OPERATION AL FAJR

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OPERATION AL FAJR

• THE BATTLE FOR FALLUJAH

Major Todd M. Hunt
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FALLUJAH AND SURROUNDING CITIES
Khalidiyah
Karmah
Saqlawiyah
Baghdad
Nassir Wal Salam
Ramadi
Habbaniyah
Fallujah
Abu Ghurayb
Zaidon
BAGHDAD
SYRIA
IRAN
JORDAN
Al Amariyah
FALLUJAH
KUWAIT
SAUDI ARABIA
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3
Railroad Station
MSR Mobile
Hadrah Mosque
MSR Michigan
Jolan District
Fallujah Hospital
Industrial District
Jolan Park
Clover Leaf
North Bridge
Government Center
South Bridge
Euphrates River
Peninsula
FALLUJAH KEY TERRAIN
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Major Todd M. Hunt
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BACKGROUND

• AMBUSH OF BLACKWATER CONTRACTORS (31 March 04)
• CORDON ESTABLISHED AROUND FALLUJAH
• OPERATION VIGILANT RESOLVE COMMENCES (4 30
  APRIL 04)
• FALLUJAH BRIGADE STANDS UP

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FALLUJAH THREAT OVERVIEW (OCTOBER 2004)
C2
TCP-1
C2
Legend C2 Node Insurgent
Concentration Road Block(s)
Fighting/Def. Positions Berm(s)
Checkpoint Small Arms POO IDF POO
Sniper Fire/Position Weapons Cache
C2
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Major Todd M. Hunt
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MISSION

• AT H HOUR ON D1, 1ST MARINE DIVISION
  (-)(REIN) ATTACKS TO DESTROY ANTI-IRAQI FORCES IN
  FALLUJAH IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH LEGITIMATE LOCAL
  CONTROL

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TASK ORGANIZATION
Fallujah Environs
Ramadi
Western AO
N. Babil
Fallujah
2 BCT
(-)
1
SSF
(-)
1
SSF
(-)(Rein)
(-)
B
2
(-)
C
(-)
118
C
1 - 4
HHC
44
A
2
ACE
AZERBAIJANI
A
SEAL
DIV RESERVE
1 - 4
B
HHC
GEN. SUPPORT
36TH CDO
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PHASE I (PREPARATION)

• OPERATIONAL PLANNING
• ROC DRILLS/REHEARSAL
• MOVEMENT OF FORCES
• RIP/ BATTLE HANDOVERS WITHIN THE DIVISION AO
• BLACK WATCH TO NORTH BABIL
• INTEGRATION
• IRAQI SECURITY FORCES
• U.S. ARMY UNITS
• JOINT SPECIAL OPERATION SNIPERS
• FSSG BUILDS IRON MOUNTAIN

- SET CONDITIONS FOR SUCCESS -
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PHASE I (SHAPING)

• FEINTS
• RAIDS
• CORDON AND SEARCHES
• VEHICLE CHECKPOINTS (VCPS)
• INDIRECT FIRES AND CAS
• INFORMATION OPS AND PSYOPS
• TARGETING OF AIF LEADERSHIP
• SPECIAL OPERATION FORCES TARGETING OF HIGH-VALUE
  TARGETS

A

• DESIRED ENEMY ENDSTATE
• - CONFUSED AS TO MNF INTENTIONS
• - WEDGE DRIVEN BETWEEN
• POPULACE AND AIF
• - C2 NODES EXPOSED AND DESTROYED
• - DEFENSES IDENTIFIED
• - HEIGHTENED STATE OF PARANOIA
• AND ANXIETY

FEINT
VEHICLE CHECKPOINT
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PHASE II D-DAY (7 NOV 04)(ENHANCED SHAPING)

• ISOLATION OF FALLUJAH BY BLACK JACK BRIGADE
• MOVEMENT OF FORCES INTO ATTACK POSITIONS
• JOINT FIRES
• ELECTRONIC ATTACK
• PENINSULA ASSAULT
• FALLUJAH HOSPITAL SECURED
• BRIDGES SECURED/BLOCKING POSITIONS ESTABLISHED

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PHASE II ENHANCED SHAPING
(-)
ATK
ATK
ATK
HADRAH MOSQUE
III
JOLAN PARK
GOVT CENTER
XX
MSR MICHIGAN
III

• ME RCT- 1 (-)(REIN)
• ON D-DAY BLOCK ACCESS TO THE PENINSULA
• MOVE INTO ATTACK POSITIONS
• TF 3RD LAR
• AT H-HOUR (1900L) ON D-DAY, ATTACK IN ZONE TO
  SECURE THE PENINSULA
• NLT H6 ESTABLISH BLOCKING POS IVO OF (2) BRIDGES
• 36 CDO
• NLT H8, SEIZE FALLUJAH HOSPITAL
• SE1 RCT-7 (-)(REIN)
• MOVE INTO ATTACK POSITIONS
• SE2 BLACK JACK BDE
• GUARD MOVEMENT OF ASSAULT BNs INTO APs
• INTERDICT INSURGENTS IN AO RALEIGH
• BLOCK SOUTH/SOUTHEAST OF FALLUJAH

(-)
(-)
SSF
36 CDO
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Major Todd M. Hunt
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PHASE III D1 (8 NOV 04) (ASSAULT)

• RAPID PENETRATION INTO CITY
• EXPLOIT SHOCK, FIREPOWER, AND MOBILITY OF ARMORED
  FORCES
• COMBINED ARMS ATTACK
• ARMY/MARINE ARTILLERY
• JOINT CLOSE AIR SUPPORT
• SEARCH AND ATTACK IN ZONE
• BLACK JACK BRIGADE CONTINUES TO ISOLATE FALLUJAH
  AND PROTECT DIVISION REAR AREA
• INTELLIGENCE EXPLOITATION
• INFORMATION OPERATIONS

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PHASE III-A
SSF
HADRAH MOSQUE
GOVT CENTER
XX
MSR MICHIGAN
(-)
III
JOLAN PARK
36 CDO

• ME RCT 1 (-)(REIN)
• AT A-HOUR (1900L) ON D1, CONDUCT PENETRATION IN
  ZONE
• CONTINUE ATTACK TO SECURE JOLAN DISTRICT
• SE1 RCT-7 (-)(REIN)
• AT A-HOUR, CONDUCT PENETRATION IN ZONE TO SEIZE
  HADRAH MOSQUE GOVT CENTER
• SECURE MSR MICHIGAN IN ZONE
• SE2 BLACK JACK BDE
• INTERDICT INSURGENTS IN AO RALEIGH
• BLOCK SOUTH/SOUTHEAST OF FALLUJAH
• SECURITY OF MSR MOBILE MICHIGAN IN ZONE

(-)
23
SSF
14
PLANNED PHASE III-A (NOT EXECUTED)
HADRAH MOSQUE
II
GOVT CENTER
JOLAN PARK
III
MSR MICHIGAN
III
36 CDO
II
II

• ME RCT 1 (-)(REIN)
• SEARCH ATTACK IN ZONE
• SE1 RCT-7 (-)(REIN)
• CONTINUE SEARCH ATTACK IN ZONE (SOUTHERN
  FALLUJAH)
• SECURE MSR MICHIGAN IN ZONE
• SE2 BLACK JACK BDE
• INTERDICT INSURGENTS IN AO RALEIGH
• BLOCK SOUTH/SOUTHEAST OF FALLUJAH
• SECURITY OF MSR MOBILE MICHIGAN IN ZONE

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3
III
IAF
(-)
24
SSF
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PHASE III-A BRANCH PLAN (EXECUTED 11 NOV)
HADRAH MOSQUE
JOLAN PARK
GOVT CENTER
MSR MICHIGAN
III
36 CDO
III

• ME RCT-1 (-) (REIN)
• CONTINUE PENETRATION SOUTH
• SEARCH ATTACK NORTH OF MSR MICHIGAN
• SE1 RCT-7 (-) (REIN)
• CONTINUE PENETRATION SOUTH
• SEARCH ATTACK NORTH OF MSR MICHIGAN
• SE2 BLACKJACK BDE
• CONTINUE TO ISOLATE FALLUJAH

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O/O RFL 1
3
IAF
BPT SBF
(-)
O/O RFL 2
25
SSF
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ENEMY TACTICS

• DEFENSIVE BELTS
• DAISY CHAINED IEDs
• SMALL UNIT STRONGPOINTS
• USE OF PROTECTED SITES (e.g. MOSQUES, SCHOOLS
• TUNNEL SYSTEMS
• WEAPONS CACHES
• HIT AND FALL BACK
• INDIRECT FIRE
• FALSE SURRENDER
• DRUG USE

• ATTRITION
• VBIED OR SUICIDE BOMBERS
• BOOBY-TRAPS
• BUILDINGS/CACHES
• INSURGENTS (DEAD AND WOUNDED)
• SNIPERS
• LAST STAND POSITIONS

WEAPONS CACHE
SUICIDE VESTS
IEDs
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1ST MARDIV DISCOVERIES IN FALLUJAH





WPNS CACHE (568) MOSQUES USED AS
FIGHTING POSITIONS (47) IED FACTORY (24)
VBIED FACTORY (2) C2 NODES (13)
HOSTAGE LOCATIONS (4)

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Armor Vehicle Observations

• Company C, 2nd Tank Battalion
• Tank-Infantry Team
• Ammo Expenditure (Actual sustained rate 24 rounds
  per tank per day)
• 2,985 120mm
• 77,000 .50 Cal
• 150,000 7.62
• Sighting Systems (M1A2 SEP, .50 Cal Thermal)
• Ammunition Effectiveness (HEAT and Cannister vs.
  MPAT or HE-OR)
• Dynamic Breach (Hull/Fire/Plow)
• Vehicle Recovery (Tow Bar per Section)

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Armor Vehicle Observations

• Company D, 2D Assault Amphibian Vehicle Battalion
• Weapons
• MK-19 ideal for entry or open and soft targets
• M2 .50 Cal great on hard structures/potential
  VBIED
• Turret Placement prevents port side engagements
• M36E3 DVE limits vision and depth
• Dynamic Breaching
• Ram
• Mounting platform for 2nd floor entries
• Greatest Threat RPG (21 hits) Enhanced Applique
  Armor Works (EAAK)
• Mounted Infantry 360 security
• Urban Patrols
• Rolling 3-5 mph
• AAV fire support/suppressive fires
• Kevlar Blankets for mine threat
• Litter Kits for Evacuations

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Armor Vehicle Observations

• Company A, 2D Light Armored Reconnaissance
  Battalion
• Flexibility and speed enhanced survivability
• Endurance and range underestimated
• Armor vulnerability limits missions in urban
  fight
• Great for long range precision fires
• Great for security operations
• Communications
• Long Range on the Move Sat Comm
• Dismounted Communications
• Anti-Tank Solution needed for LAV-AT
• Main Gun Sighting Systems need increased
  magnification
• DVE enabled travel completely blacked out at 80
  kph
• LAV-Logistics variant an ideal in-extremis
  medevac ambulance

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LESSONS LEARNED

• ATTACH UNITS EARLY FOR PLANNING/INTEGRATION
• ISR PLATFORMS ESSENTIAL FOR TARGETING
• PSYOPS/IO/SIGINT KEY TO SHAPING
• MANEUVER AND KINETIC STRIKES SUPPORT INTELLIGENCE
  COLLECTION
• ARMOR/INFANTRY REMAIN COMPLIMENTARY FORCE IN
  URBAN ENVIRONMENT
• RAPID PENETRATIONS EXPLOITED OUR SUPERIOR
  FIREPOWER, ARMOR PROTECTION, AND C2 ADVANTAGES,
  WHILE DISRUPTING ENEMY C2 AND DEFENSES
• COMMANDERS NEED TO BE FORWARD TO ENSURE
  SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND TIMELY DECISION MAKING
• ALL COALITION UNITS MUST BE ASSIMILATED IN A
  COMMON COMM PLAN
• DOCTRINALLY SOUND C2 AND FIRES ARCHITECTURE
  OVERCAME T/O SHORTFALLS
• PRECISION MUNITIONS CRITICAL IN LIMITING
  COLLATERAL DAMAGE/FRATRICIDE
• DOCTRINE WORKS COMMON TACTICAL/OPERATIONAL
  TERMINOLOGY

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Sgt Norwood 3/1 Fallujah