HQ$History - United States Special Operations Command

TEXACO) and metering and manifold stations
(Objective CORONADO) on the Al Faw peninsula.
The SEALs arrived at MABOT about 2200,
boarded the facility, and were greeted by several
Iraqis waiving white sheets and t-shirts. The
SEALs secured the Iraqis in the platform’s dining
facility and searched the facility, finding
large amounts of ammunition, AK-47s, and
RPGs. After about 40 minutes, the SEAL platoon
commander radioed that MABOT had been
secured. It was turned over to a Royal Marine
platoon, and the SEALs returned to KNB.
KAAOT was similar in appearance and scenario.
The facility, however, was seriously
degraded and not operational. Polish SOF subdued
18 Iraqis who offered little resistance and
were very cooperative during interrogation.
After turning the Iraqis over to a Royal Marines
relief force, the Poles searched the dilapidated
structure and found only a few weapons, some
loaded magazines, and a small amount of explosive
materials. Once the search was complete,
the Poles likewise returned to KNB.
Meanwhile, eight MH-53 PAVE LOW helicopters
transported the rest of NSWTG and
their equipment to Objectives TEXACO and
CORONADO. Unexpectedly, the initial landing
zones (LZs) at CORONADO were surrounded by
NSWTG-CENT SEALs aboard MABOT GOPLAT.
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knee-deep, oily mud. The SEALs struggled to
unload equipment from the helicopters and
trudged 150 meters to their objective. An A-10
destroyed the one enemy vehicle in the area.
Once they reached their objective, the SEALs
searched the buildings and the manifold, and
found nothing. In just over an hour from launch,
the NSWTG had established a command post
and radioed for British relief forces (40
Commando, Royal Marines).
The commandos cleared an LZ on dry
ground, eliminated a lone enemy sniper, and
called in fire on 100-plus Iraqi forces gathered
north of the area. The SEALs at Objective TEX-
ACO also encountered muddy conditions and
lost use of their three desert patrol vehicles
(DPVs) to the insidious muck. The SEAL
assault team moved out on foot toward its objective
and, after a hasty sweep of the area, found
no significant weapons or explosives. The
SEALs secured the south and east gates to the
complex and called for relief forces. The Royal
Marines arrived within minutes, took control of
the area, conducted a thorough search of all
structures, and secured 100 enemy prisoners of
war. In one bunker, the Brits found several
dead Iraqi officers. The bulk of the SEAL team
was sent back to KNB after only two hours on
the ground—mission accomplished. A few