Delta force scud hunting in Iraq


At the beginning of February, the US Delta Force commando unit, along with other elements of the super secret Joint Special Operations Task Force (JSOTF), arrived in Saudi Arabia and were soon operating alongside the SAS in western Iraq. The SAS operated in the southern Scud Box, nicknamed "Scud Alley", around H-2 airfield and JSOTF operated around AI Qaim, in the Northern Scud box, nicknamed "Scud Boulevard".

By 26th January, the Iraqi Scud campaign had peaked. Scud attacks from western Iraq continued against Israel for another month but they were only able to launch single missiles at a time. The Iraqis had by then retreated their mobile missile units into an area close to AI Qaim to increase their protection. Scud attacks on Saudi Arabia were only brought to a halt when Coalition troops occupied southern Iraq in the final four days of February and pushed them out of range of their targets.

One squadron from Delta arrived in Saudi Arabia by early February 1991 as part of the Joint Special Operations Task Force (JSOTF). Following a period of concentrated planning, teams infiltrated western Iraq by a variety of methods, often working with the pilots and crews of MH-60 Black Hawks and MH-47E Chinooks from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) based in Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. (Heavily armed aircraft from this unit also conducted independent direct action missions against Iraqi radar sites, convoys, and other targets.)

The primary mission for both SAS and Delta was to locate and designate targets for destruction by Coalition warplanes. To this end, most teams traveled at night, while hiding out during the day. In periods of darkness or for targets obscured by camouflage, the roving teams carried laser target designators (LTD). Using these, an attacking aircraft could employ laser-guided bombs or missiles riding the beam emitted by the LTD. Those targets that were caught out in the open during daylight hours were targeted visually by the operators on the ground who then directed in aircraft armed with unguided bombs and other munitions. The hunters were able to provide information on enemy vehicle movements, however by the time this intelligence was incorporated into the target package often times the mobile launchers had left their hiding place and moved to another location.

In addition to their targeting duties, Delta undertook other direct action missions against the Scuds. These included using long-range, .50-caliber sniper rifles to disable and destroy missiles both in rearming farms and those mounted on their TELs. Other interdictions reportedly involved eliminating Scud crews as well as the use of AT4 anti-tank missiles on larger targets.

Delta adapted to the harsh terrain by making effective use of light vehicles during their operations instead of patrolling on foot. Delta operated the Fast Attack Vehicle (FAV). This vehicles were designed to carry heavy loads, including two or three fully-equipped soldiers, food, water, ammunition, extra fuel and a wide variety of weapons (up to six Milan or TOW anti-tank missiles, and a mount for a 40mm grenade launcher, 30mm cannon or .50 caliber heavy machine gun).

Some unfortune incident did happened. At approximately 0300 on 21 February, four pilots and crew from the 160th SOAR and three Delta operators were killed when an MH60 helicopter crashed into a sand dune during zero-visibility weather conditions near the Ar Ar airfield. The ground team was reportedly conducting counterforce operations when one of the team was injured in a fall from a cliff and required medevac, to which the 160th responded.

But never the less, the hunt was an unqualified success and may have provided one of the single greatest, and least known, contributions to the victory of Coalition forces in the Gulf.

Back to Main || Back to Delta Force