HQ$History - United States Special Operations Command

Special Operations Forces first became
involved in Somalia as part of Operation PRO-
VIDE RELIEF. In August 1992, soldiers of the
2nd BN, 5th SFG (A) deployed to Kenya to provide
security for relief flights. They formed an
airborne reaction force, which included two
desert mobility vehicles loaded inside C-130 aircraft.
The C-130s circled over Somali airstrips
during delivery of relief supplies. In addition,
SOF medics and ground observers accompanied
many relief flights into the airstrips throughout
southern Somalia to conduct general area
assessments. In many cases, they were the first
U.S. soldiers in Somalia, arriving before U.S.
forces who supported the expanded relief operations
of RESTORE HOPE.
Operation RESTORE HOPE
To support the United Nation’s relief effort
in Somalia, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff, General Colin Powell, directed CENTCOM
on 2 December 1992 to secure transportation
facilities in Mogadishu, Somalia. The operation
was designated RESTORE HOPE. An amphibious
squadron, consisting of USS Tripoli, Juneau,
and Rushmore, with a Marine Expeditionary
Unit (MEU), a SEAL platoon, and a Special Boat
Unit (SBU) detachment, arrived off the coast of
Somalia shortly thereafter. To mount an
amphibious landing to secure the Mogadishu
airport, the Marines needed up-to-date charts
for the beaches—charts that did not exist. The
SEALs and SBU detachment conducted a hydrographic
reconnaissance, the classic “frogman
mission” of World War II, to map the beaches.
The first mission occurred on the night of 6
December, when 12 SEALs conducted a hydrographic
reconnaissance in the traditional
method, swimming in a line toward shore, and
taking depth soundings with weighted lines.
Upon reaching waist deep water, they each shifted
to the right and swam back out, repeating the
process. Meanwhile, another five SEALs swam
ashore and reconnoitered the beach. The two
SEAL cartographers measured the berm and
noted the shore gradient and the presence of
obstacles on the beach. The SEALs returned to
the Juneau where they compiled charts, briefed
Somalia
1992-1995
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the Marines, and prepared for their next night’s
mission.
On the night of 7 December, the SEALs
swam into Mogadishu Harbor, where they found
suitable landing sites, assessed the area for
threats, and ascertained that the port could support
maritime prepositioned ship offloads. This
was a tough mission: the SEALs swam against a
strong current that left many of them overheated
and exhausted. Furthermore, they had to
swim through raw sewage in the harbor, which
made them sick.
When the first SEALs hit the shore the following
night, they were surprised to meet members
of the news media. Thankfully, the first
Marines came ashore soon thereafter, and the
press corps redirected their attention to them,
freeing the SEALs to proceed with their duties.
Four SEALs conducted surf observations and
initial terminal guidance for the Marines’ landing
craft.
On 17 December, the SEALs surveyed the
port of Kismayu from the French frigate
Dupleix. During this operation, Somali snipers
fired at the SEALs, but no SEALs were hit.
Later, the SEALs provided personal security for
President George Bush during a visit to Somalia
and provided snipers to the Marines. Before
leaving Somalia in February 1993, the SEALs
also conducted joint training missions with
Indian naval commandos.
A platoon from SEAL Team 2, with the Wasp
Amphibious Ready Group, replaced the departed
SEALs. On their first mission, these SEALs
reconnoitered the Jubba River (a mission that
included dodging crocodiles) to gather intelligence
on gun smuggling. Based on this information,
Marines staged two raids on towns along
the river. These SEALs performed many operations
in April and May: a predawn shore reconnaissance
of Kismayu; clearing a potential beach
landing site south of Mogadishu; reconnaissance
missions in the Three Rivers region south of
Kismayu and at Koyaama Island; and a reconnaissance
of Daanai Beach in extremely rough
seas.
Meanwhile, on 28 December 1992, the
Special Forces assets in Kenya moved to
Somalia and joined Operation RESTORE