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Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan: Allies
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The United States was supported by several nations during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan during initial combat operations starting in October 2001, in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, and during 2002 and 2003.
This list covers US and coalition forces and other forms of support for Operation Enduring Freedom from October 2001 to 2003.
See the article Afghanistan War order of battle for the current disposition of coalition forces in Afghanistan.
For coalition forces involved in NATO combat operations in southern Afghanistan in 2006, see the article Coalition combat operations in Afghanistan in 2006. And the article International Security Assistance Force for coalition forces in Afghanistan as part of ISAF.
Primary sources US Department of Defense [1] and US State Department [2].
Albania offered the United States and its allies use of its airspace, ports, and airports.
Armenia offered the use of its airspace.
Australia invoked Article IV of the Australia, New Zealand, and United States (ANZUS) security treaty after the attacks of September 11th and Australian military and intelligence support was pledged. About 300 Australian SAS special forces troops, air-to-air refueling tankers, Navy frigates, two Orion electronic intelligence gathering aircraft, and F/A-18 fighter aircraft for Diego Garcia.
Naval vessels during 2002.
In 2002, a tri-national detachment known as the European Participating Air Forces of 18 Danish, Netherlands and Norwegian F-16 ground attack fighters aircraft deployed to Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan to support operations in Afghanistan. Belgium contributed a C-130 Hercules and 4 F-16 aircraft.
In 2002, Canada had 2,025 personnel in the CENTCOM region (1,100 land, 225 air (6 aircraft) and 700 naval personnel (3 ships)). Ground troops included the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry and JTF2 special forces.
Provided training and material support for allied Afghan forces.
In 2002, a tri-national detachment known as the European Participating Air Forces of 18 Danish, Netherlands and Norwegian F-16 ground attack fighters aircraft deployed to Manas in Kyrgyzstan to support operations in Afghanistan. Denmark contributed 6 F-16 aircraft. Danish Jægerkorpset special forces were also deployed.
Egypt offered the use of its airspace.
Estonia offered the use of its airspace and provided logistical support in theatre.
Over 4,000 personnel including 3,500 for the Marine Nationale (one CVBG, comprising the FS Charles de Gaulle, frigates La Motte-Picquet, Jean de Vienne and Jean Bart, the nuclear attack submarine Rubis, the tanker Meuse and the aviso Commandant Ducuing) 600 ground troops and 600 from the Armée de l'Air (12 Mirage 2000, Mirage F1 and Mirage IV ground-attack and reconnaissance aircraft). A French task force composed of soldiers from the 21st Marine Infantry Regiment deployed on November 17, 2001, to Mazar-e Sharif. Six French soldiers have died during OEF (as well as 3 under ISAF): all 6 in various hostile incidents.
In 2001 and beginning again in the summer of 2003, 200 soldiers from various units of the Army Special Forces Brigade (BFST), including marine and air commandos, have conducted operations against the Taliban, under command and in co-operation with U.S. special operations forces present in the area.
In 2002, Germany had 2,560 personnel in the region. German KSK Kommando Spezialkräfte special forces were involved in combat operations. The German Navy has had three Frigates, one Fast Patrol Boat Group (five units) and four supply ships operating out of Djibouti, in the Gulf of Aden. A German Airbus A310 aircraft was on alert in Germany for use as a medevac platform.
Naval vessels during 2002.
Opened ports to naval vessels.
Italian naval warships including its only Carrier Battle Group (with the aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi) supported combat operations in the North Arabian Sea. Italy deployed a 43-man engineer team to Bagram, Afghanistan to repair the runway in May 2002.
In its first military deployment since World War II, contributed naval support for non-combat reinforcement of the operation.
Jordan provided basing and overflight permissions for U.S. and coalition forces and a mine clearing team.
Kuwait provided basing and overflight permissions for all U.S. and coalition forces.
Kyrgyzstan allowed US and allied aircraft to use Manas Air Base
Provided logistical support.
40 Special Forces AITVARAS troops, from 2002-2004.
In 2002, a tri-national detachment known as the European Participating Air Forces of 18 Danish, Netherlands and Norwegian F-16 ground attack fighters aircraft, of which 6 to 8 were Dutch and one Netherlands KDC-10 refuelling tanker was deployed to Manas in Kyrgyzstan to support operations in Afghanistan. The Royal Netherlands Navy deployed two frigates.
Two C-130 Hercules and one Boeing 757 transport aircraft and an unstated number of New Zealand Special Air Service special forces soldiers, assumed to be less than 100, probably around 50.
In 2002, a tri-national detachment known as the European Participating Air Forces of 18 Danish, Dutch and Norwegian F-16 ground attack fighters aircraft was deployed to Manas International Airport in Kyrgyzstan to support operations in Afghanistan. Norway contributed 4 to 6 F-16s. Also deployed from Norway were logistic teams, mine clearance teams, a Marinejegerkommandoen special forces commando group and several C-130 transport aircraft.
Despite reluctance in the Arab states towards retaliation against the al-Qaida network in Afghanistan, the Pakistani leader General Pervez Musharraf offered support. Pakistan and Iran agreed to open borders to receive the expected increased migration of refugees from Afghanistan. Earlier, Pakistan had supported the Taliban, especially during the 1996-1998 period when they were establishing control - later relations between the two were not as close. After the 9/11 attacks, Pakistan allocated three airbases to the United States for the invasion of Afghanistan.
The Philippines provided landing rights and base support for U.S. aircraft and offered medical and logistical support.
Poland provided combat engineers and logistical support.
Romania gave basing and overflight permissions to US and allied aircraft and would later provide significant forces as part of ISAF.
The Republic of Korea provided logistical support and a field hospital.
Turkey offered the United States use of its airspace and air refuelling for US aircraft deploying to the region. Turkey would later provide significant forces as part of ISAF.
The naval element consisted of one aircraft carrier, one amphibious ship, one destroyer, one frigate, three nuclear fleet submarines and seven Royal Fleet Auxiliaries. The submarines HMS Trafalgar and HMS Triumph launched Tomahawk missiles on targets inside Afghanistan. SBS and 22 Squadron SAS special forces also deployed. Later 45 Commando Royal Marines deployed as part of Operation Jacana. The Royal Air Force contributed Tristar and VC-10 tanker aircraft, E-3D Sentry surveillance and control aircraft, Nimrod R1 surveillance aircraft, Nimrod MR2 maritime reconnaissance aircraft, Canberra PR9 reconnaissance aircraft, C-130 Hercules air transport aircraft and Chinook helicopters from 27 Squadron. 41 members of the British Armed Forces have died during OEF (see British forces casualties in Afghanistan).
In 2002, there were approximately 7,000 troops in Afghanistan, including United States Army Rangers, troops from the 10th Mountain Division and US Marines. Marines of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit were the first conventional forces into Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in November of 2001.
The United States Navy aircraft carriers USS Enterprise (CVN 65) with an 8 ship and submarine task group, followed by the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) with 9 other ships and submarines deployed for operations over Afghanistan at different stages to the end of 2002. The USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) with a 11 ship and submarine task group also deployed.
Roughly 150 aircraft were intially deployed for Operation Enduring Freedom, including some two dozen B-52 bombers and support aircraft
Uzbekistan had allowed the U.S. to place troops on the ground as well as use the Uzbek airbase, K2, for support activities and for deployment and command and control of Special Forces into all of Afghanistan except for the Khandahar region.