Delta Force: Jericho One

By Steve Stone

Delta Force has earned itself a near mythical status since its inception. Delta or the ‘Unit’ as it is also known, has been at the heart of a vast, if hidden, global war waged by America's special operation forces. They are part of dismantling, in what U.S. General David Petraeus, the former NATO commander, has described as “an industrial-strength insurgency”. Even highly trained Delta Operators with their advanced weaponry and immense fire support at their disposal were put to the ultimate test of skill and courage, fighting in Afghanistan.

This book is based on real operations, with fast paced action being both gritty and graphical at times, as Delta Operators battle against overwhelming odds in a hostile land. Fighting a war hardened enemy with years of experience fighting occupying forces. Using Guerilla tactics and deadly IEDs to maim and kill as many coalition forces as they could. From the battle of Tora Bora, 10 weeks after 9/11 to the rescue of Helen Johnston the book gives a real insight into some fierce firefights and courageous rescue missions Delta undertook.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Digital Dreams Publishing
• Release date: Sep 13, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311404800

Book preview

DELTA FORCE

JERICHO ONE

STEVE STONE

Copyright © by Steve Stone 2016

Steve Stone has asserted his rights under the Copyright, Design and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author of this work.

Published by Digital Dreams Publishing 2016

Foreword

Since its first ill-fated Desert Claw mission in 1979. Delta have displayed a range of skills and levels of personal courage that have not only made them the envy of the world. But, they have also delivered spectacular results some known and some unknown. In recent years, Delta has been at the heart of a vast, if hidden, global war on terror waged by America's special operation forces. In the midst of a run of almost endless operational achievements. The full story when it eventually comes to light, may be regarded as unparalleled in modern military history. For the past decade, Delta Force's activities have mostly been detailed through more often than not vague or partial stories from a variety of sources. However, as imperfect as open source information may be. Once pieced together it gives a good overview of the operations of unprecedented scope and scale. Delta squadrons were originally deployed to Afghanistan under ‘Operation Enduring Freedom’ in 2001 to overthrow the Taliban, as part of the global war on terror or GWOT. They also played a large part in the second Iraq war and the hunting down of key figures from the Iraqi regime including Saddam Hussein.

The resurgence of the Taliban may lead to further forces needing to be redeployed in the longer term. They are part of dismantling, in what U.S. General David Petraeus, the former NATO commander, has described as "an industrial-strength insurgency". This book is based on real operations undertaken by Delta, and some joint operations with the British SAS and U.S. Navy SEALs.

Post Tora Bora a large contingent of al-Qaeda fighters regrouped in the Shahi-Kot Valley in early 2002 which would lead to Operation Anaconda a joint mission with conventional forces, airpower and with SEAL Team Six. Delta would play a pivotal role in this operation alongside conventional and Special Forces from multiple nations. Delta’s role was as an AFO (Advanced Forward Operations) led by Col Pete Blaber a Delta officer. The AFO teams undertook special reconnaissance ahead of the main assault and called in air strikes as the battle raged against around 1000 fighters. Delta gained valuable experience stealthily ascending the frozen mountain ridge lines in thigh deep snow undetected, high about the Shai-Kot Valley. Delta had two AFO teams operating in the Shai-Kot Valley Juliet and India. Along with Seal Team Six Mako 30, these teams were to take up observation posts on the North and South of the Valley. Mako 31, a SEAL reconnaissance element from SEAL Teams 2 and 3, was tasked to set up an observation post on the ‘Finger’, allowing reconnaissance of the Rakkasan landing zones. Two teams consisting of Juliet (Delta) and Mako 31 (Seal Team Six), went in on foot braving the harsh cold mountainous environment to complete their mission.

Chapter One – Takedown

Afghanistan 2009

Another night and another typical takedown - we had got ourselves up at 1530 hours to get ourselves prepared for the night’s operation. The plan and the target changed at least three times before we were due to go. Much to the annoyance of us and the supporting aircrew tasked with getting us in and out. We set off in the early evening darkness in a Pave Hawk with two Apaches providing top cover. It was about 80-mile journey to the target area some 40 miles from Laskar Gah in Helmand province. It was a very hot location in terms of enemy activity. We all knew would all need to be on our toes and out the side of the Pave Hawk. As we got in close and I looked out of the window, I could see tracer fire coming up from the Taliban fighters below. Our target tonight was another intelligence officer, which was part of a much larger CIA effort targeting terrorism working alongside the British Mi6. There are strong links between Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Fighters from across the world have joined the Taliban as part of their Jihad (religious duty) to help drive the allied forces out of Afghanistan. Delta, along with the rest of the SF (Special Forces) in Afghanistan are prime targets for the Taliban to kill; their hatred of us was much higher than the average soldier and a source of propaganda to kill one of us.

The mission was all about trying to find out further information regarding the pipeline of foreign fighters into Afghanistan. Many fighters came across the Pakistan border to the front line in Afghanistan. B Squadron who had been in Afghanistan prior to us and found some of these raids very difficult, on many occasions as they approached the target locals had spotted them, using anything they could find to make a noise to alert the Taliban of their presence. This led to a hard assault, with the Taliban now alerted and firing assault rifles at B Squadron from only a few feet, in what became very short-range firefight.

Quick thinking was essential - you had to think and fire pretty much at the same time or be shot. We have tried to blend in often by disguising ourselves as locals. By blending in and choosing the correct time and day to perform an assault helped us become much more covert. On a couple of occasions, we did not even get to fire a single round - getting in making a hard arrest, before getting out without anyone knowing.

Tonight was similar fair, although Rangers and a SEAL team were on hand to support us. Resistance was expected to be high on this assault. The Taliban here had a mixture of light and heavy weapons along with RPGs. This particular target had been tracked by the CIA for some months know including various moves around the globe to Pakistan and other Arab countries.

In total, there was eight Delta operators involved in this assault along with a SEAL team and American fire support in the form of several Bradley tanks and an AC-130 Spooky on station to both observe and offer fire support if required. There was a mutual respect between the SF forces, if a little rivalry when it came down to individual missions. The American planners do hold Delta Force in high esteem, we have proven time and time again to get the job done and are every bit as good as SEAL Team Six. They know we are a highly skilled and capable force. Although, politics do enter into who gets what missions, with SEAL Team Six and not Delta getting to capture Osman bin Laden in Pakistan.

The assault tonight was made slightly more complex due to a minefield in some open ground just to the left of the compound. This meant that the assault options were narrowed and would need to almost zigzag up to the objective.

The Pave Hawk came down steeply before settling on the deck before we all ran down the ramp into the helicopters downwash. The first priority was to find some cover before the Pave Hawk took off again and silence descended on our LZ. Via the net the SEAL team was already in their FUP (Forming Up Point) and the C-130 Spooky on station gathering intelligence and acting as an ‘overwatch’ for all the ground forces.

We made our way to our own FUP, from where we would launch the attack. The SEAL team was acting as spotters and would also capture anyone trying to flee the compound. As we got to about 200 metres from the objective, we held firm for a short period of time - to get eyes on the target and formulate a final plan. We would break up into two patrols of four and move on the compound from two different angles.

The patrol I was with, would go from the right and the other team circled round to the left, circumventing the minefield before moving onto the compound. It was a dark starless night, which helped with us being covert, at the same time, made it harder for us to see even with the help of night vision goggles. Night vision goggles are great, but they do rob some of your peripheral vision.

As we moved in an explosion and hysterical screams suddenly interrupted the silence. One Delta Operator in another patrol had walked into a small group of trees and stepped on an IED. It had blown one of his lower limb clean off and alerted the Taliban to our presence. We now had a man down - lying critically injured with the potential for other IEDs planted as secondary devices to further maim or kill rescuers.

The SEAL team sprang into action and made their way to where the injured Delta operative was. We started to return fire at the Taliban firing from the roof, the AC-130 Spooky opened up its GAU-12/U Equalizer which is a is a five-barrel 25 mm Gatling-type rotary cannon. These cannons can also be found mounted on fighter jets, such as the AV-8B Harrier II and other land-based fighting vehicles.

It made light work of the Taliban on the roof and suppressed the fire enough for us to get closer. Regardless of having, a man down we had a mission and an objective to complete. Chris could still be heard groaning, but to get to him out the area would need to be searched for any more mines or IEDs - before any rescue could be undertaken.

Now only a few metres from the compound, the Spooky above was still giving bursts from its GAU-12, causing small dust clouds as the bullets hit the compound roof and walls. We ordered it to stand down to ensure there was no blue on blue. Which meant it would now be down to us, to do a room-by-room clearance.

Initially, there was no resistance and no one to be found - we cleared each room and found nothing. Room by room clearance is a highly specialist skills and each special force has its own method. Our method was to breach the door, first man throws in a flash bang, turns left and follows the wall shooting targets, next man enters and shoots at the targets turns