Im just looking for as much information as possible as I can get on the Irish UNOSOM back from 1993 - 1995. The knda thing Im looking for are general conditions, threats and the role of the Irish in the mission? If you dont want to post it you could PM it to me please. Thanks in advance.
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UNOSOM II
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UNOSOM II
Only the dead have seen the end of war - Plato
"Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory" Proverbs 11-14
http://munsterfireandrescue.comTags: None
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UNOSOM II (Part 1)
Its being a while now since UNOSOM II and I hope that I can answer the questions to the best of my memory although I have plenty of pictures and there was a video of the trip put together which I haven’t looked at in a while.
I suppose I had better begin in Mogadishu. We flew with Aer Lingus to Nairobi, Kenya and from there we flew on a UN Hercules C-130 in to Mogadishu. My first memory is when the back ramp of the aircraft was lowered and the heat of the runway hit us. We eventually got off and the first thing I seen was 12 Blackhawk helicopters in formation flying over the airport, with personnel in the doorways with their legs dangling, these were the US Rangers in rehearsal for the capture of General Aydid. It was a pretty impressive sight.
From there the US forces moved us to our transit accommodation, which was an old warehouse. We stayed there for four days before going to Biadoa (Baydhabo). The warehouse could accommodate up to 300+ soldiers. One half was for the US forces and the other half was for UN forces. All personal in here were either coming to or leaving the mission area. I remember the US forces of which 20 to 25 percent were women all bunked together in this transit location. There were mobile showers outside with alternative washing time for men and women. There was also a mobile kitchen outside which supplied food to all transit personnel. The food, which was OK, was made up of MRE’s (Meals Ready to Eat). The cooks if you like to call them that, just added water to the food and heated it up. There was always people coming and going due to the different flight times. Our first night we spent in helmets and flack jackets as a couple of mortar rounds hit the airport. We weren’t in any great danger but we weren’t taking any chances.
The following day the chartered ship that contained all the vehicles and equipment for the Transport company arrived from Dublin after it’s two week voyage across the Mediterranean Sea and down through the Suze Canal and the Gulf of Aden around the Horn of Africa and into the port of Mogadishu. The ship took 2 days to unload and we finally got our weapons, which made us feel a little more secure.
When we were finally ready to move to our new home in Biadoa, a platoon of our neighbours arrived to escort us. They were the 13th DBLE of the French Foreign Legion stationed in Biadoa. They had a number of vehicles including the Acmat troop carriers and some 6 wheeled AML 90. We left Mogadishu at about 04.30 am as this was the quietest time to move through the city. The convoy at times stretched out over a mile and a half. We also had air cover from two cobra helicopter gun ships, which buzzed the convoy from time to time. And above them a C-130 Spectre gunship that could be heard over the city 24 hours a day.Last edited by Fianóglach; 7 February 2004, 22:34.Glaine ár gcroí
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Great pictures Fianóglach. I spoke to a guy in Tralee one night who was in Somalia. He told me it was a very mentally demanding and stressful mission. He felt that many soldiers were very affected by what they wittnessed there.
Is it true that a lot of ammo was used up down there?
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The beach in Mogadishu was a nice place to visit if time permitted. Although a few other nationalities had suffered shark attack and at least one UN civilian employee was killed, it was still nice to wade in the Indian Ocean if only up to my ankles. The sharks are drawn in to the area by the camel slaughtering factories which pump the waste blood and what ever crap into the sea. Got a great Tan though !Attached FilesGlaine ár gcroí
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Thanks Sluggie ! The guy you were talking to in Tralee was right about a lot of things, as the trip was very mentally demanding and at times very stressful, but what UN mission isn’t ? But having said that there were things I saw which I think about again from time to time. As for the ammunition used. I only fired my weapon on a range in the bush and dispatched the odd Baboon or (Dic Dic) which is a small miniature wild deer in the bush (A little bit bigger than a Jack Russell J).
But every time we entered Mogadishu we had a round up the spout. A lot of it was luck in Somalia and we (No 1 Tpt Coy had plenty of that), No 2 Tpt however were not so lucky and were ambushed not long after we rotated. I don’t know much about the incident, but it may have being the Indian escort that was the target and not the Irish. Hope this clears up your question.Glaine ár gcroí
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Fianóglach, great pictures and thanks for the back ground as its what I was looking for. Mnay thanks again.Only the dead have seen the end of war - Plato
"Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory" Proverbs 11-14
http://munsterfireandrescue.com
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