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The means of the “Civilian protection” operation in Libya in place (Maj3)

(BRUSSELS2) After the French (1), the Americans and British entered the battle on Saturday evening for the protection of the Libyan population. More than 110 Tomahawk missiles were fired, US Admiral Gortney announced, at around XNUMX targets in Libya, particularly near Tripoli. Shooting carried out mainly from American and British submarines.

More than twenty ships and submarines and more than fifty planes are engaged in the operation to protect Libyan civilians. Operation called "Odyssey Dawn" on the American side, "Harmattan" on the French side, "Ellamy" on the British side, "Mobile" on the Canadian side...

* Transitional US Command

There are still a number of points that remain to be clarified.

Who will command the operation? For now, the Americans have announced that the JTF (Joint Task Force) is commanded by Admiral Samuel J. Locklear, assisted for the maritime component by Vice-Admiral Harry B. Harris aboard USS Mt. Whitney and for the Air Component by Maj Gen Margaret Woodward, based in Ramstein, Germany. The "theater" command is provided by the Africom command, General Carter Ham, at the Africom headquarters in Stuttgart, a transitional solution before passing the torch to a "coalition command".

Where will the Command HQ be located? It is currently located in Stuttgart at Africom. The Italians wanted him to be placed in Naples. The British elements are coordinated in Northwood (London) in their Operations HQ (which also serves as HQ for the European Union's anti-piracy maritime operation, Atalanta) while the French elements are coordinated in Lyon.

What will be the common code name for this operation? A priori, the name Us "Odyssey Dawn" seems to prevail.

When and which Arab countries will join the coalition...? The first Emirati and Qatari planes are expected in Italy on Sunday or Monday.

Here are some of the means mobilized, in particular the European means.

Marine (TF 473)

USS Stout firing a Tomahawk missile on March 19. (US Navy)

United States. The maritime component of Operation Odyssey Dawn is commanded by Vice Admiral Harry B. Harris aboard the flagship USS Mount Whitney (LCC20). Also participating are two guided missile destroyers USS Barry (DDG52) and theUSS Stout (DDG55), two amphibious ships USS Kearsarge (LHD3) and USS Ponce (LPD15), and several submarines USS Providence (SSN-719), USS Scranton (SSN 756) and USS Florida (SSGN 728).

France. air defense frigates Forbin (D-620) and Jean Bart (D-615), are off Libya. The carrier battle group formed from the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R-91), of the two frigates Dupleix (D-641) and Aconit (F-713) as well as the tanker La meuse (A-607) leave Toulon on Sunday.

United Kingdom. THE HMS Westminster (F-237) and the HMS Cumberland (F-85) already in the Mediterranean off the coast of Libya, as well as a submarine HMS Triumph (S-93) which took part in the first strikes with the US Navy.

Canada. HMCS frigate Charlottetown (FFH 339), which left Halifax in early March, has been operational in the Mediterranean since March 17. It includes a crew of approximately 240 officers and sailors, a CH-124 Sea King helicopter and an air detachment.

Belgium. A mine hunter, the Narcissus (M-923), already present in the Mediterranean. It includes a crew of 30 people.

Italy. At least five Italian ships are currently deployed in the Mediterranean. The anti-missile cruiser Andrea Doria (D-553) – specializing in air and missile defense – is in the waters of the Strait of Sicily with the supply ship Etna (A-5326). the patrolman Pound sails towards the Libyan coast, with the frigate Euro in support. Three corvettes with 250 sailors (Chimera, Fenice et Elettra) are already deployed near the Libyan coast. The aircraft carrier Garibaldi — equipped with 6 AV8 Harrier planes and 5 helicopters — the torpedo destroyer Francesco Mimbelli (D-561) and amphibious ships Saint Mark et St. George are also on alert.

* Spain. The frigate Mendez Nunez (F-104), based in Ferrol, the submarine Tramontana (S-74), based in Cartagena, and a CN-235 maritime surveillance aircraft.

* Greece. A frigate.

Departure of a Rafale from the St Dizier base (Credit: French Ministry of Defense / DICOD)

Aviation

France. About twenty planes (8 Rafale, 4 Mirage 2000 D and 5, 6 C-135 tankers, 1 Awacs plane) are engaged, some of them as early as Saturday. The first land strike took place at 17:45 p.m. around Benghazi, targeting a column of armored pro-Gaddafi forces.

Tornado GR4 / Archives (Royal Air Force)

United Kingdom. Of Tornado GR4, leaving from the RAF base in Marham (Uk), in turn launched Stormshadow missiles on Saturday evening, confirmed the general in charge of communication, John Lorimer. They were supported by supply ships VC10 et Tristar as well as E3D surveillance aircraft Sentry et Sentinel.

Belgium. 6 F-16s were already in Greece on Friday for an exercise. They should be made available to the coalition and join Italy, with 250 men (pilots, mechanics, support) specified the Belgian Ministry of Defense.

Canada. 6 CF-188 Hornets (F18) joined the Trapani base after a stopover in Prestwick (United Kingdom) on Saturday. About 200 members of the Canadian Forces, including aircrew and ground technicians from the 425th Tactical Fighter Squadron at 3 Wing Bagotville are deployed.

Denmark. 6 F-16s (4 attack and 2 in reserve) as well as a refueling plane joined the Sigonella base (Italy) on Saturday.

Norway. 6 F-16s and their support elements. About 100 soldiers. Nb: Norway decided on Monday (March 21) to suspend its participation "pending a clarification on the command and operation plans".

* Spain. 4 F-18s, belonging to the Ala 12 and a Boeing 707 in-flight refueling plane, belonging to the 47 group, were positioned on Saturday afternoon at the Italian base Decimomannu (southern Sardinia). Aircraft operational on Sunday. The bases of Rota and Moron de la Frontera were made available to the coalition.

* Italy. Tornado ECR (reconnaissance / electronic combat) and IDS (attack) as well as Eurofighter 2000 were assembled on the base of Trapani. Defense Minister La Russa confirmed the availability of 4 Tornado ECRs and 6 interceptor fighters (Eurofighter) to the coalition, "ready to take off in 15 minutes".

* Greece. Greece is making its Souda and Aktio bases available, Prime Minister Papandreou said on Sunday. And "if necessary", it offers 4 F-16 aircraft for no-fly zone patrols, as well as two Search & Rescue helicopters.

* Qatar. He is the first Arab to take part in the operation. He decided to send 4 Mirage, based at the base of Souda (Crete). Two arrived on Tuesday (March 22). Two more are expected.

destruction of columns of armed vehicles near Benghazi, March 20 (credit: Al Jazeera)

Read also: Operation “Civilian protection” has started. French planes in the Libyan sky

See also: The means of the "arms embargo" operation

(* Last updated: Wed March 23 7am)

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

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