Task Force 145

Task Force 145 is a U.S. military special forces group specifically charged with hunting down al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and, prior to his death on June 7, 2006, Al-Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. It is a continuation of a temporary SF striking force that began as Task Force 11 after the September 11 terrorist attacks, and has morphed through Task Force 121, Task Force 626 and is now believed to be designated Task Force 77 (not to be confused with the Seventh Fleet's Task Force 77). It is believed that the Task Force played a role in the medium altitude strike mission that killed al-Zarqawi just outside Baqubah. Generally speaking, the Task Force is charged with disrupting al-Qaeda operations in Iraq and, to a lesser extent, Afghanistan.

It is believed that the Force is composed of portions of the Army’s 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta; the Navy’s DEVGRU; the Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and 75th Ranger Regiment; the Air Force’s 24th Special Tactics Squadron; British paratroopers from the Special Forces Support Group; and a British Special Air Service “Sabre squadron." Members of the CIA's elite Special Activities Division paramilitary unit, are also believed to be an important part of the group.”

Operations

The task force is noted as operating in a highly autonomous fashion. In the only known operation which they conducted it is said that they conducted several raids that did not require approval from higher authorities. These are said to have been helpful in leading to the elimination of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

Organization

(see Iraq War order of battle)

• Task Force 77 (formerly Task Force 145) -- LSA Anaconda, Balad
  • TF North/unidentified battalion 75th Ranger Regiment -- unknown location, northern Iraq
  • TF West/unidentified element, SEAL Team 6 -- unknown location, western Iraq
  • TF Center/unidentified squadron, 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment - Delta -- LSA Anaconda

Organization

TF 145, or TF 77 as it may now be known, is commanded by a colonel (the commanding officer of the Army's Delta Force) and is based at five locations across Iraq. Its task organization draws on every unit of the U.S. Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) as well as on the CIA's SAD and British special operations forces.

The headquarters element, which includes the majority of the task force's many aviation and intelligence assets, is based at Balad Air Base between Samarra and Baghdad; the four elements that it controls, each commanded by a lieutenant colonel or equivalent, are spread across the country.

The first of the four elements is Task Force Black. Based in the Basra area, TF Black (which is supported by Parachute Regiment troopers of Task Force Red, a separate organization) is based around a squadron of the British 22 Special Air Service Regiment, with integrated units from the Special Boat Service. TF Black is responsible for the southern portion of the country, but has participated in operations in the Baghdad area when British or Canadian hostages are involved.

Task Force Center is probably co-located with TF 145's headquarters element at Balad, but it could also be based at Camp Liberty, since it is responsible for the Baghdad region. TF Center is based around a direct-action squadron; the three Delta Force squadrons and SEAL Team 6 appear to rotate through this position. It is also supported by a rotating company-sized element of the 75th Ranger Regiment and elements of the 160th SOAR. TF Center has taken casualties in the Yusufiya area, where one of its helicopters was shot down in spring 2006.

Task Force West is structured similiarly to TF Center in that it has a company-sized force protection element from the 75th Rangers and is based around a battalion-sized direct action unit that can at any given time be a Delta Force squadron or SEAL Team 6 (it seems that these units rotate every three to four months). TF West is responsible for operations in Anbar, where it is known to have been active at various times in Fallujah, Qaim, Husayba, and Ramadi. It is likely that TF West is based either at Camp Asad or Camp Taqaddum.

Task Force North is organized differently: it is based around a full battalion of the 75th Rangers (the position rotates among the three battalions), with a company-sized element from Delta Force acting in support. It is possible that TF North is based anywhere from FOB Marez in Mosul down to COB Speicher near Tikrit.

External links and associated pages

• See also Task Force 121 (an earlier designation for roughly the same unit, circa 2003) and Task Force 6-26
• [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/dod/tf-145.htm Task Force 145- GlobalSecurity.org]