Definition of the subject
The American Army and Marine Corps had two missions to fulfill during the American invasion of Grenada in the year 1983. One of their missions was to rescue the American students studying in the region at the time, and the other was to end the Marxist regime (Sandler, 2002). The invasion took place after the People’s Revolutionary Army (PRA) killed Maurice Bishop, the New Jewel movement leader that took over power after the 1979 coup. PRA also killed some of Bishop’s followers. The coup took place in the absence of the then Prime Minister Sir Eric Gairy (Sandler, 2002). After receiving approval from the then American president, Ronald Reagan, Vice Admiral Joseph Metcalf III led the Joint Task Force 120 to evacuate the American citizens, among individuals from other nationalities (Sandler, 2002). The invasion was approved by the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) wrote a letter requesting military support to restore order in Grenada.
A review of the setting
The troops were to attack from different sides of the island. Sandler (2002) provides a detailed description of the setting, to which he indicates that the US Marines were tasked to go ashore in the northeast of the island while Special Forces were to take over the western side. The Navy Seals were to take the north of Saint Georges, while Delta Force took the south. On the other hand, the Navy Seals and US Army Rangers landed in the south of the island and the 82 nd Airborne Division relieved them. The Caribbean peacekeeping troops supported the 82 nd Airborne Division. The US Navy and the Marine corps were responsible for conducting combat operations on the Pearls Airport as well as the surrounding areas. The members of the 75 th Ranger Regiment, together with the 82 nd airborne division were to carry out the airborne assault necessary for securing the Port Salines airport.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
A Description of the Action
Sandler (2002) indicates that the operation took place on October 25, 1983, with concurrent operations by the Marine Corps and the Army. The 75th Ranger Regiment and 82nd Airborne Division secured port Salines after an airborne assault. To secure the airport, the Army Rangers in the flight of C-130s had to conduct a low-level jump after receiving fire. They then secured the runway, giving room for 82d to provide the much-needed relief, making it possible for them to proceed to St. Georges, in their quest to release the American students. PRA militia platoons attacked the marine’s helicopter while trying to defend Pearls Airport. The other operation involved securing Richmond Hill Prison, but Delta Force did not succeed to do so. After the 101st airborne helicopter was downed, the attempts to secure the prison were considered futile. Metcalf ordered the bombing of the area around the governor-general’s residence after the Navy Seals responsible for rescuing him were attacked while trying to complete their mission. The students were rescued at St. George’s camp on the second day. By this time, a larger percentage of the operations involved wiping out PRA. Several soldiers were killed and others wounded during the operation.
The significance of the action
Some of the lessons that could be derived from analyzing the events of the battle include concerns regarding the employment of small Ranger battalions to capture Port Salines. The Rangers could not have captured the airfield, leading to the questioning of the elements that could be considered in determining the number of battalions that would ensure the success of future attacks. On the other hand, the event highlights the capacity limitation considered when using air transport during such missions (McInnes, n.d). The deaths and injuries of the US troops could also be considered in determining the power projection capabilities of the Department of Defense. Without the projection capabilities, it would be difficult for troops to conduct successful operations leading to the need to enhance suitable operational objectives based on the data derived regarding the projections.
References
McInnes, C. Lessons from Operation URGENT FURY—Grenada, 1983 . Retrieved from http://www.defence.gov.au/adc/adfj/Documents/issue_199/McInnes_July_2016.pdf
Sandler, S. (2002). Ground warfare: An international encyclopedia . Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC CLIO.
