Caches found in Operation Swarmer near Samarra

ARNEWS ^ | Mar 20, 2006 | Jeremy L. Wood

[SandRat]

TIKRIT, Iraq (Army News Service, March 20, 2006) – At least 11 caches were discovered and more than 60 suspected insurgents detained last week during Operation Swarmer, the airborne insertion into southern Salah Ad Din province, near Samarra.

Coalition Forces encountered an IED along one of the roads in the area Saturday and one vehicle was damaged. No troops were injured in the attack, Multi-National Force-Iraq officials reported.

Iraqi Army troops and their Coalition partners continued to clear the objective area northeast of Samarra Sunday. Enemy caches captured thus far yielded significant amounts of weapons and IED-making materials.

Included in the finds were the following munitions:

• More than 350 mortar rounds of varying sizes

• 88 rocket propelled grenade rounds

• Nearly 2,000 rounds of armor-piercing rifle ammunition

• More than 15 rockets of varying sizes

• Over 60 hand grenades

• SA-7 surface-to-air missile components, including launcher tubes and batteries

• 30 machine guns and assault rifCaches found in Operation Swarmer near Samarra

The following items were among the IED-making materials discovered since the operation began:

• More than 500 feet of explosive detonating cord;

• 50 explosive blasting caps;

• 25 130 mm artillery rounds packed with plastic explosive;

• Various remote initiation devices, including cordless phone base stations and washing machine timers.

In addition to the weapons and munitions, terrorist training publications, Iraqi Army uniforms and videos have been recovered. The video footage portrayed U.S. troop locations in Iraq, the rigging and detonation of a car bomb, a suicide bomber and equipment taken from Iraqi Police.

(Editor’s note: Information provided by MNF-I Public Affairs.)

[SandRat]

Additional Photos:
Soldiers from the 3-187th Infantry, along with Iraqi Soldiers from the 4th Division, launch Operation Swarmer March 16.

Soldiers from the 3-187th Infantry, along with Iraqi Soldiers from the 4th Division, launch Operation Swarmer March 16.

[SandRat]

PING GOOD NEWS FROM Operation Swamer

[StarCMC]

WOW!!

Included in the finds were the following munitions:

• More than 350 mortar rounds of varying sizes

• 88 rocket propelled grenade rounds

• Nearly 2,000 rounds of armor-piercing rifle ammunition

• More than 15 rockets of varying sizes

• Over 60 hand grenades

• SA-7 surface-to-air missile components, including launcher tubes and batteries

• 30 machine guns and assault rifCaches found in Operation Swarmer near Samarra

The following items were among the IED-making materials discovered since the operation began:

• More than 500 feet of explosive detonating cord;

• 50 explosive blasting caps;

• 25 130 mm artillery rounds packed with plastic explosive;

• Various remote initiation devices, including cordless phone base stations and washing machine timers.

All those munitions and only one exploded IED. I think I have a friend on another thread that needs to see that. UGH!

[68skylark]

The Iraqi "resistance," those brave giants of the battlefield, made a pretty poor showing in this operation.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT