US Special Operations Forces in the Cold War

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THE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN SOLDIER HIS UNIFORM AND HIS EQUIPMENT

U.S. Special (

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Forces in the cold war I .

THE G.I. SERIES

US.Special Operations Forces in the Cold War

Rangers of the 1st ~ a d d n 75th , Ranger in formation at Ft. Stewart, GA in October, 1977, with black beret, Ranger beret flash,huger distinctive insignia an rhe flash, and Ranger scroll. W.SA)

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T H E G.I. SERIES

THE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE A M E R I M SOLDIER, HIS UNIFORM AND HIS EQUIPMENT

U.S. Special {OperationsForce

in the Cold War Leroy Thompson

Greeddl Books LONDON

Stackpole Books PENNSYLVANlA

I Greenhill Books I

CRmm

U , i a = U,S A m y , ULSM* = V.S. tWgl P r n *U3-K u.5. Nay,iTAM+C.= US,~ , c m =

IN THE COLD WAR

In 1980, the SEAls rn given the additional -$ion carrying wt

US. Army airborne, Ranger, or other ersonnel as welI as allied forces who may

of counter-terrorist operatiom, with SEAL

to accompany marim ~phi'b~ous task farces and give them additional beach survqing, mine clearing, or other

a great bekver tn special operatiam forces,ordered operational ability of these Marhe units which are often 2he k v y to develop its own special d a r e capabMty. As a termed 'America's 921,' since they are the h s t to respond ,Wt, m u t i n g and small unit tactics were added to small- when American citizens or interests are threatened. Zn 1983, the SEALS took part fn operations on Grenada. $mat rmd SCUBA operations to form the SEAL Team. Initially

,here w m two teams, each with 10 officers and 50 enlisted a& SEAL Team I was assigned M Curonado, California, and -Team II to LirtIe Creek, VfrThe practice of assigning 4&a&wed SEAL Teams to the West C s t of the U.S.A. and m ~ ~ m m b e mteams d to the East Coast has cantInued until Way. UIYb mnahed in existence fong with the SEALS, each @ambg their own spwi&ed missions, although in che a r l y 1970s some UnTs were phased out. The last UDTs were m d to SEAL Teams in 1983.

me Vietnam War saw the first opportunity for the SEALS apt th%jr cambinationof waterborne and laad tacUcs to the wt, and tbey passed with an 'A+.' In Viemam, SEAL Team I md SEAL Team II were both deployed eswcidly in the Whng W t a with Its labyrhth of waterways. S W were a&wd ta c w out reconnaissance,carry out fntdigmce raids, perform demolldon missions (report* in Morrb Qetnam), eret ambushes, carry out POW rescues, teaIa W-ese combat swirnrners (the LDNN*], and train W F m h c i d Recon Units (PRUs)who acted as the 'teeth' for fbe rsh& Program. As a result of the Vietnam q w c i e m e , SEAL Team m i s s h s hm evolved to include: 1)

f8fdSto deswoy enemy facilities or shipping on or near the

+ kfllmfhn or &nation

of agents or g u e r r i l h via the water, or rescue of US. civilian w miIitary prisoners held mar the water or on ships; reconnaissance and intelligence g a t h e missbns; a cmnm-ency or counter-guerrillaoperations on or mar the water; 9 dweplion operadons to simulate a landing and tie down awuy troops; + f- special operations troogs mtt!r-terrorist missions, including rescues or 'surgical ~ t i a n s . '

To rasry out their missions, the SEALS primarily use closedidmiit -A gear, which does nor release bubbles that

w m ~gmiMA% 'soldie~swho fight under the sea".

Thelr b e a d surveys prior to the Marine landings proved quite vahmble, although some SEALS w m lost at sea in a t h e r operation. Members of the SEALs who were sent to rescue Brltish Gavemor-General Sir Paul Scoon on the islaad were a h pinned down fn his residence. As the United States carried out maritime opeadom fn tbe Perstan Gulf, th@ S W also saw actkm h boarding ships and in raids against Iranian oil rigs, among other missions.3y thts time period, typical SEAL Team stmngth had reached 25 omcers and 1SO enlisted personnel. In addition to SEAL Team VI, three other teams also were formed during the 1980s. SEAL Team Ill was farmed in 1983 and SEAL T e a m IV and V were formed In 1984, primarily f m former members of the UDT. To act as the command group for the SEAL Teams, Naval Special WarPare G m p I was formed at Coronado and Naval Spedal Warfare Graup at Little Creek. In addition to the teams under each Group, thwe were also SEALS which c a m @ directly d e r group command. Ah Force special operations can trace its g e s h to World War I1 supply missions for M d r sWmu&ersor small plaw operati0116 in support of the OSS. Howva, madern Atr Forre S O F can on the whole trace their k e a g e most directly to the Air Commandos f o m d b 1961, as part of J o bF. Kemwtfs emph&s on spedal operations forces. During; &e Y I War, the Air Commandos, wba w d d be redesignatedthe 1st Spedal Operations W w (SOW), In 1968, flew a variety of airaaft which allowed them to support special ops igound farces or cmvmtional infanm. Qne of the most useful planes used by the Air Commandos was the AlE 'Skyraider,' a World War propdriven &craft which could fly low and slow and carry an incredibIe m a y of ordnance. Ah Force spedal ops squadrons wouId also fty the various B e d wing gunships which attacked Waffic along the Ho C h i M h h Trail in support of 'Igloo White,' or carried out other specM missions. The first of tfiesr gunships, the AC-47 'Puff the Magic Dragon,' was equlpw with three 7.62-mm mPnigans which could deliver withering flre as it cjrcled overhead. Iater gunships based on the AC-119 mi the AC-130 carried even heavier armament. In the post-Vietnam era, the Air Force retained the 1st Special Operadons Wing, although many of the pilots for the

U.sFMCW qBE@ATICsNSWWES LM THE COLD WAR

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U.S. S P E W OPERATIONS FORCES IN T H E COLD WAR

Below Spectal Farces permme1 train with

fieId ampuficatlon equipment used for 'psy ops' in counterinsurgency operations. 0J.S-A.)

Above left: Member of the 5th SFG (Abn)with indigenous troops in Viemam; the colors of

the Vietnamese flag are on the 5th SFG (Ab4 beret flash (U.SA.)

Above: Special Forces advisor with irregular troops in Vietnam. He is wearing the same tiger stripes as his troops. (Dring)

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Left During jungle warfare mining in Panama, a member of the 7th SFG (Abn)acts as a Buddhist priest being interrogated by a member of the 82nd Airborne Division.

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Women soldiers

during 1976.

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Left U.S.A.F. Combat

Controllerbrings in a transport aircraft at a base in Vietnam. ~.S.AS.I

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US. SPECIALOPERXTIWS E&MW IN THE WLbWAR

U.SSPECIAL OPEMIIONS FORCES IN mE

page, top: Members of Company C, Long W

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bd,58th Infantry Mvialon on a march in Holland during

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1967.This is a partfcularly g o d v3ew of the mountain

rkickmks issued to these mops by the US Army. This unit %s migned long range recon missions for U.S. forces @$@led to NATO. W.SA) m e t page, bottom: A U.S.Advisor rn the Wemamese

hmgem watches hand-to-handcombat training. Note that the 'US. advisor wears the red BDQ (Bkt Dong @an) h e t with Kmger badge and the BDQ packet badge. The beret is m e d kn BDQ Style. Also at tbis time,U.S. temps were

allowed to carny personally owned handguns, in this w e a revolver. His Westem-style' pix01 belt is also mn-Lsue and m l y to be privately acquired. On rhe advbor's left hip he carries a Randall W e . (Society of Viemnrmese Rangers) Atwwe: A U.5. Rmgm advim,r~tthe Duc My Ranger TrCenter examines the leg of an ~ ~ d bandaged o r by a R a m @@me.The trainees are ushg avaflable camouflage materials. The U.S.captain carries an M2 carbine, the fWly automatic version of the p q m h MI.W.SA)

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V.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES IN W

Above: During S~ptember,1965, a U.S. SFC and an Australian warrant officer observe Vietnamese Ranger tf-s cMning down the ' d e W e ' at the Duc My Ranger Training Center. The U.S.m e a n t wears the f i r s t - p a m jaagle uniform, identihble by its exposed buttons and

shoulder srrags. The uniform bears MAW (Military Assistance Command V f e m ~shoulder ~l sleeve hsfgnia. rn.SA.)

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e page, top U.S.Ranger advisors &$ems a

E COLD WAR

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Vktnamese Ranger a VC suspect. The W E holds an MI Carbine fitted witb its M4 bayonet. He apw to be equipped with localiy-made pouches for magazbm opposed to the r e p h US-made items. The U.S. advisors wear the Vietnamese Ranger beret along with US.MACV and 'Ranger' tab. W.S.A) opposite page, bthm A LRRP fmm Company D 75th Xnfmwy attached to the I1 Field Force a r t s as the pc man for his team d m May, 1970.W.SA)

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US. SPECW. OBERATttXFS FORCES W TIfE C

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U.S. SPECIAL FORCES OPERATIONS IN THE COLD WAR

Iwpaee:B demonstrationin

1969 at the Recondo

hp2 The instructor &as & pocket #Wh of the MACV m a School. The &&P w a s Uer *-onfl;lge

.w&lks and b n i e capI and curies a

ammfkged M-16

.launcher ta the other. [v.SA)

M#lemIWaP Wears the black beret

w-Y mcmtered among gome LRRP units with

a locally made LRRP The LRRP kfs worn over the WiMrntr, Division 4% The subdued 9th k e t flash.

Division 'Recondo' pocket patdl 23

p b b a locally m d item. The ldio fsaURC-loused for -cy

Wctlon or when other communications -entbi f ~

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U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES 1N T H E COLD WAR

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l e f t Trainee at the MAW Recondo Scha

practiws h e w Right Specid F o m

1st Lt. undergoing -atEglhAir

F o m Base during 1982. There i s na

beretmbehinldik Lt's rank irasignfa.

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US, SPECIAL 0

U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES IN T H E COLD WAR

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--Qfmattbewer &ttR. Ft.Belmiag, GA-The famouspamchute the backgmwd are a relic of W d d War H,

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COLD WAR

U.S+SPECiAL QPGRATiQNS FQXES

IN T H E CQLD WAR

O p p d t e paga This captain of the 1st S G W,at Uark kkhw Three pamhdsts from the 77tb SFG (A#@ pregare AFB inthe Wppineti in 1961, wears the gem bwet but to enter a sport parachute competition in Aprjl, 1958.Note ~ ~ ~ w e a r b g t h e S p & l F o m s ~ p m~ ht h ~ t e w a l a n d p a r ~ t e w h q s m ~ t h a n t l w and %peeidFOnxs' tab. Their h@My-goBaW 'CowranfMshwhichwouldbeml;eter. H t a u ~ T # t y s h i r t f s M ~ a v jump ttaots w e ~ ae cherkgwd s m l af &"SjF pattern, c a t r m s a t wi& ~ an MW pen pocket on the piw?mw$id&#?.STatus, W+&) s ~ ~ e a l m w e a r ~ s p i s m ~ b e l t ~ ~ t k War II m.W*SAl

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troops from the 7th SFE (Abn)practice

glumm warfare fechnique~in the mountains of west VirgWa. The standa~d A r e m for these Woopa Is still the World War II issue MI Garand rifle.The soldler in the r&ht the recently adopted red &a& of the 7th S f G (Ab4. (USA.)

U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES IN THE COLD WAR

p a g & , ~ M ~ s a 7tbSFGG4b4 f W alrt&g Woplcal swamp W at at AFb dmbg

Abm~ti&gemt?f€he~,(~dp~guarda tm practices aj-e bm&bnfr#B 8 s x M boat during

rnby~t~bpsis&adyvWbIe w i t h 7 t h S F G W f l a s h ~ a l a Q w e a w ~ ~ F m ~ mowbead and tab, (U.S.A) b p e r k x s in V i e a m led n of khe b W g r m 'subdued' better concealment. (USA)

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SPEClAL OPERATIONS FT- 7ES 1N T H E C O D WAR

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Q.962,membersoftbe 7th S F Q W-gate in a g u @ d h d a ~ e e * f n

&a W t d d a National m t kt North C a p rw

IipCM mc%3were gm&edareas smktt3 @WW~wsuld ~ ~ W l l iworhlg l e * ~ i n E u r o or~ W nAnmi- (U.SA.)

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tdms of 'the v i e w s h g as it would later. IIJ.SA)

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US. SPECLAL QPEM'flDNSFOXES FN T H E CDLD WAR

A b o w ~ s f t h ?rh!iFGIAbnI e at tbeJobnF. K m m i y -5 Wwfwe Sdm1 at Ft. Bragg in Nwmbw, 1964. .& with dl A m y personnel assbed to &borne units, these SperialY m e s mWem wear their trowem bloused into thek jump boats. (USA)

Forces team would ~ n d l be y b a d within the inner defenses. (author's collection)

Opp&epage,battrrm:Amemberofth 5 t h S F G W 4 b Vieinam is presented the aver Star for gallnutry. He wear9 parachute wings and a Combat Infaatqman's badge oa hls ~ p a g e , t o p : T h ~ T o n L e C h a n ~ E ~ ~ f i g h bremit t i n gand W e m e parachute wings an his right breast. This is awlher emmpIe of the early-patternjungle unlfor4 camp viewed from the air. Note the martarMts, -@ry with Its qmed buttons and shoulder swaps. W S B ) emplacements, and machineam pasittons. The Special

U.S. SPECML OPEmTIQEIS FORCES M T H E WLD W&

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W.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS F O E S IN T H E COLD WAR

U S . SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES M THE COLD WAR

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Opposite page,top: Aerial view of the Thien Ngon SpeciaI

Forces fighting camp; this camp uses the star design mmhhcent of Renaissance fortresses designed by Vauban. (author's collection) t e page, bottom: A SpeciaI Forces heavy weapons leader supervises CIDG (Civilian Irregular Defense Group) indgenous troops as they prepare to fire a 105.mm howitzer. The indigenous soldiers wear a 'Tiger Stripe' m

c~mouflageuniform, popular in-count~~ and one of many recorded variants. (U.S.k) >.

Above An American S p d Forces commander of a MIKE Force camposed of Chinese Nvngs. On his dgec salpes he

wears ' ~and 'Ranger' ~ tabs over ' his MIKE Force shoulder sleeve fnsig&. (U.SA)

U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES IN TfIE COLD WAR

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U.S. SPECIAL OPERAON5 FORCES IN THE COLD WAR

Above: While a Special Forces communications specialist sets up his radio, other members of his unit set up a security perimeter. The soldier at the right carries a rope for crossing chasms or ascendmg or descendmg. III.5.A.)

Opposite page: Special Forces train with many foreign special operations forces, such as this member of the Jordanian Special Forces. He wears U.S. parachute wings on his left breast - the single star indicates that he is of senior rank. (Adrian Bohlen) Right: Many former members of Special Forces serve with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) training indigenous troops where official U.S. government involvement is not desirable. In some cases, Special

Forces members are temporarily assigned to the CIA for training missions. One group of guerrillas trained by 'ex' members of the Special Forces were the anti-Sandinista 'Contras' in Nicaragua. This Contra uses the AK-47. (author's collection]

U.S. SPECIAL OPERAIIONS FORCES

IM THE COLD WAR

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U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS H

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U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES IN THE COLD WAR.

craft of the Mobile Riverhe Force. (U.S.N.)

tpstined to infiltrate the &a& under water. W.CT.SMC.)

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US,SPECIAL WRATIOPJBFORCES IN T H E CQLDWAK

U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES IN THE COLD WAR

l& EiarirPe &con chuted up for a parachuteh-sadoa NmmUy, ,ForceRecon persomiel mmore mely tu be used 'Wpwadmte operadm. Thta hdiis wethe patmoper m i o n af the MIX hehler, IdenW~bleby the P straps of its liner, and the web chin-cup.W+S.MC.)

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A b w e : A F u r c e E b e c m ~ e i u ~ e ~ ~ ~ ~ warning mission at Camp Perdeton, California, dwing August, 1974. (Ubh4.C.)

U.S. SPEClAL OPERATIONS FORCES IN THE COLD WAR

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A h w Recon M&in& pmticfng Mcogt$roperations at Camp PendIWn, CA,during 1970.The Marine in the foregmud c d e s the M-14rifle. (U.S.MC.)

m,tqk .*dh Recons practicing insertion by Matable boat. IU.SXC.) " Oppcrslte

Oppwlte p3gk hmam h n h g February 1974 members qf I the U.5.M.C. 1st Reton Banalion an a hdmg zone they

cleared for members of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marlnu. There is a T-122 type angle-headed flashlight anached to far-left moper's suspenders. This design dates back to World War I& when it was supplied with various colored lenses for sQmWng purposes. W.SM.C.)

U.S. SPECW OPERATIONS FOKCES IN THE COLD WAR

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f&msh page, tup: Recan Marines blend wlth their 4 u m w durflig a W a h i n g meruse, W . W C . ) page, bottolm: A member of the 1st Farce &con 'Campany practices underwater operations. W2M.C.)

Ahwe US. Marine Recons p W c e &eUgeme gathering. The on the right carries anM3 ' G r e w Etm' and both wear cammilage head cowrings fabricated from hetmet c a w s . CO.S.M.C.1

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e page., top:Member of the 1st Recon Battalion

prw%ces m p d h g from a helicopter at Camp Pendeton dwbg a demonswation on Armed Forces Day. (U.SM.C.) e page, btto13~'Members ofMarine ANCLICO Teams such as this me possess many of the same sldlls as Recon m

marines and are often drawn fmm hose with Recon

training. (U.S.M.C.)

AThis U.S.Marine advisor is working with the local police chief and local defense force members in Vie= backing Vier Cong.W.S.M.C.)

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U.S. SPECW OPEMIIONS FORCES IN THE COLD WAR

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