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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

United Kingdom David Cameron
United Kingdom 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.[3]
~7 tanks[4]

~22 Armoured Vehichles
Unknown, unverified claim by Gaddafi-controlled Libyan state media of 48 civilians killed, 150 wounded as a result of all UN operations[5][dubious – discuss]
40 civilians killed (in Tripoli; Vatican claim)[6]
Coalition forces have not reported any casualties on either side.

Operation ELLAMY[7] is the codename for the United Kingdom participation in the 2011 military intervention in Libya.[8] 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.[9] UK sorties are under the operational command of the United States.[10] The coalition operation is designated by the U.S. as Operation Odyssey Dawn.[11][12] The Canadian participation is Operation MOBILE[13] and the French participation is Opération Harmattan.[14]

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 prepared to take immediate military action at a conference in Paris on 19 March, 2011.[15]

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.[16] 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.[17]

Deployed forces

  • Possible deployment of Special Forces to mark targets for aircraft[24][25]

Summary of operation

Day 1 - 19 March 2011

On the afternoon of 19 March, the Royal Navy Trafalgar-class submarine HMS Triumph[26] fired Tomahawk cruise missiles.[27] A combined total along with US over the day was reported by the US to be over 110 missiles.[28] 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,[29] 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.[30] 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.[31]

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.[32]

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.[33] Three Typhoons successfully conducted a mission and returned to Gioia del Colle.[34]

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.[8]

Day 4 - 22 March 2011

RAF Typhoons flew their first ever combat mission,[35] patrolling the no-fly zone while Tornado GR4s from RAF Marham flew an armed reconnaissance sortie. The MoD reported that Royal Navy ships Triumph, Westminister and Cumberland remained in theatre for additional strikes and patrol.[36]

Day 5 - 23 March 2011

Tornado GR4s were forwarded deployed to Gioia del Colle Air Base.[37] In a media interview, the UK Air Component Commander, Air Vice Marshall 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."[38]

Day 6 - 24 March 2011

Tomahawk Cruise Missiles were again fired at targets from HMS Triumph[39] RAF Tornado aircraft on an armed reconnaissance mission launched Brimstone missiles against Libyan armoured vehicles that were reported to be threatening the civilian population of Adjdabiya. Four T-72 tanks were destroyed in the attack by Tornados, and three by another coalition aircraft. Likely target locations had previously been identified by other Tornado aircraft equipped with RAPTOR pods.[4]

Day 7 - 25 March 2011

RAF Tornado aircraft launched more Brimstone missile strikes, destroying three armoured vehicles in Misrata and two further armoured vehicles in Ajdabiya.[40]

Day 9 - 27 March 2011

Over the weekend, Tornados from Gioia del Colle launched numerous armed reconnaissance missions, during the course of which ordnance released hit a total of 22 tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery pieces in the vicinity of Ajdabiya and Misurata.[41]

Day 10 - 28 March 2011

Tornados from RAF Marham, supported by Tristar tankers from RAF Brize Norton, launched Storm Shadow strikes against ammunition bunkers in the Sabha area in the southern Libyan desert. The bunkers were reportedly used to resupply Libyan Government troops attacking civilians in the north of the country.[41]

Day 11 - 29 March 2011

The London Conference on Libya was chaired by the Foreign Secretary, William Hague.

Two Tornados flying from Gioia del Colle engaged near Misurata a Libyan armoured fighting vehicle and two artillery pieces with Brimstone missiles.[42]

Day 12 - 30 March 2011

Tornados flying from Gioia del Colle engaged near Misurata three Libyan tanks, two armoured fighting vehicles and a surface-to-air missile site with Brimstone missiles and Paveway IV bombs.[43]

Day 13 - 31 March 2011

From 06:00 GMT, NATO took sole command of air operations over Libya under Operation Unified Protector, taking over from U.S. Africa Command.[44][45][46]

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. ^ "Libyan air force neutered". Ministry of Defence. 24 March 2011. Retrieved 24 March2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  4. ^ a b c "Operational Update on Libya - 25 March". Ministry of Defence. 25 March 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  5. ^ "Gaddafi denounces foreign intervention". Al Jazeera English. 20 March 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  6. ^ "Vatican: Airstrikes killed 40 civilians in Tripoli". 31 March 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  7. ^ "LIBYA: Operation ELLAMY: Questions and Answers". Ministry of Defence.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Coalition operations in Libya to continue". Ministry of Defence. 21 March 2010. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  9. ^ "Security Council authorizes 'all necessary measures' to protect civilians in Libya". United Nations. un.org. 17 March 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  10. ^ William Hague: 'Gaddafi regime in for a surprise' (March 25, 2011) BBC. At 00:40 - Interviewer, "...who has operational command of the various sorties we are currently seeing involving UK forces?" British Foreign Secretary Hague's response, "They are under a US command..."
  11. ^ "DOD News Briefing by Vice Adm. Gortney on Operation Odyssey Dawn". U.S. Department of Defense. 19 March 2011.
  12. ^ Rawnsley, Adam (March 21, 2011) What’s in a Name? ‘Odyssey Dawn’ Is Pentagon-Crafted Nonsense Wired
  13. ^ Operation MOBILE: National Defence and the Canadian Forces Response to the Situation in Libya National Defence and the Canadian Forces, Canadian Department of National Defense
  14. ^ Libye : point de situation de l'opération Harmattan n°1 (March 23, 2011) Opérations, Ministère de la Défense et des anciens combattants. (French) English translation
  15. ^ a b Judd, Terri (19 March 2011). "Operation Ellamy: Designed to strike from air and sea". The Independent. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  16. ^ "David Cameron meets allies for Libya crisis talks". BBC News. 19 March 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  17. ^ "Libya: French plane fires on military vehicle". BBC News. 19 March 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  18. ^ "Libya: French jets resume sorties as coalition builds". BBC News. 20 March 2011.
  19. ^ "HMS Cumberland ready for embargo operations in Libya". Ministry of Defence. 29 March 2011.
  20. ^ "Libya: RAF 'comfortable' with outcome of airstrikes". BBC News. 20 March 2011.
  21. ^ "Coalition Against Gadhafi Growing". Defense News. 20 March 2011. Archived from the original on 21 March 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  22. ^ "UK military to be stretched by long Libya campaign". Reuters. 19 March 2011.
  23. ^ "VC10 and TriStar Support Operations". Royal Air Force. 20 March 2011. Archived from the original on 21 March 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  24. ^ Drury, Ian (22 March 2011). "Mission aborted on orders of SAS: RAF attack is halted after troops spot human shields". Daily Mail.
  25. ^ "SAS 'Smash' squads on the ground in Libya to mark targets for coalition jets". Daily Mail. 21 March 2011.
  26. ^ 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.
  27. ^ "British Armed Forces launch strike against Libyan Air Defence systems". Ministry of Defence. 19 March 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  28. ^ "US fires 110 missiles as no-fly zone is enforced". Irish Independent. 20 March 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  29. ^ "Libya: Coalition launches attacks from air and sea". BBC News. 19 March 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  30. ^ "British jets fired on Libyan targets". monstersandcritics.com. Deutsche Press Agentur. 20 March 2011.
  31. ^ "TARGET LIBYA: RAF reveals Marham jets' 3,000-mile mission, as aircraft prepare to deploy to Italy", edp24.co.uk, 20 March 2011
  32. ^ "Updated: Second UK strike against Libyan defence assets". Ministry of Defence. 21 March 2011.
  33. ^ David Cameron, Prime Minister (21 March 2011). http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110321/debtext/110321-0001.htm#1103219000645. Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). United Kingdom: House of Commons. col. 700–701. {{cite book}}: |chapter-url= missing title (help)
  34. ^ "Live: Libya crisis". BBC News. 22 March 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  35. ^ "RAF Typhoons patrol Libyan no-fly zone". Ministry of Defence. 22 March 2011.
  36. ^ "Operations in Libya having a very real effect". Ministry of Defence. 22 March 2011.
  37. ^ "Libyan air force neutered". Ministry of Defence. 24 March 2011. Retrieved 24 March2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  38. ^ "Libya air force 'unable to fight'". BBC News. 23 March 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2011. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  39. ^ "British submarine launches further strikes on Libyan air defence systems". Ministry of Defence. 24 March 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  40. ^ "Brimstone Missiles Destroy Armoured Vehicles in Libya". Ministry of Defence. 26 March 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
  41. ^ a b "RAF Strikes Further Targets in Libya". Ministry of Defence. 28 March 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  42. ^ "Libya Conference Participants Committed to Military Action". Ministry of Defence. 30 March 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  43. ^ "RAF and Navy Patrol LIbyan Skies and Seas". Ministry of Defence. 31 March 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  44. ^ "NATO Press Briefing". NATO. 31 March 2011.
  45. ^ http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=59406
  46. ^ "NATO Assumes Command of Libya Operations". Department of Defense. 31 March 2011.

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