HQ$History - United States Special Operations Command

etween 11-17 June. As part of the initial strike
against Aideed, three gunships flew over
Mogadishu on 11 June and used their 105mm
and 40mm cannons to demolish two weapons
storage facilities, an armored tank compound,
and Aideed’s “Radio Mogadishu” propaganda
station. The next day, two AC-130s obliterated
a second radio station and a weapons factory.
On 13, 14, and 17 June, AFSOC crews flew single
AC-130 missions that concentrated on
destroying weapons storage areas and vehicle
compounds belonging to Aideed and his key supporters.
During these missions, Air Force special
tactics operators provided target guidance.
The AC-130 missions and related ground operations
together drove Aideed into hiding. The
AC-130s redeployed in mid-July, and other SOF
later took up the hunt for Aideed.
Task Force RANGER
On 22 August 1993, Secretary of Defense Les
Aspin directed the deployment of a JSOTF to
Somalia in response to attacks made by Aideed
supporters upon U.S. and UNOSOM forces and
installations. The JSOTF, named Task Force
(TF) RANGER, was directed to capture Aideed
and his key lieutenants and turn them over to
UNOSOM II forces. This was a challenging mission,
for Aideed had gone underground in June,
after several AC-130 air raids and UNOSOM II
ground assaults on his strongholds.
The C2 structure of TF RANGER still
remains of interest. Per the Goldwater-Nichols
Defense Reorganization Act, the unified commander
(in this case, General Hoar, CINC-
CENT) was entitled to organize his forces as he
saw fit. General Hoar had the TF RANGER
commander, Major General William Garrison,
report to him directly. Thus, TF RANGER did
not fall under the UNOSOM II commander, and
at all times TF RANGER remained under U.S.
operational command and control. Major
General Garrison did, however, coordinate TF
RANGER operations with Major General
Thomas M. Montgomery, the commander of U.S.
Forces Somalia.
By 28 August, the task force had arrived in
country, was conducting training exercises, and
was setting up the necessary liaison and communications
networks. TF RANGER was made up
of special operations ground forces, special operations
helicopters, Air Force special tactics personnel,
and SEALs. During August and
September 1993, the task force conducted six
Rangers taking cover and returning fire during the 3-4 October battle.
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