Vietnam and Grenada

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GRENADA
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GRENADA

• BIG PICTURE ITEMS.
• EXAMPLE OF MODERN AMPHIBIOUS OPERATION.
• EXAMPLES OF PROBLEMS FACED IN THE ERA OF JOINT
  OPERATIONS.
• GOOD EXAMPLE OF TYPE OF CURRENT CONTINGENCY
  MISSIONS THE MARINE CORPS MAY EXPECT TO RECEIVE.

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Timeline

• 1803 Grenada under British control
• 1974 Grenada independent
• 1983 Bishop leans toward warmer relations with
  US. Opposed by Coard
• 12 OCT Coard resigns first move in bid for power
• 13 OCT Bishop arrested by Austin rioting erupts
  in support of Bishop

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Timeline Contd

• 19th Bloody Wednesday Bishop and supporters
  executed
• 20th US CG and MAU diverted to Grenada
• 21st OECS decides action necessary
• 22nd OECS requests US military intervention
• 25th US invades Grenada
• 28th Island secured

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InterventionismGrenada

• Grenada small Caribbean island
• 1983 Marxist military coup
• 1,000 American medical students
• Operation URGENT FURY
• 1,900 US troops
• SEALs, Army Rangers, Marine
• amphibious assault
• Simultaneous strikes at both airfields
• Cut off the Cubans and Grenadese defense forces
• Assure undisturbed flow of supplies and enable
  reinforcements to be brought forward
• Quick victory, but jointness issues

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Strategic Considerations

• JCS issued executive order
• Conduct military operations to protect and
  evacuate US and designated foreign nationals from
  Grenada, neutralize Grenadian forces, stabilize
  the internal situation, and maintain peace.
• Naval forces enroute from east coast to Lebanon
  for peacekeeping duty diverted to Grenada
• Proximaty to US makes for ease of forces
  deployment.

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Operational Considerations

• Was a complex plan
• To include all services, Caribbean forces, state
  department, and CIA
• Proximity of US base at Roosevelt Roads, Puerto
  Rico and access to facilities in Barbados
• Conceived , planned, and launched in 4 days

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Operational Contd

• Lack of Intelligence
• Geography, enemy strength unknown
• Using tourist maps
• Relied on Navy commander who had sailed the area
  for geographic/hydrographic information
• Coordination difficult
• Marines, Ranger, 82nd Airborne all planning to
  take same objectives

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Technical Considerations

• Extensive use of helicopters for troop movement
  and close air support
• Use of credit card to call for fire by phone

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CONCLUSIONS/LESSONS LEARNED

• HUMAN INTELLIGENCE NECESSARY FOR SUCCESSFUL
  OPERATION.
• JOINT OPERATIONS AND IMPORTANCE OF UNITY OF
  COMMAND.
• IMPORTANCE OF FLEXIBILITY.
• PRECURSOR OF CONFLICTS IN THE THIRD WORLD IN
  COMING YEARS.
• READY AVAILABILITY OF FORCES. GREAT PARALLEL
  WITH CURRENT SITUATION.

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QUESTIONS?