Operation Odyssey Dawn
 | 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 Coalition intervention in Libya | |||||||
 USS Barry (DDG 52) fires a Tomahawk cruise missile in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States of America |
 Libya | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Barack Obama Robert M. Gates General Carter Ham Admiral Samuel Locklear |
Ali Sharif al-Rifi (Air)[2] | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| See Deployed forces |
490 tanks 240 mobile rocket launchers 35 helicopters 113 air-land attack fighters 229 air fighters 7 bombers[3] | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 1 F-15E (crashed due to mechanical failure) | Multiple anti-aircraft defenses and air force targets damaged or destroyed | ||||||
| Unknown number of civilian casualties* | |||||||
| *The Libyan government claims a number of civilians have been killed, however this claim has not been independently confirmed and Libyan government figures have been shown as unreliable or misinformation.[4] The U.S. military has denied any civilian casualties occured.[5][dubious – discuss] | |||||||
Operation Odyssey Dawn is the code name for the United States military's participation in enforcement of the 2011 Military intervention in Libya.[6][Note 1] 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 19 March 2011, several countries prepared to take immediate military action at a conference in Paris.[8] Operations commenced on the same day with the US and other coalition forces conducting multiple strikes via Tomahawk cruise missiles and air strikes.[9] The goal of US forces has been to weaken the Libyan Government forces by knocking out anti-aircraft defenses and key installations. The US plans to hand over full control of operations to allied Forces and take up a support role after a few days. [10]
Naming
According to the U.S. Africa Command spokesman in Germany, the name Odyssey Dawn "has absolutely no meaning."[11]
Command
The strategic direction of Operation Odyssey Dawn is under the authority of General Carter Ham, the Combatant Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), a Unified Combatant Command of the Department of Defense. 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.[6][12] President Obama stated the US military action will be toned down soon[13] and is considering handing over the command of the operation to either UK, France or NATO[14]
Deployed forces
- United States Navy[15]
- USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20), the command ship of the United States Sixth Fleet
- USS Kearsarge (LHD-3), a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard
- USS Ponce (LPD-15), an Austin-class amphibious transport dock
- USS Barry (DDG-52), an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer
- USS Stout (DDG-55), another Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer
- USS Providence (SSN-719), a Los Angeles-class nuclear attack submarine
- USS Scranton (SSN-756), a second Los Angeles-class nuclear attack submarine
- USS Florida (SSGN-728), an Ohio-class cruise missile submarine[16]
- EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft operating out of NAS Sigonella and Aviano Air Base[17][18]
- USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20), the command ship of the United States Sixth Fleet
- United States Air Force[19]
- Three × B-2 Spirit stealth bombers operating from Whiteman AFB. [20]
- Ten × F-15E Strike Eagle strike fighters operating out of RAF Lakenheath[21][17][22]
- Eight × F-16C Fighting Falcon multirole fighters from Spangdahlem Air Base started leaving for Aviano on 20 March[17][21]
- Two x HH-60 Pave Hawk combat search and rescue helicopters from RAF Lakenheath operating from USS Ponce (LPD-15). [23]
- EC-130H electronic warfare (communications jamming) aircraft
- EC-130J psychological operations aircraft
- Lockheed AC-130 Aerial Gunship
- United States Marine Corps
- 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit
- Four × AV-8B Harrier II ground attack fighters operating off USS Kearsarge[17]
Coalition forces placed under direct US command
Belgian Armed Forces[24]
- Belgian Air Component
- Six F-16AM 15MLU Falcon fighter jets operating from Araxos Air Base, Greece
- Belgian Naval Component
- BNS Narcis a Tripartite class minehunter
- Belgian Air Component
Danish Armed Forces[25]
- Royal Danish Air Force
- Six F-16AM 15MLU Falcon fighter jets operating from Sigonella Air Base, Italy
- One C-130J-30 military transport aircraft (supporting the Danish contribution, but not under direct US Command)
- Royal Danish Air Force
Italian Armed Forces
- Italian Air Force[26]
- Four Tornado ECR SEAD planes operating from Trapani Air Base
- Four F-16A 15ADF Falcon fighter as escort operating from Trapani Air Base
- Two Tornado IDS in the air-to-air refueling role operating from Trapani Air Base (supporting the Italian contribution, but not under direct US Command)
- Italian Navy[27]
- Euro a Maestrale class frigate
- Libra a Cassiopea class patrol vessel
- Etna an Etna class auxiliary ship
- Italian Air Force[26]
Spanish Armed Forces[28]
- Spanish Air Force
- Four EF-18AM Hornet fighters fighter jets operating from Decimomannu Air Base, Italy
- One Boeing 707-331B(KC) tanker aircraft
- One CN-235 MPA maritime surveillance plane
- Spanish Navy
- Méndez Núñez a F100 class frigate
- Tramontana an Agosta class submarine
- Spanish Air Force
Summary of action
- Day 1: 19 March 2011
21h: The first main strike involved the launch of 110 Tomahawk cruise missiles from US and UK ships against shoreline air defenses of the Gaddafi regime.[6][29] The U.S. Department of Defense 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.[30] USMC Harriers participated in an air strike against a large military convoy outside Benghazi.[31]
- Day 2: 20 March 2011
Sustained anti-aircraft fire erupted in Tripoli at around 2:33 a.m. Libyan time.[32] Three B-2 Spirit bombers targeted 45 hardened aircraft shelters at an Libyan airfield near Sirt.[33] At the same time, US Air Force fighter jets conducted missions searching for Libyan ground forces to attack. US Navy EA-18G Growlers jammed Libyan radar and communications[34] No US aircraft were lost during the missions. [35] The warplanes included Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier IIs (attacking pro-Gaddafi's ground forces),[36] Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, and F-15E Strike Eagle and F-16C Fighting Falcon fighter jets.[37] Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, states that there would be continuous allied air cover over Benghazi, and that the no-fly zone "is effectively in place".[38] An EC-130J was recorded warning Libyan shipping "If you attempt to leave port, you will be attacked and destroyed immediately" in Arabic, French and English.[39]
- Day 3: 21 March 2011
All fixed SA-2 Guideline, SA-3 Goa and SA-5 Gammon sites were taken out. Only SA-6 Gainful, hand held SA-7 Grail and SA-8 Gecko mobile SAMs are a possible threat to aircraft.[40] In the early hours of the day a building from Moammar Gadhafi's compound in Tripoli was completely destroyed by a cruise missile. [41] Twelve more cruise missiles were fired at command and air defense sites.[42]
- Day 4: 22 March 2011
A US F-15E crashed due to mechanical failure in a rebel-held area. It was later reported that both crewmen were safe and rescued.[43][44][45]
See also
- Operation El Dorado Canyon – 1986 U.S. air-strikes against Libya
- Operation Ellamy - British contribution to the enforcement of UNSCR 1973
- Opération Harmattan - French contribution to the enforcement of UNSCR 1973
- Operation MOBILE - Canadian contribution to the enforcement of UNSCR 1973
Notes
- ^ From Wired, "The U.S. military’s nickname for the no-fly zone in Libya sounds like the beginning of a long adventure. But Defense Department officials insist that there’s no hidden meaning behind 'Operation Odyssey Dawn.' It’s just the product of the Pentagon’s semi-random name-generating system."[7]
References
- ^ Cohen, Tom (20 March 2011). "Mullen: No-fly zone effectively in place in Libya". CNN. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
- ^ "Serbia-Libya: Serbian Delegation At Weapons Fair In Tripoli - Lybia". ANSAMED.info. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
- ^ "Gaddafi Attacked City of Misrata; US to Bomb More | The World Reporter: News Opinion and Analysis". The World Reporter. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
- ^ "Gaddafi denounces foreign intervention". Al Jazeera English. 2011-03-20. Retrieved 2011-03-20.
- ^ CNN. March 20, 2011
- ^ a b c "News Article: Coalition Launches Operation Odyssey Dawn". Defense.gov. 2011-03-19. Retrieved 2011-03-19.
- ^ Rawnsley, Adam (March 21, 2011) What’s in a Name? ‘Odyssey Dawn’ Is Pentagon-Crafted Nonsense Wired
- ^ "Operation Ellamy: Designed to strike from air and sea". The Independent. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
- ^ "Gunfire, explosions heard in Tripoli". CNN. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
- ^ By the CNN Wire Staff. "U.S. official: Gadhafi's momentum stopped". CNN.com. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ http://thelastword.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/03/21/6316486-rewrite-operation-odyssey-dawn
- ^ 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.
- ^ Ian Pannell. "BBC News - Libya: US 'to reduce role in military campaign'". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
- ^ Sanskar Shrivastava (March 22, 2011). "US to Hand Over The Command of Military Operation in Libya to UK, France or NATO". The World Reporter. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
- ^ Dagher, Sam. "Allies Press Libya Attacks - WSJ.com". Online.wsj.com. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
- ^ Media, Defense. "U.S. Naval Forces Open Odyssey Dawn, Prepare No-Fly Zone". Navy.mil. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
- ^ a b c d "Wide array of U.S. warplanes used in Libya attacks". CNN.
- ^ F-18 growler jet fighters land at the Nato airbase in Aviano, northern Italy, March 19, 2011
- ^ "Crisis in Libya: U.S. bombs Qaddafi's airfields - World Watch". CBS News. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
- ^ http://www.npr.org/2011/03/21/134726240/No-Fly-Zone-Enforcer
- ^ a b "Removing Gaddafi from Libya: timeline of events of Operation Odyssey Dawn". Zurf Military Aircraft. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "'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) - ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8396077/Libya-coalition-naval-forces-gather-in-Mediterranean.html
- ^ "Removing Gaddafi from Libya: timeline of events of Operation Odyssey Dawn". Zurf Military Aircraft. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Denmark to send squadron on Libya op" (in Template:Da icon). Politiken.dk. 2011-03-14. Retrieved 2011-03-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - ^ "La Russa: Presto altri aerei italiani". rainews24.it. 2011-03-22. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
- ^ "Libia: nave Andrea Doria nel canale di Sicilia con compiti di difesa aerea da attacchi missilistici". Grnet.it. 2011-03-19.
- ^ http://www.mde.es/gabinete/notasPrensa/2011/03/DGC_110321_primeramision_f18.html
- ^ 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
- ^ http://www.npr.org/2011/03/21/134726240/No-Fly-Zone-Enforcer
- ^ Libya live blog: U.S., allies launch missiles against Gadhafi forces CNN.
- ^ http://www.npr.org/2011/03/21/134726240/No-Fly-Zone-Enforcer
- ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/21/world/africa/21libya.html?_r=1&hp
- ^ "Crisis in Libya: U.S. bombs Qaddafi's airfields". CBS News. March 19, 2011.
- ^ "Navy, Marine Corps Aircraft Strike Libya". United States Navy. March 20, 2011.
- ^ "Libya live blog: Coalition confirms strike on Gadhafi compound – This Just In - CNN.com Blogs". News.blogs.cnn.com. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
- ^ By Tom Cohen, CNN. "Mullen: No-fly zone effectively in place in Libya - CNN.com". Edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help); no-break space character in|author=at position 4 (help) - ^ "Listen: Secret Libya Psyops, Caught by Online Sleuths". Wired. March 20, 2011.
- ^ "News Transcript: DOD News Briefing by Vice Adm. Gortney on Operation Odyssey Dawn". Defense.gov. 2009-03-12. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
- ^ . March 21, 2011 http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/03/21/libya.civil.war/index.html?hpt=T1.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Jelinek, Pauline, and Richard Lardner, "General: Coalition strikes more Libya defenses", Military Times, 21 March 2011.
- ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/mar/22/libya-no-fly-zone-air-strikes-live-updates
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418
- ^ http://www.africom.mil/getArticle.asp?art=6252&lang=0
External links
