Seizing the oil terminal in the port of Umm Qasr was crucial for the launch of Operation Iraqi Freedom. This task was carried out by Polish soldiers from JW GROM (GROM Military Unit).

Żołnierze GROM-u w porcie Umm Kasr w południowym Iraku Fot. Arlo Abrahamson/ US Navy

In the spring of 2003, the eyes of the world turned to the Persian Gulf, where mounting tensions heralded another armed conflict. Two years earlier, on September 11, 2001, the World Trade Center had been targeted in a series of terrorist attacks. In their aftermath, US President George W. Bush declared a Global War on Terror.

One of the leaders accused by the US of supporting terrorists and destabilizing the international situation was Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Washington accused Baghdad of possessing weapons of mass destruction and violating United Nations Security Council resolutions after the first Gulf War in 1991. In 2002, the UN called on Iraq to disarm, but, according to the US administration, these measures were insufficient. Ultimately, the United States and the United Kingdom concluded that Hussein’s regime was not complying with its obligations. Despite protests from the international community, President Bush decided to launch a military operation aimed at overthrowing the Iraqi leader.

The Beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom

On March 20, 2003, Operation Iraqi Freedom began. One of the first objectives was to capture Umm Qasr, a strategic port known as the gateway to Iraq, and later use it as a supply route for coalition forces. Seizing KAAOT (Khor Al Amaya Oil Terminal), the ‘keyhole’ of the port entrance, was also of paramount importance. This task was entrusted to soldiers from JW GROM, who had previously trained in the Persian Gulf region and cooperated with the US Navy SEALs. The commander of the operation was Capt Andrzej ‘Wodzu’ Kruczyński. “It was the first such large-scale combat operation carried out by Polish soldiers after World War II. A true test of our capabilities,” he recalled years later.

The operation plan was developed independently by GROM. The work was carried out in three separate subgroups, each preparing its own version of the plan. The final decision on the plan rested with the commander. The Americans accepted it without objections, which was a clear signal that the Poles had gone from the role of students to full-fledged partners.

Before the operation began, the commandos spent dozens of hours in training. A mock-up of the terminal was built near the base, replicating the corridors and rooms, including the hotel section. Every scenario was rehearsed: approaching the target, entering the facility from inflatable boats, deploying snipers, as well as emergency scenarios. KAAOT was almost a thousand meters long and consisted of extensive industrial infrastructure – pumping stations, transmission installations, and a residential section. Using weapons in a place filled with oil and gas could cause a disaster, so precision and composure were essential.

Żołnierze wyruszyli z bazy w Kuwejcie na łodziach Mark V i RHIB. Marzec 2003 roku

How do you control your emotions during an operation in such a dangerous place? “Fear in such a situation sharpens my senses. I can see and hear better. It helps me. When I’m doing my job, I’m so focused that I act like a robot, doing everything almost automatically, step by step. This is something GROM teaches us,” says Kruczyński. He adds, however, that there was a crisis situation right before the operation, due to reports written and corrected at the very last moment. “The unit commander didn’t like the way the reports were constructed, and I had to prepare them again. Believe me, rewriting documents is not what you want to do five minutes before the start of an operation. Some things are more important than others. But we were all still learning at the time,” admits Kruczyński.

A Wonderful Job

The critical moment before the start of the operation was actually the wait for political approval from Warsaw. When it finally arrived, the soldiers set off from their base in Kuwait on Mark V and RHIB boats. At the same time, snipers took their positions in helicopters patrolling the waters of the bay. The operators brought unusual equipment with them: hacksaws, heavy hammers, extra fuel. Each soldier carried between a dozen and several dozen kilograms of equipment. As it turned out later, every single item proved useful. It took only a dozen or so minutes to enter and seize control of the platform. However, searching through the hotel and underground infrastructure, in extreme heat and difficult conditions, took much longer. Overall, the entire operation, from entering the platform to leaving it, took about six to seven hours. The soldiers used up all ammunition for breaching shotguns, all fuel for the saws, and all cutting discs. The final obstacles were cleared using structural elements of the platform – metal pipes and angle irons.

After capturing KAAOT, JW GROM received more tasks. “We learned about another job to be done literally moments later. We worked non-stop for almost 72 hours. Good thing we had food rations with us,” recalls Kruczyński. “After it was over, I lay down to catch some sleep. A moment later, someone woke me up to give me another order. I said »No! We can’t work non-stop, I can’t put my people and myself at risk.« They did look at me with surprise, but also with respect. I had to keep my common sense,” he says.

Capturing KAAOT opened the way to the port of Umm Qasr and enabled the coalition forces to efficiently conduct their logistics operations. The operation carried out by Polish soldiers was highly praised by allies. The then US Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, described JW GROM’s performance as “a wonderful job.” The operation became one of the most important moments in the history of the Polish special operations forces. Was it a difficult task? “Very much so. Although it wasn’t our first operation on water, this time the whole world was watching us closely. If we had failed, it would have been the end of GROM’s prestige,” admits Kruczyński.