Multi-national force under NATO command, continuing operations from UN SCR 1973, to support the anti-Gaddafi revolution underway in Libya. This followed up the US-led Operation Odyssey Dawn which started earlier in March. Participants were desperate to devise a strategy which did not involve putting boots on the ground, yet effectively supported the government opposition, focussed largely in the east of the country.
It eventually involved Naval and Air forces of 13 nations, each using their own operation name, based around the Mediterranean and adjacent countries.
The operation also had a political and economic dimension: freezing Libyan overseas assets, supporting democratic reform and jostling for position to win future hydrocarbon-related industrial and commercial work from the new government.
From a UK perspective, the Government was in the van in leading the establishment of the operation but was in the untenable position of decommissioning the very military assets it needed, in order to prosecute the outcome.
Known in:
*
Canada as Operation Mobile
*
France as Operation Harmattan, where main focus was around Brega, to the south of Benghazi, until 31 Mar, when French forces joined NATO-led Unified Protector
*
UK as Operation Ellamy, where main focus was to the west of Misrata.
Other participating nations were Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Jordan, Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Romania, Spain, Sweden, the UAE & the US.
In addition to the surface units mentioned below, the UK also deployed HMS Triumph and then HMS Turbulent from the Silent Service.
It eventually involved Naval and Air forces of 13 nations, each using their own operation name, based around the Mediterranean and adjacent countries.
The operation also had a political and economic dimension: freezing Libyan overseas assets, supporting democratic reform and jostling for position to win future hydrocarbon-related industrial and commercial work from the new government.
From a UK perspective, the Government was in the van in leading the establishment of the operation but was in the untenable position of decommissioning the very military assets it needed, in order to prosecute the outcome.
Known in:
*
Canada as Operation Mobile*
France as Operation Harmattan, where main focus was around Brega, to the south of Benghazi, until 31 Mar, when French forces joined NATO-led Unified Protector*
UK as Operation Ellamy, where main focus was to the west of Misrata.Other participating nations were Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Jordan, Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Romania, Spain, Sweden, the UAE & the US.
In addition to the surface units mentioned below, the UK also deployed HMS Triumph and then HMS Turbulent from the Silent Service.
Units |
| Dates | Unit | Models |
|---|---|---|
| mar11 to - | 36F Aéronautique Navale | AS365 Dauphin 2 SA365 Dauphin 2 |
| mar11 to oct11 | 815 NAS Fleet Air Arm | Lynx |
| may11 to 23sep11 | 656 Squadron Army Air Corps | WAH-64 Apache |
| may11 to 22sep11 | 857 NAS Fleet Air Arm | Sea King ASaC.7 |
| jun11 to oct11 |  56th RQS US Air Force | S-70 H-60 |
|
Individual helicopters| Model | IDs |
|---|---|
| Agusta ASH-3D | MM5012N |
| Westland WAH-64 Apache | ZJ179 ZJ188 ZJ207 ZJ233 |
| Westland Sea King HAS.5 | ZD636 ZE418 |
| Westland Lynx HAS4 (FN) | 807 |
| Aerospatiale SA342M Gazelle | 3849 4136 |
| AgustaWestland EH101 Mk.110 | MM81484 |
Ships |
