Naval Task Group
Naval Special Operations Task Force
Naval Special Operations Task Force, also known as the Naval Task Group (NTG), this joint task force comprised:
- US Navy SEAL Teams 8 and 10
- Special Boat Teams (SWCCs)
- Pysops
- Civil Affairs
- Air Force Special Tactics
- M Squadron, British Special Boat Service (SBS)
- British Royal Marines from 40 and 42 Commando
- Polish GROM operators
The NTG were supported by helicopters from the 15th MEU and the 20th Special Operations Squadron.
Securing The GOPLATs
Coalition planners feared that Saddam may repeat his strategy from 1991's Gulf War of sabotaging oil infrastructure in response to being attacked. There were several key oil and gas facilities in the South of Iraq that needed to be taken quickly to prevent them being destroyed. These facilities included two off-shore gas and oil platforms (GOPLATs). SEALS from SEAL Team 3, a SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team platoon, EOD specialists and SWCC units from Special Boat Teams 12 and 20, and Polish GROM commandos were assigned the task of securing these facilities:
- Mina Al Bakr (MABOT)
(secured by SWWC / SEALs) - Khor Al Amaya (KAAOT)
(secured by SWWC / GROM)
On the night of March 20th, MK V SOC boats transferred the assualt teams to NSW RHIBs which took them to the targets. In the case of the MABOT terminal, divers from a SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team had, the night before, performed an underwater recce of the target, verifying the planned access points and gathering other vital info. Both facilities were successfully stormed without shots fired.
On-shore Oil Terminals
At the same time as the GOPLATs were being stormed, a large scale amphibious assault was taking place on the Al Faw Pennininsula, spearheaded by Britain's 3 Commando Brigade. Combined forces of Royal Marines Commandos and Navy SEALs, EOD specialists and USAF CCTs secured vital oil terminals at Al Faw and Umm Qasr.
Other oil facilites were seized by SEALs operating Desert Patrol Vehicles
Mukarayin Dam
The SEAL/GROM relationship was to continue during several operations, including a joint mission to secure the Mukarayin Dam, 60 miles northeast of Baghdad. Coalition planners feared that Saddam might order the dam, built on the Euphrates river, to be blown, causing extensive flooding. This large scale operation began with the SEAL/GROM task force being airlifted onto target by 6 USAF MH-53 Pavelow helicopters. Several SEAL DPVs were take along, driving off the helo's rear ramps and setting up blocking positions on the site's access roads while the SEAL/GROM teams searched the Dam complex. As was the case in several other operations, the Iraqi military, seeing the writing on the wall, had chosen to abandon the facility before coalition forces arrived.
Umm Qasr
The Naval Task Group would move on to provide support for the convential forces now operating in the South. Such duties included securing the port of Umm Qasr and the nearby network of rivers.
