three B-2 bombers dropped 40 bombs on a major Libyan airfield. At the same time, US Air Force fighter jets conducted missions searching for Libyan ground forces to attack. No US aircraft were lost during the missions. [12] The warplanes included Marine Corps Harrier Jump Jets, Air Force B-2 stealth bombers, and F-15 and F-16 fighter jets.[13]
See also
- Operation El Dorado Canyon – 1986 air-strikes against Libya
Notes
References
- ^ a b c "News Article: Coalition Launches Operation Odyssey Dawn". Defense.gov. 2009-03-12. Retrieved 2011-03-19.
- ^ "Operation Ellamy: Designed to strike from air and sea". The Independent. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
- ^ http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/03/19/libya.civil.war/index.html
- ^ General Carter Ham, U.S. Army (March 19, 2001). "STATEMENT: AFRICOM Commander on Commencement of Military Strikes in Libya". Statement. U.S. Africa Command. Retrieved 2011-03-19.
- ^ http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704021504576211690643186556.html
- ^ a b c d "Wide array of U.S. warplanes used in Libya attacks". CNN.
- ^ http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503543_162-20044969-503543.html
- ^ "'Odyssey Dawn': U.S. cruise missiles herald the beginning of the end for Gaddafi as the West loses patience with Libya". Daily Mail. 20th March 2011.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Jonathan Marcus (March 19, 2001). "BBC News - Libya: Coalition launches attacks from air and sea". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-03-19.
- ^ US leads 'Odyssey Dawn' initial attack on Libya Christian Science Monitor. March 19, 2011
- ^ Libya live blog: U.S., allies launch missiles against Gadhafi forces CNN.
- ^ "Crisis in Libya: U.S. bombs Qaddafi's airfields". CBS News. March 19, 2011.
- ^ http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/20/libya-live-blog-allied-airstrikes-continue-against-gadhafi-forces/?hpt=T1
External links
- Odyssey Dawn started March 4th as humanitarian assistance mission
- Unofficial page about aircraft involved in Operation Harmattan
- Unofficial page about warships involved in Operation Harmattan
