HQ$History - United States Special Operations Command

On 31 January 1991, AFSOCCENT suffered
the single worst air loss by any coalition unit
when an AC-130H Spectre gunship, “Spirit 03,”
was shot down while providing fire support to
U.S. Marines defending Khafji against an Iraqi
attack. Three gunships were airborne that
morning over the Marines, and the first two had
destroyed numerous Iraqi armored personnel
carriers. At 0600, “Spirit 03” was due to end its
patrol when it received a call from the Marines,
who wanted a missile battery engaged. The
crew of “Spirit 03” took out the battery, but as
darkness gave way to daylight, a SAM hit the
aircraft. At 0635, the aircraft sent out a “mayday”
distress call and then crashed into the gulf.
All 14 crew members died.
During DESERT STORM, British Special
Operations Forces carried out their own missions
in western Iraq. One British mission—
very close to Baghdad—included four U.S. SOF
(three SF soldiers and one CCT) brought along
to coordinate CAS. Their goal was to destroy a
buried fiber optic cable supposedly used for
SCUD command and control. The 20
Brits and four Americans were inserted
by two helicopters on the night of 23
January slightly southwest of Baghdad.
Digging teams found and cut several
cables, but found no fiber optic cable.
They then crammed 800 pounds of
explosives into the hole and blew up
what was left of the cables. After one
and a half hours on the ground, the
team returned safely to Al Jouf by helicopter.
NSW units also had DA missions.
On 18 January 1991, when U.S. helicopters
came under fire from seven oil platforms
in the Durrah Oil Field, NSWTG
elements counterattacked. SEALs
boarded and cleared each of the seven platforms,
capturing prisoners, weapons, and documents.
Eight Special Boat Unit personnel and 32
Kuwaiti Marines also seized Qaruh Island on 8
February, Maradim Island the next day, and
Kubbar Island on 14 February—these operations
marked the first reclamation of Kuwaiti
territory. In the final hours of the war, NSWTG
and Kuwaiti forces seized Bubiyan Island and
captured its Iraqi defenders. SEALs also flew
aboard Navy helicopters for both CSAR and
countermine missions, during which they
destroyed 26 moored or floating mines.
The Liberation of Kuwait City:
Operation URBAN FREEDOM
SOCCENT assisted Kuwaiti forces in liberating
their capital city and reestablishing Kuwaiti
governmental authority. SOCCENT initiated
Operation URBAN FREEDOM when allied
forces reached the outskirts of Kuwait City.
SOCCENT deployed to Kuwait City
International Airport on 27 February, along
with 3rd SFG (A) teams and other personnel.
Surprisingly, the Iraqis had abandoned the city,
and the liberation forces met little organized
opposition. As a precautionary measure, SOF
units conducted a “take down” of the U.S.
Embassy compound in Kuwait City. A ground
convoy, composed of SEAL fast attack vehicles
and 3rd SFG (A) soldiers, surrounded the compound
while a Special Forces assault force fast
roped onto the roofs of buildings and searched
for Iraqis and booby traps. None were found.
SOCCENT Planning to liberate the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait City.
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SCUD Hunting
Coalition forces had air superiority in the
skies over Iraq and Kuwait from the war’s first
air strikes on 17 January 1991. Unable to do
battle in the air, Saddam Hussein struck back
with a clumsy, unsophisticated weapon—the
SCUD missile—which he ordered to be launched
at Israel. Tactically, the SCUD would not have
a major impact, but its strategic effect was felt