User:Redskevin2688/Battle of Barcadera Port
The Battle of Barcadera Port was one of the battles during the Aruban crisis that lasted from 10-14 September.
Prelude
[edit]Dutch F-35A fighters began the initial assault on September 10, launching several SPEAR 3 anti-ship missiles, destroying Venezuelan Navy patrol ships at harbor. They were supported by American and German EA-18G Growlers[1] providing electronic warfare support.
The USS Kearsarge battle group, arrived, carrying additional F-35 fighters, providing additional firepower. Dutch commanders later complained that the United States failed to see the threat of Venezuelan forces at the port, and they were also distracted by ongoing celebrations to mark the anniversary of the September 11 attacks. The Dutch and the Germans also accused Admiral Darien Lineker and his deputy, Colonel Darnell Williams, of unwillingness to risk their aircraft. On September 12, the Dutch lost two F-16s, including one to friendly fire. One F-16 pilot was taken prisoner after a failed attempt to rescue him by SEALs, which ended after a Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet was downed.
The Americans provided Tomahawk cruise missile strikes on the morning of Sept 12 from the American destroyers, the USS Cape St. George and the USS Halsey (DDG-97), hitting several Venezuelan positions, and also hit the main naval base in Maracaibo. This action forced the Venezuelans to divide their forces and reduce the number of SAM missiles guarding Queen Beatrix International Airport, reducing the threat to American airborne forces. US Marine Corps F-18 Hornets also entered the fray, mounting attacks on Venezuelan tanks and gun emplacements near the port. However, some of the strikes of it were in support of a failed SEAL attempt to recover the body of a downed Super Hornet pilot, who had to be extracted by a SEAL boat team and the Dutch complained that the effort compromised pre-invasion reconnaissance.The strikes did not cause serious damage to troops entrenched around the harbor, nor any serious causalities. Part of the reason was to avoid severely damaging the port, and fear of civilian causalities.
Still, they managed to strike a blow to the Venezuelan Navy, destroying two patrol ships and damaging a frigate, the General Soublette, and killing ten sailors. The Cuban Navy lost two sailors.
Battle
[edit]On the evening of September 13, The Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS Sioux City, covered by the USS Detroit, cleared Venezuelan mines, and also attacked Venezuelan positions with Hellfire missiles. This paved the way for the arrival of the USS Fort McHenry and the USS Arlington, carrying 1,100 Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. The 22nd MEU consisted of a ground element consisting of Marines from the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines and Special Forces support, including an ANGLICO [2] element as well as a Marine Raider platoon. While under Marine command, there were two ANGLICO liaison officers attached to the Dutch Marines under the command of Captain Jeremy Wright. [3]
Later that night, the Belgian frigate Louise-Marie provided cover for the HNLMS Rotterdam to land a force consisting mainly of Royal Dutch Marines and German commandos. American Landing Craft Air Cushion landing craft brought ashore a platoon of Leopard 2 tanks and Puma Infantry Fighting Vehicles. The Dutch came under heavy Venezuelan artillery attack from a BM-21 Grad Multiple rocket launcher, and the Dutch called for airstrikes from Apache gunships.
Brigadier General Alejandro Medina, the SOCOM ground commander, was not in communication with the Dutch or German forces. Although in theory he commanded all Special Forces in theater, the Belgian and German Special Forces were under the command of Major General Nico Keller, the German commander. In addition, he failed to maintain communications with Lieutenant Colonel Rob Visser, the Dutch ground commander. A complain was that Lieutenant Colonel Visser, despite his NATO background, didn't speak English fluently.Two Dutch soldiers were killed and a German commando mortally wounded by friendly fire, before an ANGLICO officer attached to the Dutch managed to radio General Medina at the airport. [3]
The 82nd Airborne Division had deployed several M777 howitzers at the airport and rained down 155mm shells on Venezuelan positions. This allowed the Dutch to pull their wounded to safety. The Dutch situation was critical, and an American Black Hawk helicopter was dispatched from Oranjestad to evacuate the wounded and dropped additional ammunition and medical supplies. Four American Green Berets from the 7th Special Forces Group also arrived from Oranjestad, relieving the communication problem. The Dutch had also taken twenty-two prisoners, some who were badly wounded, this included survivors from the sinking of a Venezuelan Navy Landing Ship Tank. The prisoners were flown to Oranjestad and the wounded taken to Curacao.
By this time, the Marines had also landed on the beach, brought ashore using Amphibious Combat Vehicles and V-22 Ospreys. Their job was to advance to Highway 1, to block troops from the Savaneta Barracks from reinforcing the troops at the Airport to cut off the Venezuelan retreat. While Alpha Company took up positions at the seaport, Bravo & Charlie Company advanced towards the highway, backed by Abrams tanks and an anti-tank platoon, as well as air cover. They came under fire from nearby buildings. Lieutenant Henrique Alarcon, a platoon commander in Bravo Company, was injured while directing fire from a LAV-25, Lieutenant Alarcon was evacuated back to the seaport, where a casualty collection point had been established. Despite medical attention, the 28-year-old, a native of Union City, New Jersey died from fatal leg wounds. Additionally, two Marines were wounded, a LAV was sent to evacuate them, but it came under fire. Lance Corporal Francisco Fernandez, a Javelin missile operator, was ordered to fire his weapon in support, but accidentally killed by the backblast when his unit malfunctioned.
Linkup with the 3rd Calvary Regiment
[edit]The 3rd Cavalry Regiment had landed in Aruba's Queen Beatrix International Airport with their Stryker vehicles. 1st and 3rd Squadron was ordered to relieve the 82nd Airborne Division, while 2nd Squadron was ordered to reinforce the Marines. The force, commanded by Lt. Colonel Travis Williams, consisted of about 450 troops and a company of Apache gunships as close-air support. They were also given access to a small platoon of Abrams tanks and M3 Bradley vehicles. They succeeded in linking up with the Marines and allowed Bravo Company to withdraw its wounded. They then linked up with American forces in San Nicholas.
On the 14th, the remaining Marines formed a perimeter around the seaport aided by Dutch forces, who advanced to aid 3rd Squadron in holding the road to Oranjestad. In addition, there were soldiers from the Arubaanse Militie and Suriname Special Forces. The US Military Sealift Command prepositioning ships arrived from Puerto Rico and unloaded its supplies. Bravo Company was used to secure the port, along with an attached FAST detachment. Alpha Company secured the highway to Oranjestad, while Charlie Company secured San Nicholas, allowing 3rd Squadron to advance towards Oranjestad.