BRAVO TWO-ZERO

Comprehensive Approach

Cadet corporal PETRE Ștefan-Cristian

Group 21b
 Contents
1. Introduction

2. Personnel and Equipment

3. Sequence of actions
4. SOP issues
5. Causes of failure
6. Lessons learned

7. Q&A Session
8. Sources
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 Introduction
B20

TaskOrg: eight members of British SAS

Main objective: setting up an OP on Iraqi MSR
Deployed at the same time with B10 and B30
Patrol deployed into Iraq (22-23 JAN 1991)

MSR – main supply route

OP – observation point
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 Personnel & Equipment
Sgt. Steven Billy MITCHELL (CDR)
Sgt. Vincent David PHILLIPS (2IC)
Cpl. Colin ARMSTRONG
LCpl. Ian Robert PRING
Tpr. Robert Gaspare CONSIGLIO
Tpr. Steven John LANE
Tpr. Malcom Graham MACGOWN
Tpr. Mike COBURN
2x NBC Suits
8x
23 liters of water
Sandbags & OP equip.
8x 21 MREs ~ 100 kg
Spare bateries
IFAK
2IC – 2nd in command
CDR - commander Demolition equip.
NBC – Nuclear Biological Chemical
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 Sequence of action

 Insertion (230030BJAN1991)

 Compromise (241600BJAN1991)

 Separation (242330BJAN1991)

*hours provided IAW Andy McNab’s story

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 1. Insertion
230030BJAN1991

Boeing RAF Chinook RW

No land vehicles used (CDR’s decision)

Radio comm. issues

RW – rotary wings (helicopter)

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 2. Compromise
241600BJAN1991

Seen by a young shepherd

Withdraw from current position

Engaged by Iraqi APCs

APC – armored personnel carrier

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 3. Separation
242330BJAN1991
patrol
Wa
er it r
furth a d io
Go con
ta ct

Sgt. Steven Billy MITCHELL

Sgt. Vincent David PHILLIPS LCpl. Ian Robert PRING
Tpr. Malcom Graham MACGOWN Tpr. Robert Gaspare CONSIGLIO
Cpl. Colin ARMSTRONG Tpr. Steven John LANE
Tpr. Mike COBURN

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 SOP issues

In case of emergency or no radio contact, patrol should return to the

original infiltration point
British SAS SOP

Incorrect initial location

No ERV

No radio communication

SOP – standard operating procedure

ERV - Emergency Rendezvous
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 Causes of failure
1. Radio malfunctioning (wrong freq.)

2. Detection by the enemy (young shepherd)

3. Not following SOP (exfil. SOP)

4. Splitting the patrol (two separate teams with

two different plans)

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 Lessons learned

 follow SOPs during any situation encountered

on the battlefield

 always perform pre-combat check IOT avoid

equip. malfunctioning during mission

 ensure exfil. SOP is operational

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Thank you for your attention!

Questions?

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 Sources
 Andy MCNAB, Bravo Two-Zero (1993)

 Chris RYAN, The One That Got Away (1995)

 Michael ASHER, The Real Bravo Two-Zero (2003)

 www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/the-blaggers-
guide-to-bravo-two-zero-8632166.html (accesed on 01APR20)

 www.irishtimes.com/culture/the-sas-man-who-wouldn-t-stay-quiet-
1.1136564 (accesed on 01APR20)

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