Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/713424
The whole operation, which was the largest helicopter operation in the last years, was conducted without any problems. Its epilogue, which included a counterattack per- formed at dawn and was fought back with the help of Mi-24 and Apache helicopters called for support by JTAC from the 173rd Brigade. The next task during Anakonda included fire training – crews of Mi-24 eliminated targets at the proving grounds in Drawsko with the use of UPK-23-250 feeders as a part of the Joint Fire Exercise – togeth- er with artillery and missile sub-units and Polish F-16. The last episode was the already mentioned operation during DVDay, in which Apache and Mi-24 performed CAS missions for special forces that were transported to the objectives with the first line of Mi-17 from the Polish 7th Special Operations Squadron. The crews of that unit also operated during Anakanda from the airport in Mirosławiec. However, they remained outside the TF Griffin structure, functioning as a part of a task team of special forces that included operators from Poland, the USA, Hungary, Croatia, and Macedonia (the 7th Special Operations Squadron was the only air unit, while TF Grif- fin was on daily basis dedicated and trained to cooperate with special forces). The squad- ron performed its missions mainly in the night, using nigh-vision goggles. Missions were mainly focused on penetrating the enemy's territory without being detected by radars, as well as delivering (infil) or taking (exfil) groups of special forces operators. In those cases, the landing was mainly performed from touchdown (some of Mi-17 from the Squadron have doors on both sides, the rear doors are usually removed), but some cases also required using fast rope. Crews of the Squadron were also prepared to conduct CAS missions with the use of on-board armament – shooters are equipped with PK machine guns or M134D six-barreled machine gun. Additionally, during Anakonda, helicopters used weapon configurations unusual for Polish Mi-17 – four standard UB-32 pods with S-5 rockets and two UPK-23-250 pdos with GsZ-23 cannons (a novelty implemented by the 7th Special Operations Squadron), which are accurate and preferred by pilots, but they have rather been used so far with Mi-24. A different task was in the episode called „Kaper" („Privateer") connected with delivery of a Hostage Rescue team on board of a hijacked ship. Here, what mattered was the perfect time synchronization required so that the assault team from the helicopter was transported at the same time as assault teams on RIBs. The high masts of the ship were an additional obstacle. However, crews of the Squadron who trained such opeartions on daily basis, did perfectly well. After the assault, the helicopters remained within short radius of the ship (overwatch) in order to provide sniper support. It must be highlighted that the outer cordon was formed and controlled by an SH-2G helicopter from the 43rd Naval Aviation Base that also had a sniper on board, which was some sort of a novelty for the crew trained in ASW missions. Anakonda-16 brought measurable political and military advantage. On the tactical level, it allowed starting cooperation between units (e.g. between the 12th CAB and 56th Military Airbase), which will most certainly result in mutual activities in the future (which the General Commander, GEN Mirosław Różański, insists on; he claims that training with allies is the biggest benefit for Polish army). From the strategical point of view, Anakonda gave a clear sig- nal to the countries of Eastern NATO that the Alliance is prepared and strong enough to bring support in case of danger. The Author would like to write a special thank you to the Component Operational Headquarters of Armed Forces, LTCOL Szczepan Głuszczak, crews and soldiers of the 56th Military Airbase and the 7th Special Operations Squadron. www.fragoutmag.com