Akanatoa War: Difference between revisions

The 813th Air Recon Battalion embarked on CH - 47s and Aérospatiale SA 330 Pumas to perform an air assault landing on Sulaga city, intending to land in the mountains, secure a strategic airfield 10 kilometers from the area to channel in reinforcements and begin to surround the city. This key airfield was nicknamed “La pista de oro” / “The golden strip” some platoons had to switch abruptly to a parachute landing when they learned mid-flight that some landing zones were contested. The air drop began at 03:30 on April 13th in the face of heavy resistance from anti-aircraft guns and several small arms fire. Dassault Rafale M provided support for the landing.  

Local construction vehicles were commandeered to help clear landing zones and roads, and one even used to provide mobile cover for the troopers as they moved to seize the heights surrounding the roads.The troopers secured several road junctions and bridges leading to the city by 08:00 AM, and transport planes were able to land and unload additional reinforcements.  

By 10:00 “The golden strip” was secured enabling CASA C-295 to land several SK-105 tank destroyers to provide fire support for the following troops. Starting at 12:00, troops began landing from the 801st and 802nd Parachute Regiments. Troopers from the 813th fanned out and secured the surrounding area, negotiating the surrender of over 300 Akanatoans in an aviation hangar.