In September 2019, troops with the 102nd Cavalry Regiment, New Jersey Army National Guard came into contact with a group of al-Shabaab militants during an attack on Baledogle Military Airfield, marking the most significant clash between American forces and the Somali faction of al-Qaeda since Operation Gothic Serpent in 1993. The engagement highlighted the great “discipline and bravery” displayed by the soldiers in the face of adversity.
History of Baledogle Military Airfield
Located 60 miles northwest of Mogadishu, in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region, Baledogle Military Airfield was originally built in the 1970s by the Soviet Union to accommodate both Soviet troops and Somali Air Force personnel. From 1993-95, it was home to members of the US 10th Mountain Division, who were actively participating in UN Operations in Somalia II (UNOSOM II).
Since 2007, the United States has maintained a near-constant presence in Somalia as part of the Global War on Terrorism, with Baledogle being one of the military’s most isolated bases in the area, surrounded by ongoing hostile activities. To protect both the airfield and nearby communities, a Special Operations Task Force, alongside private security contractors linked to Bancroft, are stationed there regularly.
The 102nd Cavalry Regiment was prepared for a potential attack
In 2019, members of Charlie Troop, 1st Squadron, 102nd Cavalry Regiment, part of the New Jersey Army National Guard’s Task Force Warrior, were deployed to Somalia. Their mission not only involved supporting US efforts in the country, but also assisting the Somali people.
Before their deployment, the 70-soldier troop underwent reinforcement, with the addition of fire direction officers from the 3rd Battalion, 112th Field Artillery Regiment and a mortar platoon from the 2nd Battalion, 113th Infantry Regiment. Upon arrival in Somalia, their numbers had more than doubled, reaching 160 soldiers.
Stationed at Baledogle, the troops were anticipating a potential attack by al-Shabaab. The militants regularly conducted scouting missions to identify defensive positions and understand how the Americans might react. To minimize the information gathered during these visits, the 102nd Cavalry troops were instructed not to engage.
In preparation for a possible attack, those stationed at the base engaged in rehearsals of potential encounters, all involving live fire. The troops worked long hours, conducted independent reconnaissance patrols and rotated personnel on guard duty.
al-Shabaab militants launch their attack
On September 30, 2019, members of the 102nd Cavalry were preparing a convoy to meet the chief of police and other leaders in a town 25 miles from Baledogle. At approximately 9:45 AM, they heard an explosion, which turned out to be the detonation of a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED). The truck had been driving toward the airfield, but went off prematurely.
As the attack began, a UN aircraft was preparing to land and one manned by the US Air Force was about to take off. As well, 50 civilian construction workers were repairing the runway. The first course of action was to clear the area, so three soldiers were tasked with moving the civilians to safety, while the UN aircraft was diverted and the Air Force one told to immediately leave the area.
“I ran to the operations center and [Capt. London] Nagai was already maneuvering Charlie Troop toward the explosion site,” recalled Lt. Col. Richard Karcher, commander, Task Force Warrior. “He had the vehicles that were originally part of the convoy going to the airfield; he started moving additional personnel to the towers, which covered the approach to the airfield, and he closed all entry control points. Snipers were also posted base-wide.”
Members of the 102nd Cavalry ran to their positions both on the exterior of Baledogle and in the operations center, where they used cameras tethered to an aerostat to watch the base. As Nagai later explained, “The key was not engaging with the enemy until they were committed to utilizing a specific route that would ultimately be a fatal choice for them.”
They waited until the militants were right where they wanted them before launching their counteroffensive.
The then-largest VBIED used on the African continent
Ten minutes later, a second truck broke away from a convoy transporting construction material and drove toward the perimeter fence. While members of the 102nd Cavalry began firing at the vehicle, they were unable to cause much damage, as its windows were reinforced with armor.
Luckily, prior to the attack, an engineer platoon had dug a trench along the outside of Baledogle, with the intent of stopping any vehicle that was smaller than a tank – including the truck coming straight toward the airfield. It got stuck in the dugout, despite the driver’s attempts to reverse, allowing the 102nd to secure a fatal hit.
Five minutes later, the truck detonated with the force of between 4,000 and 5,000 pounds of explosives – at the time, the largest VBIED used on the African continent. Along with rocking the base, the blast blew a 200-yard-wide hole in the fence and created a crater that was 20 feet deep.
A third truck hides 12 armed militants
Approximately 10 minutes after the second truck exploded, a third one drove up to the hole in the fence line, stopping just before the large crater. It was then that the wind blew off the tarp covering the truck bed, revealing a dozen al-Shabaab militants who were equipped with PKM machine guns, hand grenades, assault rifles, RPG-7s and ammunition.
It appears the militants were hoping to be within the perimeter, not directly outside it, and struggled to organize themselves amid the chaos. Almost immediately, snipers Staff Sgt. Nicholas Swanson and Sgt. James O’Brien began shooting, killing half within a timespan of five minutes.
With the remainder of the militants seeking cover behind their truck, Capt. Nagai and Lt. Col. Karcher decided to activate their mortar team. While 60 mm, 81 mm and 121 mm weapons were fired, indirect and direct fire was also used against them.
It was over in less than an hour
Following the declaration of a ceasefire, Lt. Col. Karcher’s team used cameras positioned around Baledogle to inspect the third vehicle. Collaborating with a US Marine Corps unit at the airfield, it was determined that the truck was another Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED). Subsequently, an Air Force drone was deployed to neutralize the threat.
In less than an hour, the al-Shabaab militants were entirely eliminated. Although the latest press release indicates no injuries among the 102nd Cavalry’s members, a 2019 statement from US Africa Command (AFRICOM) mentioned a soldier suffering a concussion.
This engagement marked the first time since World War II that a unit from New Jersey participated in a combined arms battle. It also stood as the most significant encounter between US forces and al-Shabaab since Operation Gothic Serpent in 1993, notable for the infamous Battle of Mogadishu, depicted in the 2001 film, Black Hawk Down.
The day after the attack, al-Shabaab leadership falsely claimed victory in a letter and video that were published online. Contrary to their assertions, the 102nd Cavalry secured a decisive win. Lt. Col. Karcher emphasized, “There is no question that if it hadn’t been for Charlie Troop, al-Shabaab would have destroyed the aircraft and killed as many people as possible.”
Following the September assault, there were no further attacks on Baledogle Military Airfield by militants. Seventy-six days later, on December 12, 2019, the 160 members of the 102nd Cavalry returned to the United States.
The 102nd Cavalry Regiment are recognized for their actions
In the aftermath of the battle, members of the 102nd Cavalry Regiment were honored with such commendations as the Combat Medical Badge, the Combat Action Badge and the Combat Infantry Badge, depending on their specialization.
Nearly a year later, in August 2020, they received further recognition during a ceremony at their home base in Westfield, New Jersey. At the event, soldiers were presented with Bronze Stars and Army Commendation Medals featuring Combat Devices in acknowledgment of their valor and actions.
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Reflecting on the courage displayed by those who confronted the militants in September 2019, Capt. Nagai said,”The discipline and bravery of the Soldiers was something I will never be able to fully explain and something I am sure I will never see again.”