PINOY AVIATORS TRUE STORY: WAR RAGES IN COTABATO (A WAY TO DEFEAT AN ENEMY) Strikers Crush MILF Camps In Carmen It was a classic Clausewitzian victory in many respects. The Prussian military theorist and strategist, would have been delighted and cheered on what seemed to be a good example of an important concept he wrote in his book. The offensive operation that the military waged against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)on April 13,1996 was indeed a demonstration of what Clauzewitz clearly calls. Violence pushed to its utmost limits. The surest way to over come an enemy, he deemed, is to subdue his will by crushing him completely using supperior force. The combined use of land and air power in Carmen Cotabato proved fatal. Days later, the MILF high command forged for a temporary ceasefire after days of continous military offensive. Weeks before the massive air assault was launched, the Army troopers of 6th ID and the MILF rebels were engaged in skirmishes in various areas of Reigna Regente where a number of enemies were holding camp. The height of their persistent effort to embarass the national leadership turned sour when they deceived the local government into entering a peace compromise with them, and ambushed instead the group of distinguished gentlemen who went to seek it. Provoked, the military did not loose any second an all-out assault on known MILF lairs. In just a short span of time, heavy fighting ensued in the sprawling terrain of Reina Regente. The military with all its might has sustained to win in most battles, but they too suffered some losses. The MILF command in Camp Abubakar, which is several miles North West of the scene, had thrown more weight to their cause by sending heavy reinforcement. They cornered areas sorrounding the Malitubog Maridagao (Malmar) Irrigation Project and conducted harassement at an Army base securing the site. Casualties piled up as each opposing force exchange volleys of fire for days. MG-520 Defenders gunships were dispatched to provide the necessary close air support (CAS), and through effective, there is a limit to the extent of damage that they can inflict to the enemy. The fighting thus continued and seemed to be heading nowhere even when military choosed to engage the enemy in pursuit operations in forested areas of Carmen town. Finally, after weeks of sporadic fightings, a big opportunity came for the military to run the tide of events in their favor. In the adjoining areas of Kitubod mountain range, the biggest contingent of MILF rebels selected to mass themselves in a defensive position and take refuge in the fortified shelters they had set-up. As the operating troops gave chase, they were stopped at some point by a stiff resistance from the enemy. Caught in a dangerous deadlock with the enemy, it became apparent that there was no chance they could overrun the camp without incurring heavy losses. Heavy volume of machinegun and artillery fires directed towards them likewise began to exact heavy strain on their position. Finally, when the situation became unbearable, they requested for a Close Air Support (CAS). Promptly, a flight of four OV-10 BRONCOS led by Red Jock came and struck upon the enemy hideouts like a bolt of lightning. More than the bolt came also the thunderous appearance of a couple of F-5 Freedom Fighter Jets formed a formidable and deadly pair of hardware that Clausewitz would refer to as a seizing force intended to crush the enemys will. The OV-10 Broncos was employed both as a ground attack aircraft and a Forward Air Controller (FAC). With flexibility, the pilots of this rugged aircraft after accurately unloading their munitions on their targets, made a quick change of role and acted as controllers to the F-5 jets. The lead FAC, then used the towering filthy smoke rising from above the MILF camp as marker for the approaching F-5s. The fighters deftly aimed their gunsight upon seeing the explosion and released on the target a SALVO of all their rockets in a single pass, effectively finishing off whatever remained of the initial bomb run. The dissidents, caught unaware by this tactical misfortune that had befallen them, had no other option but to trail their high powered guns on these newly arrived menace. As such, preassure was temporarily relieved from the pinned-down ground troops, enabling them to move about and fortify their positions. Gradually, the MILF succumbed to the reality of an impending annihilation and withdrew themselves in disarray from the battle scene, tagging along many of their casualties. They never anticipated that such an air offensive would create a fatal blow enough to immobilize their fighting capabilities. In one decisive action brought about by the two successive waves of relentless bombing conducted by the OV-10s and rocketry of the MG-520s, the long-running conflict in Carmen, Cotabato finally came to a halt with the MILF asking for a temporary ceasefire! Incidentally, it is worth to know what such favorable outcome could not have been achieved if the pilots hesitated due to bad weather condition. The air operation was not exactly without the elements that make up for an unpleasant and life threatening flight. The risk is too high, testing even the most daunting of the pilots. Truly, Clausewitz fog and friction loomed to present a formidable challenge to the OV-10 pilots. Twice the air assault was held over because of low cloud ceiling. When rain clouds eased up a bit, they took off and persisted in accomplishing the airstrikes they deemed important to the success of the campaign. They proceeded to the battle front motivated by courage and sheer guts only to be confronted by more perilous obstacles. Low lying patchy clouds had covered most of the terrain and parts of the targets. For the bronco pilots, whose vast experience in this type of work had infused in them a kind of stability, such weather impediment is a normal occurrence. The real problem actually lies in the difficulty of effecting accurate hits despite poor visibility and the proximity of some friendly forces trapped in underlying areas. While there was little room for error, not the least, even little room for safe maneuvering within a threat environment, the pilots neverthless were bold and relentless in the execution of their task. Forced by the situation, they shifted to non-traditional tactics, compelling them to fly just a breather above the treanchorous terrain at slower speed, and delivered their ordinance at a very low altitude. Still, they managed to complete the airstrike mission successfully. And when the dust and din of strenuous fighting finally settled, they were triumphant both in deed and spirit. Like the difficult but calculated decision to drop the A-Bomb on Hiroshima to end the war on the Pacific and thus prevent more bloodshed, the air offensive on the MILF lairs at Kitubod mountain range was also strategically projected to effect a similar outcome. There is every reason to prevent a protracted conflict with the MILF particularly at that time when Mindanao peace resolution was being finalized. The issue of shooting war between the AFP and the MILF has always attracted a negative sensationalism that affects the general sentiment of the Muslim populace. Thus from a distant standpoint, we might as well take this opportunity to recognize and applaud the little winged heroes who contributed partly to the success of the Mindanao peace agreement behind the scenes. For all their troubles and sacrifices, a just reward of the Distinguished Aviation Cross may aptly boost their career and reputation. But surely, they know that a mere feeling of accomplishment or a loftly sense of fulfillment, and the knowledge that they have done their best are truly better rewards. And this applies to all the pilots and personnel of the 15th Strike Wing as well. The surest way to overcome an enemy is to subdue his will by crushing him completely using superior force. - Clausewitz FROM THE 15th STRIKE WING MAGAZINE -PINOY AVIATORS-
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 08:17:01 +0000