Tale of Two Cobra Helicopters

March 12, 2010

Dear All;

Someone forwarded a piece written by a retired Pakistani Brigadier and asked for some clarifications as it caused some confusion.  I guess it was an Op-Ed piece published in a newspaper in which respected officer mentioned recent crash of a Pakistani cobra helicopter in 'Waziristan' and 'loss of several officers and men in search and rescue mission'. Respected officer then elaborated events related to a U.S. cobra crash in Mogadishu in 1993 stating that U.S. troops were surrounded and they asked the help of Pakistani troops. He then elaborates that 7 Frontier Force battalion of Pakistan army was launched to rescue American troops and in the process 'losing about a score dead and several wounded'.  He then went on to criticize U.S. polices in different arenas.  My two cent worth response to these two events is below.

Regards,

Hamid

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March 5, 2010

Dear Sir;

 I went through the piece. It goes over a number of unrelated issues which creates confusion.  Pakistanis have one hundred and one reasons to be upset with U.S. and everyone has a right to criticize U.S. polices.  However, neither anger and hatred nor love should cloud facts.  The respected officer probably in his anger towards U.S. has missed some facts which is quite understandable.  The thrust of the piece is addressed towards the crash of a Pakistani cobra helicopter recently and then connecting it to the 1993 Mogadishu incident when two U.S. cobra helicopters were shot down.  Following is to the best of my knowledge along with my personal two cent worth opinion. As always correction is always welcome.  

Pakistani Cobra Down

-          The Pakistani cobra helicopter crash on February 10, 2010 was in Tirah valley in Khyber Agency and not in Waziristan. This helicopter with pilot Major Mudassir Razzak and co-pilot Captain Asim Karim was coming back to the base after an operation of targeting some militant hideouts.  It went down most likely from a technical fault as militants never claimed to take it down.  Both officers died on the spot.  Brigadier Syed Hussain Abbas (I could not confirm whether he is from Baloch or Punjab regiment) who was brigade commander of 102^nd  Brigade of 7^th Division (this division is operating against militants) took off with a small team in a helicopter and landed near the crash site. Militants were waiting there and they ambushed the party.  In the ensuing firefight, Brigadier Abbas, Major Zia Mohiudin and Lieutenant Ansar Khalil were hit with bullets and Abbas succumbed to his injuries later.  (I hazard to guess that there was only one helicopter consisting of a small team of not more than 6-8 people. Helicopter dropped them near the crash site and went up for safety reason.  Militants waiting for them then engaged the rescue team resulting in injuries).  A second rescue team consisting of a number of army aviation helicopters led by Brigadier Tipu Karim successfully evacuated all members of the first recue team but could not recover the dead bodies of the two officers of the cobra. Their bodies were handed over two days later to political administration of Khyber Agency by militants through tribal elders.  (I don't know the details but my guess is that about 4-6 helicopters of different types participated in this operation. 4-5 helicopters likely made a wider circle around the besieged party of officers pouring suppressive fire from the air to distract the militants while one or two helicopters landed to extricate the soldiers on the ground).  (http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=574&topicId=100007195&docId=l:1126777083&start=9 and http://thenews.jang.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=224053) Some have questioned the wisdom of Abbas leading the rescue team in an area infested with hostiles.  However, my view is a bit different.  When the news of the crash arrived, a quick decision need to be made as there was a distinct possibility that pilots may have survived the crash.  Crash in a hostile territory usually becomes a race between who gets to the site first between hostiles and rescue teams.  Keeping this in mind, moving quickly without wasting time and having the courage and sense of duty to lead the mission at grave personal risk is a commendable act by a senior officer.  I give full marks to Brigadier Abbas for making the quick decision and risking his life to help his fellow soldiers.  Pakistan could be truly proud of such men of honor.  May his soul rest in peace.  Army aviation team also did an excellent job of extricating the initial rescue team. Air Force usually has a standard search & rescue plan which is activated in such a situation, however I don't know whether army has a special standard procedure of search and rescue of downed aircraft in hostile territory in view of current operations.  If not then may be it is right time to work on one. 

-          In addition to two pilots of the cobra, only Brigadier Abbas was killed and to my knowledge only two officers were wounded in the whole operation and not 'several'. 

Somalia 1993

-          Respected officer has confused two separate events of 1993.  Pakistani troops suffered casualties in an ambush by Somali militiamen on June 05, 1993, which was full four months before the October 03 incident of downing of two U.S. cobra helicopters.  Pakistani troops most likely belonging to 7 Frontier Force Regiment were ambushed in two separate ambushes which resulted in death of 23 Pakistani soldiers and wounding of 56.  This affair was quite brutal and Pakistani soldiers ran out of ammunition and were mowed down and many bodies were mutilated by militiamen.

-          On September 21, 1993, Pakistan lost one Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) with 2 soldiers killed and seven wounded.  In fact, the whole later aggressive U.N. mission spearheaded by U.S. was to bring to justice those responsible for the killing of Pakistani troops. 

-          The October 03-04 battle (lasting about 18 hours) was an all American show.  U.S. troops had no tanks or APCs, therefore some elements of Pakistani and Malaysian forces were added to the Quick Reaction Force (QRF) rescue effort.  This was Task Force 10 Mountain Division which included a company of 2/14 Infantry Regiment and a platoon of 1/87 Regiment of U.S. army. There was a 60 plus vehicle rescue convoy in which Pakistani and Malaysian tanks & APCs participated.  Pakistani troops were from  15 Frontier Force (this is a mechanized infantry battalion also called APC bound)  in their APCs and few tanks (I believe there were only 4 tanks) of 19^th  Lancers (I think Lt. Colonel Sikandar Afzal was commanding 19^th  Lancers.  Now Lt. General, he is leading UN mission in Liberia). Malaysian contributed only few APC with drivers and communication personnel but no troops. (The best and most concise narration of events of that time which in my view is the most authentic account is at http:www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_191.shtml)

-          From the casualty figures it is quite clear that most of the fight was done by U.S. troops.

   U.S. :   18 killed and 83 wounded

   Malaysia:  One driver of an APC killed when it was hit by an RPG and two soldiers wounded

   Pakistan: Only two soldiers wounded and NO soldier killed

-          Pakistan played a major part in the operation by providing tanks and APCs.  Major contribution of Pakistan which saved American lives was in an unpublicized arena. All wounded American soldiers were brought to Pakistani field hospital. Pakistan army doctors, nurses and paramedics performed a superb job and this probably saved many American lives. 

-          Every soldier including Pakistani soldiers performed to the best of their abilities in that operation, however if someone is looking for true heroes of that battle then without any doubt they were Randall Shugart and Gary Gordon.  Both were snipers with Delta team. They were on a helicopter trying to keep militants away from the besieged troops.  They twice asked their commander to be dropped into the hot zone where they could fight better securing their comrades.  Twice the permission was refused but they kept insisting and third time they were allowed to be dropped.  Both died in the ensuing battle and were posthumously given the well deserved Medal of Honor.  Their action was truly beyond the call of duty. 

-          Performance of Pakistani troops was first rate in Somalia.  Compared to all other participants they performed very well and sacrificed (Total 39 soldiers killed from 1992 to 1995).  They were the first ones to land and the last ones to leave.  Pakistan can be truly proud of these men.  This has been acknowledged by everyone familiar with the operation.  Major General Thomas M. Montgomery, commander of U.S. forces and Deputy Commander of the UN Forces in Somalia in a television interview said: "Many of the (US) soldiers are alive today because of the willingness and skill of the Pakistani soldiers who worked jointly in a rescue operation with Malaysian and American soldiers in most difficult and dangerous combat circumstances". He thanked the Pakistani people and Army for sending, "such splendid soldiers to Somalia, who we feel proud to serve with. Pakistani soldiers have been completely dependable even in the most difficult circumstances. They have shouldered a huge and dangerous load for UNOSOM and the Somali people".  (This is posted on Pakistan army official website http://www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk/)

I hope that clarifies some confusion around these two events.

Warm Regards,

Hamid