Mirbat - Omán 1972 (SAS x povstalci)

Mirbat in 1972

Oman is a country situated in a strategic position at the Hormuzské strait, controlling the entrance to the Persian gulf. It is therefore of interest to the powers, in this case Britain. This is a "hot" country ruled by Imams and sultans. Most of the landscape is a sopeční rocks and shallow wadi with zakrslou vegetation.
In the year 1970 was the then sultan overthrown by a coup. The new sultan Kabú bin Said was much more inclined to the west than his predecessor. He requested the British government to help in the fight against communist insurgents. The british government has mandated the implementation of support operations SAS and the sent to Oman BATT – British Army Training Teams – training unit. One of the BATT was placed in Mirbatu, a small town near the coast. SAS training of local fighters known as "firqat" small protipartizánské unit. In addition, provide and organized even as the medical assistance, the construction of schools and roads and the like. This help with improving the local infrastructure and the refinements of life of the local population, had the task of convincing nespokojence to stop supporting the insurgents and to support the new regime. It is a total flourished, so the insurgents needed any victory that might propagačně use in support of its case. Decided therefore, that the separating out of 250 men in the attack against the barracks of the SAS (BATT house) in Mirbatu, where there was a crew of 9 members of the squadron "B" of the SAS. They were the following:
23letý captain Mike Kealy – commander (all officers of the SAS have at least the rank of captain. Officers serving with the regiment in the regular rotating and after their completion, return back to the main units. The young officers at SAS says "rookie" rookie – rookie)
Pete Wignall in a battle dominated the 0.5“ machine gun on the roof of the BATT house
Roger Chapman in the battle handled by the universal machine gun GPMG 7,62 (General Purpouse Machie Gun) on the roof of the BATT house
Sec Savesaki and Harris (Fuzz) in the position of the 81 mm mortar before the BATT house.
Bob Bradshaw
Sgt. Talaiasi Labalaba – in kulometném nest with Omani kulometčíkem Validem Chalfanem
Reynolds
Tommy Tobin

The day of the attack was chosen well. Because it was the period of the monsoon with the early mlhami and low oblačností, has not been possible air support. 250 insurgents, well armed with AK 47, heavy machine guns, mortars, bezzákluzovými guns and mainly the 84 mm Carl Gustav rocket launchers. These rebels were highly professional warriors, nimble and ready to test your quality.
The only defense accounted for the BATT house with nine members of the SAS.
Some 100 m away was the old fortress Wali (once the seat of the local chief) in which was about 30 local braanců mostly armed with rifles Lee-Enfield caliber 0,303. About 700 m inland was another fortress – barracks of the local gendarmes with 25 policemen inside. Behind this fortress was okop with the old gun from the twenties and with the Omani kulometčíkem. This gun was for the defense of the crucial. Barbed wire then formed the only obstacle separating the enemy from the city and the fort.
At 5.00 in the morning stormed reconnaissance group of rebels, the gendarme forward position (8 men) about 800 m north of the BATT house. Four gendarmes were killed and the rest fled to safety. At the same time triggered the firing of the 6 mortars of the habitat of about 2000 m to the north from the BATT house. Two other rebel groups attacked on two sides of the city. The previous day, there was a group of local friqat odlákána into the hills away from the city a small group of insurgents. The situation looked serious, but the SAS did not want to prematurely reveal their deployment, so I held the firing of guns from the roof.
BATT house and strength of the Wali:
Pete Wignall was sent down (from the roof of the BATT house) to send a message to the 40 miles of the remote Um al Gwarif radio PRC 316. How the house making the explosions of rockets, coughed up the coding and posted morseovkou "OA here is 82. Contact. Under heavy fire. We are waiting for. The end of the. And returned to the roof. Sgt. Labalaba set out to kulometného foxhole to help Ománskému kulometčíkovi. Četnická barracks was hit by a missile from the 75 mm recoilless cannon.
Around 6.00 some 40 insurgents closer to četnickým barracks. Captain Kealy thought that the returning patrol friqat. In that moment launched the men of the fortress Wali fire and triggered to hell. Wignall and Chapman began to shoot at the rebels with the metal barricades. Bradshaw shot their commander well-aimed blow from his self-loading rifle (SLR – Self Loading Rifle). The rebels rend the barbed wire with his bare hands. They come in a lot of developed groups of 10 people and a machine gun is a kosil direct fire. The attack is transferred to the četnická barracks and the position of the gun. Meanwhile, some rebels they went through the city.

Četnická barracks and a machine-gun nest:
Through Valkie-talkie announced Labalaba kpt. Kealymu, that he was wounded in the chin. The intensity of firing from the machine gun fell. Sec Savesaki took the pharmacy and went on to the 700 m away kulometného nest. Ran for life, and ran as a player of rugby. Prove it and ran to the gendarmerie barracks for assistance. Omani kulometčík on behalf of Khalid he came out of the fort to help. When they returned to the kulometného nest, was Haled hit in the stomach.Labalaba and Savesaki shot from a gun and defended before a thick fire of light weapons. Savesaki was hit in the shoulder, head and back. Was still able to shoot, but only out of his self-loading rifle. Injured Labalaba with superhuman effort continued in the fire of the gun itself.
At 7.00 the first great crisis seemingly ended and the firing died down. SAS called by radio to headquarters in Salalahu for a helicopter for the injured and requested air support. Since there was no radio communication with the kulometným's nest, went to him, Tobin and Kealy. When they were about halfway, triggered to hell again. Kealy and Tobin found Labalabu still pálícího of the gun and Savesakiho, which harbored the fire of your self-loading rifles left corner of the gendarmerie barracks. Omani kulometčík was seriously injured. As soon as he Tobin tried to help, was fatally struck by. It is a large explosion and a greater number of insurgents crossed the roadblocks and was about to attack directly at the machine-gun nest. When Labalaba set to 60 mm mortar, was hit in the neck and killed. Kealy shot of their self-loading rifles direct fire on the attackers. BATT house was radioed asked about minometnou and machine-gun support. Harris serves the mortar could not achieve the desired elevation, so was so that holding the barrel of the mortar to the chest. To kulometného nest is rolled down a grenade, but was blown out in a timely manner. The situation had begun to look like critically.
Suddenly, in time, emerged Strikemastery with the help of. Their rockets and machine guns attacked the rebels. Kealy and Bradshaw is naváděli on the important targets.
On the beach south of the city was brought 23 members of the squadron, "G" SAS with a few machine guns (GPMG – General Purpouse Machine Gun). Kept out of the reach and walk on the Mirbat. With the help of several local friqat clean the city from the insurgents.
The battle ended around 12:30.

SAS has lost two men, Labalabu and Tobina.
Savesaki was seriously wounded.
After the battle was numbered 38 of the dead insurgents. In the battle of them was made around the 80's, but some were carried away by the other during the retreat.
The battle represented a watershed moment of the war, which finally ended r. 1976.
Mike Kealy was awarded for his action DSO. Immediately after the battle, he voluntarily went out to search for patrol friqat and help her to the safe return.
Tobin and Bradshaw were honoured Military Medal

Labalaba was only read in order, although he considered his death to get VC. Perhaps because the british government tried to keep the whole thing under wraps.


Source: the internet.