75TH RANGER REGIMENT (TASK FORCE RED)
TF Red, the 75th Ranger Regiment, was given two H-Hour missions. The first was to secure Tocumen PDF Airport/Torrijos International Airport neutralizing the PDF's 2nd Infantry Co prior to the 82d Abn Div's airborne assault 45 minutes later. The second mission was to neutralize the PDF's 6th and 7th Infantry Cos at Rio Hato west of Panama City.
1st Battalion (-) 75th Ranger Regiment (TASK FORCE RED TANGO)
1-75th and C/3-75th Ranger Regiment became TF Red Tango. At 19 1800 Dec, TF Red Tango departed Hunter Army Airfield, outside of Savannah, GA. Its mission was to seize Torrijos International Airport and neutralize the PDF's 2d Infantry Co on Tocumen PDF Airport.
At 0100 an AC-130 opened fire on the compound of the 2d Infantry Co as AAH-6 gunships fired on additional targets. Three minutes later four Ranger companies parachuted from 500 feet onto the tarmac of the airfield. The Rangers quickly eliminated PDF resistance and secured their assault objectives. C/3-75th Ranger Regiment was to clear and seize the main air terminal. The second and third floors were cleared, but the first floor was isolated after it was discovered that the PDF took a number of hostages. After two and one-half hours of negotiations, the hostages were set free. By 0630 the airfield was secured, and a forward aerial resupply point (FARP) was established to receive incoming aircraft.
On 28 Dec the battalion began reconnaissance-in-force operations in the vicinity of Cerro Azul to pursue remnants of the PDF and DIGBAT forces, seize reported weapons caches, and neutralize potential rally points and exfiltration routes to the Panamanian interior. The battalion redeployed on 3 Jan.
2d
Battalion (-) and 3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment (TF RED ROMEO)
TF Red Romeo departed Lawson Army Air Field, FT Benning, GA at 19 1800 Dec. Its mission was to seize Rio Hato and neutralize the 6th and 7th PDF Infantry Cos.
At 20 0100 Dec, the battalion jumped from C-130s onto the airfield at Rio Hato. Both PDF companies had been alerted and fired on the C-130s with small arms. Despite PDF resistance, the battalion assembled, attacked the barracks and established an airhead. By morning, the Rangers accomplished all missions, captured 250 prisoners and cleared the airfield for future operations.
The battalions conducted security operations until they redeployed on 9 and 10 Jan.
193D INFANTRY BRIGADE (LIGHT) (TASK FORCE BAYONET)
The missions of the 193d Inf Bde (L) were to isolate and clear the Commandancia, seize and secure the PDF Engineer Battalion compound and portions of Ft. Amador, seize the Balboa and Ancon DENI and Balboa Department of Transportation (DNTT) stations, protect U.S. housing areas, and protect critical defense sites and areas. The Brigade consisted of 1-508th Inf(Abn), 5-87th Inf, and 4-6th Inf (M), who were attached from Operation NIMROD SUSTAIN.
4th Battalion, 6th Infantry (Mech), 5th Infantry Division (M) (Attached to 193d Inf Bde (L)) (Task Force GATOR)
TF Gator was task-organized with the 4-6th Inf(-), 5th Inf Div (M), that had been part of the Operation NIMROD SUSTAIN augmentation and C/1-508th Inf (Abn). On D-Day, the TF had the mission to conduct offensive operations to protect U.S. lives, property, and vital Panama Canal facilities by isolating, seizing, and securing the Commandancia complex and neutralizing PDF forces.
H-Hour was advanced 15 minutes, and TF crossed the line of departure (LD) at the new time, immediately receiving enemy small arms fire. Although the Commandancia had received preparatory fires from AC-130s and helicopter gunships, the initial fighting was heavy and the battalion took losses in personnel and equipment. Despite the resistance, the TF isolated the Commandancia by 0330.
Firing from the Commandancia and surrounding buildings continued throughout the following day. TF Gator requested and received a ranger company to clear the Commandancia Headquarters building and C/1-508th Inf (Abn) had the mission to clear the remainder of the complex. The final assault took place at 1600 and the objective was secured by 1730.
The TF conducted security missions at the Papal Nunciatura, Quarry Heights, Balboa Heights, Diablo Heights, and Ft. Amador, which continued until the task force was relieved on 22 Jan by 3-6th Inf (M).
5th Battalion, 87th Infantry (TASK FORCE WILDCAT)
TF Wildcat consisted of 5-87th Inf and the attached A/4-6th Inf (M) from Ft. Polk, La. On D-Day the TF was to neutralize the Balboa DENI, DNTT, the PDF Engineer compound, and emplace a series of roadblocks to isolate the Commandancia. At H-Hour, the TF moved to its objectives. It met stiff resistance from police and PDF soldiers at the DENI and DNTT but secured its objectives by 0700.
On D+4 the TF conducted stability operations and was involved in the security of the Santa Felipe, Santa Anna, El Marana, and Chorillo sections of the city. During the remainder of the operation, the TF secured key sites in Panama City and reacted to security and civil military tasking.
1st
Battalion, 508th Infantry (Abn) (TASK FORCE RED DEVIL)
The H-Hour mission of 1-508th Inf (Abn)(-) was to air assault into Ft. Amador, neutralize the PDF 5th Infantry Co, and protect the lives of American families in the U.S. housing area.
Because H-Hour was advanced 15 minutes, TF Red Devil was ordered to seal off Ft. Amador prior to H-Hour. Two platoons moved by truck to secure the main gate. As they arrived, two buses attempted to escape; one was destroyed but the other ran the roadblock. At 0100, the remainder of the battalion air assaulted into a hot LZ on Ft. Amador's golf course and secured its assault objectives. By 0130, TF Red Devil had surrounded the barracks and secured the American housing area. The PSYOP team began broadcasting surrender terms but the PDF refused to comply. At daylight, TF Red Devil assaulted the PDF barracks and secured them by 1645 without a single loss to the unit.
Throughout the remainder of the operation, the TF conducted a variety of security and civil military operations. Together with the 5-87th Inf, TF Red Devil swept the Santa Felipe, Santa Anna, El Marana, and Chorillo districts of the city.
3D BATTALION (+), 7TH SPECIAL FORCES GROUP (ABN) (TASK FORCE BLACK)
3-7th SF reinforced by A/1-7th SF were task-organized under Joint Special Operations Task Force (JSOTF) and were in-country at the beginning of JUST CAUSE. On D-Day, units disabled the television station at Cerro Azul and the two government radio stations and stormed locations frequented by Noriega.
A critical mission, to seize the Pacora River Bridge, was conducted by the A/3-7th SF at 20 0045 Dec. A large convoy, reinforcing Torrijos/Tocumen Airport from PDF Battalion 2000, was halted and destroyed attempting to cross the bridge.
After D-Day, TF Black's efforts shifted to neutralizing outlying PDF garrisons and bringing the major military zone headquarters in these rural areas under control of the new government. On 2 Jan, a reinforced TF Black was ordered to begin unilateral actions to relieve conventional units from stability operations. The major objective was liaison and training of the new FPP, reeducating them on how to support, and protect the new government. This mission continued throughout the transition to the nation building operation PROMOTE LIBERTY.
Table
of Contents, Volume I
Combat,
Part 2
Unit
Historical Summaries: Combat Support
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