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Operation Ellamy

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Operation Ellamy
Part of 2011 military intervention in Libya

A Eurofighter Typhoon from the RAF
Date19 March 2011 – ongoing
Location
Libya
Belligerents
 United Kingdom  Libya
Commanders and leaders

David Cameron
Liam Fox

United Kingdom Air Marshal Sir Stuart Peach (CJO)[1]
United Kingdom Air Vice-Marshal Greg Bagwell (Air)[1]

United Kingdom Rear Admiral Ian Corder (Maritime)[1]

Libya Muammar al-Gaddafi
Libya Abu-Bakr Yunis Jabr

Libya Ali Sharif al-Rifi (Air)[2]

Libya Khamis al-Gaddafi (SF)
Strength
See Deployed Forces Unknown
Casualties and losses
None Multiple air force defences severely disabled.[citation needed]
Unknown, unverified claim by Gaddafi-controlled Libyan state media of 48 civilians killed, 150 wounded as a result of all UN operations[3][dubious – discuss]
Coalition forces have not reported any casualties on either side.

Operation Ellamy is the codename for the United Kingdom participation in the 2011 military intervention in Libya.[4] The operation is part of an international coalition aimed at enforcing a Libyan no-fly zone in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 which stipulated that "all necessary measures" shall be taken to protect civilians.[5] The United States' counterpart to this is Operation Odyssey Dawn, the Canadian counterpart is Operation MOBILE and the French counterpart 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. Several countries have prepared to take immediate military action at a conference in Paris on 19 March, 2011.[6]

Background to operation

The UN Security Council Resolution 1973 passed on the evening of 17 March 2011 gave a mandate to countries wishing to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya militarily. A conference involving international leaders took place in Paris on the afternoon of Saturday 19 March 2011.[7] International military action commenced after the conference finished, with French military fighter jets being the first to participate in the operation only a few hours after the conference finished in Paris with the first shot fired at 1645 GMT against a Libyan tank.[8]

Deployed forces

The British Special Air Service (SAS) and Special Boat Service (SBS)[16] and the Canadian Joint Task Force 2 (JTF2) are currently deployed in Libya conducting operations together.[17]

Summary of operation

Day 1 - 19 March 2011

On the afternoon of 19 March, the Royal Navy Trafalgar-class submarine HMS Triumph[18] fired Tomahawk cruise missiles.[19] A combined total along with US over the day was reported by the US to be over 110 missiles.[20] The Royal Navy also has a Type 22 frigate (HMS Cumberland) and a Type 23 frigate (HMS Westminster) engaged in a naval blockade.

David Cameron, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, confirmed that British aircraft were in action over Libya on the 19th,[21] although it was the French Air Force who made the first coalition aerial presence over Libya earlier the same day.

Sentry, Sentinel and VC-10 aircraft were said to be carrying out operations from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.[1] The home base for the VC-10 aircraft was RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and for the Sentinel and Sentry aircraft was RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire.

On the night of 19-20 March 2011, Storm Shadow missiles were launched by Tornado GR4 aircraft.[22] Tornados of No. 9 Squadron from RAF Marham had sortied on a 3,000 mi (4,800 km) mission to fire Storm Shadow missiles against targets in Libya. They required refuelling by British tanker aircraft three times on the outward journey and once on the return. Tristar aircraft were involved.[23]

Day 2 - 20 March 2011

The MoD announced that Tornado and Typhoon aircraft would be deployed to the Italian Gioia del Colle Air Base.[1]

The Trafalgar-class submarine HMS Triumph launched further Tomahawk cruise missiles at targets in Libya.[1]

Tornados GR4s, flying from Marham, were about to attack a target but did not fire their missiles due to reports of civilians near the target.[24]

Day 3 - 21 March 2011

The Prime Minister announced to the House of Commons on 21 March at the start of the debate on the UNSC resolution that RAF Typhoons had been deployed to an Italian airbase (Gioia del Colle) and would fly in support of the NFZ.[25] Three Typhoons successfully conducted a mission and returned to Gioia del Colle.[26]

Headquarters 906 Expeditionary Air Wing formed at Gioia del Colle Air Base responsible for assets forward deployed there. Headquarters 907 Expeditionary Air Wing formed at RAF Akrotiri responsible for assets forward deployed there. C-17A Globemaster and Hercules transport aircraft were also used to assist in the build up of deployed forces.[11]

Day 4 - 22 March 2011

RAF Typhoons flew their first ever combat mission,[27] patrolling the no-fly zone while Tornado GR4s from RAF Marham were flew an armed reconnaissance sortie. The MoD reported that Royal Navy ships Triumph, Westminister and Cumberland remained in theatre for additional strikes and patrol.[28]

Day 5 - 23 March 2011

In a media interview at Gioia del Colle Air Base, the UK Air Component Commander (AVM Greg Bagwell) stated that the Libyan Air Force "no longer exists as a fighting force" and that "we have the Libyan ground forces under constant observation and we attack them whenever they threaten civilians or attack population centres."[29]

Military equipment used

Military action commenced on 19 March 2011 with the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force participating.

Royal Navy

Warships and submarines of the Royal Navy used in Operation Ellamy
HMS Westminster
HMS Cumberland
Royal Navy Trafalgar class submarine

Royal Air Force

Combat aircraft used in Operation Ellamy
A military aircraft flying with weapons beneath its wings
Tornado GR4
Typhoon
Typhoon F2
Surveillance aircraft used in Operation Ellamy
Sentry AEW1
Sentinel R1
Nimrod R1
Air-to-air refuelling and military transport aircraft used in Operation Ellamy
TriStar KC1
VC10
C-17A

Notes

  1. ^ From Jane's Defence Weekly, 16 March 2011, operational requirements forced the Royal Air Force to deploy one of its two remaining Nimrod R1s two weeks before they were due to be withdrawn.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Libya update". Ministry of Defence. 20 March 2011.
  2. ^ http://www.ansamed.info/en/libia/news/ME.YBL40539.html
  3. ^ "Gaddafi denounces foreign intervention". Al Jazeera English. 20 March 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  4. ^ "Libya assault: UN's calculated gamble", BBC News, 19 March 2011, retrieved 20 March 2011
  5. ^ "Security Council authorizes 'all necessary measures' to protect civilians in Libya". United Nations. un.org. 17 March 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  6. ^ a b Judd, Terri (19 March 2011). "Operation Ellamy: Designed to strike from air and sea". The Independent. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  7. ^ "David Cameron meets allies for Libya crisis talks". BBC News. 19 March 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  8. ^ "Libya: French plane fires on military vehicle". BBC News. 19 March 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  9. ^ "Libya: French jets resume sorties as coalition builds". BBC News. 20 March 2011.
  10. ^ "Libya: RAF 'comfortable' with outcome of airstrikes". BBC News. 20 March 2011.
  11. ^ a b c d "Coalition operations in Libya to continue". Ministry of Defence. 21 March 2010. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  12. ^ "Coalition Against Gadhafi Growing". Defense News. 20 March 2011. Archived from the original on 21 March 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  13. ^ "UK military to be stretched by long Libya campaign". Reuters. 19 March 2011.
  14. ^ "Coalition Operations in Libya to Continue". MOD. 21 March 2011.
  15. ^ "VC10 and TriStar Support Operations". Royal Air Force. 20 March 2011. Archived from the original on 21 March 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  16. ^ "HMS Cumberland lands SAS, SBS at Benghazi". http://convenientflags.blogspot.comand. 27 February 2011. {{cite news}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  17. ^ "Canadian warship en route, JTF2 sent to Libya". www.ottawacitizen.com. , 2 March 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  18. ^ Daily Mail Reporters (21 March 2011). "RAF strikes against Gaddafi's forces branded 'a success' as bombed out tanks and cars litter the roads near Benghazi". Daily Mail. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  19. ^ "British Armed Forces launch strike against Libyan Air Defence systems". Ministry of Defence. 19 March 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  20. ^ "US fires 110 missiles as no-fly zone is enforced". Irish Independent. 20 March 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  21. ^ "Libya: Coalition launches attacks from air and sea". BBC News. 19 March 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  22. ^ "British jets fired on Libyan targets" Mar 20, 2011 monstersandcritics.com (c) Deutsche Press Agentur
  23. ^ "TARGET LIBYA: RAF reveals Marham jets' 3,000-mile mission, as aircraft prepare to deploy to Italy", edp24.co.uk, 20 March 2011
  24. ^ "Updated: Second UK strike against Libyan defence assets". Ministry of Defence. 21 March 2011.
  25. ^ House of Commons Hansard Debates for 21 Mar 2011, retrieved 22 March 2011
  26. ^ "Live: Libya crisis". BBC News. 22 March 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  27. ^ "RAF Typhoons patrol Libyan no-fly zone". Ministry of Defence. 22 March 2011.
  28. ^ "Operations in Libya having a very real effect". Ministry of Defence. 22 March 2011.
  29. ^ "Libya air force 'unable to fight'". BBC News. 23 March 2011. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)

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