From: Maj CMS OTTOWELL LI Fh SUPPORT HELICOPTER FORCE HEADQUARTERS Royal Air Force Benson Wallingford Oxfordshire OX10 6AA CHOTS e-mail: HQSHF-J3GLO/SO2 BT: (01491) 837766 Ext 7711 RAPTN: 95261-7711 Fax: (01491) 837766 Ext 7722 RAFTN: 95261-7722 TDRC Reference: SHF/1/9/J1 Room 152 Building 370 Date: 18 Apr OL Trenchard Lines Upavon Wiltshire SN9 6BE SILENT WINGS 2000 SPPORT HELICOPTER FORCE HEADQUARTE! OPERATION MARKET GARDEN: HOLLAND 24 - 28 SULY 00 References: BATTLEFIELD TOUR A. DEFSEC(TH) 11/53 dated 06 Mar 00. B. _ HQLAND SIC BAA 210950Z Mar 00. 1. Deseription, Exercise SILENT WINGS 00 was a study day on 04 Tal 00 followed by a five day battlefield tour including a TEWT in Holland, based around Amer, for the SHE HQ. The tour tock place between 24 28 Jul 00, The delay in providing this material has been due to the loan of the officer concemed to another HQ directly after the tour. 2. Participating Troops. 28 personnel from Wy Car to Sgt took part, All elements of the span 2 the JFic were invited to participate and eventually included representation from the JFACC HQ. THQ ARRC, | & 2 PARA, RAF Rotary Sqns, 606 Sqn RAF as well asthe Force HQ and some of its reservists, 3. Aim, To examine the principles of Joint Operations and their application 0 OP MARKET GARDEN wth particular emphasis on air matters. Through this medium the organiser hoped to lay canaf the myths of MARKET GARDEN and to draw out some of the operational lessons in joint ‘ps identified at that time, The relevance to the SHF in supporting a similar type of operation using, rotary elements instead of gliders and air delivered resupply was stressed throughout discussions. 4. The Preliminary Study Phase. The background planning and overview of OP MARKET GARDEN wap set out on the study day (04 Jul 00) prior to departure on the tour. Smdents were able to familiarise themselves with the contents ‘of their build up workbooks and conduct suitable packwround reading. Two days were allocated for travel and two days spent touring the stands and considering various problems, A handout was given at most stands that summarised the main points, ‘The final day consisted of relating the lessons in TEWT format for a current LSWF option. At the and of the exerese all students retained a folder containing all the material they were issued with.Research for the tour was conducted through a number of museums and extensive reading of books, other tour guides and archive material. The sources are set out in the enclosed work folder. 5. The Field Study Phase. This phase consisted of a two-day battlefield tour followed by a one day TEWT. At cach stand a short orientation brief was given and students asked to consider a number of questions and relate these to the principles of Joint Operations. On the final day personnel related their experiences to a current LSWF option (set in the same OA) and carried out an Estimate in syndicates assisted by staff from HQ ARRC. The solutions were then briefed. No problems were encountered on the tour. The support from the Dutch military authorities was excellent. One external speaker was used as part of one stand to give a feel for the "smell of cordite” 6. The Integration Phase. The debrief was held in Holland on the final day of the tour. The lessons identified and the knowledge learnt was related to our current and recent operational undertakin; 7. Summary. The whole event went as planned. And our Headquarters was able to expose our expertise, value and knowledge, at a critical time in our own evolution, to a wider audience not cast to our superior HQ - the JHC. I therefore would like to express my very deep gratitude to you and your staff for the very excellent service you provided in pointing me in the right direction at the start, The value of your cell in supporting the corporate operational experience of the MOD is inestimable, Thank you most sincerely. I enclose a record of my work for your archives. Chae Cte Encloshee: + 1, Exercise SILENT WINGS 00 Student workbook.EXERCISE SILENT WINGS 00 INDEX ‘THE STUDY DAY Acknowledgements: Study Day Seript Powerpoint presentation Slides Principles of Joint Operations/War Command Structures - Allies ‘Map ~ Strategic Frontline 15 Sep 44 German Commanders German Forces - Ground and Air Order of Battle Sep 44 German Forces - Equipment 10. German Ground, Air, AD, EW Forces - Disposition at 10 Sep 44 11. German Forces - Orbat 12. Dutch Resistance Movements 13, Allied Commanders 14, Allies Forces - Order of Battle Sep 44 (SHAEF) 15, 1 British Airborne Division - Organisation Sep 44 16. Allied Forces - FAA Air Order of Battle Sep 44 17, Allied Equipment - Glider Aircraft 18 Summary of 2 Anny Plan for Operation MARKET - GARDEN 19, OP MARKET-GARDEN The Plan 20. OP MARKET - Routes of Initial Troop Carrier Missions 17 Sep 44 21, OP MARKET- Instruction No: 1 to Commander 1" Airbome Division 22, OP MARKET- Unit Allotment to Airfields 23. OP MARKET - Glider Alloument by Lifts 34, OP MARKET - List of Stores Dropped on 1" Airborne Division 25, OP MARKET- UK Air Movement Table for 17%, 18°, 19" Sep 44 26 OP MARKET- HQ Commander Glider Pilots Op Instruction No: 1 27. OP MARKET - Frequency Allotment to British Airbome Comps 28. OP GARDEN - Outline of XXX Corps Plan 29. OPGARDEN - XXX Corps Ground/Air Communications Plan 30. Weather Reports forthe period ‘THE BATTLEFIELD TOUR 31, Administrative Instruction with Annexes B and C only 32, StandOne_ =~ = DZ“Z" 33. Stand One - Further Notes for Consideration (DS Greens) 34, Map - Operational Position end of 17 Sep D Day 35. StandTwo ~~ LZ “S" 36. Stand Two - Further Notes for Consideration (DS Greens) 37. Map - Operational Position end of 18 Sep D+1 38. Stand Three =~ = HARTENSTEIN Museum 39. Stand Three - Further Notes for Consideration (DS Greens) 40. Map - Operational Position end of 19 Sep D+2. 41, Map- ARNHEM DZs and LZs 42, Stand Four =~ ARNHEM Bridge 43. Stand Four - Further Notes for Consideration (DS Greens) 44. Map- Battle of ARNHEM and OOSTERBEEK 45. Map Battle for ARNHEM Bridge 46. StandFive. ~~ DZ “K” andthe Feny site 47, Stand Five - Further Notes for Consideration (DS Greens) 48, Map - Operational Position end of 20 Sep D+3, i EXERCISE SILENT WINGS 00 93 - 100 101 - 104 105 - 112 13 114-117 118 - 123 124 125-128, 129-130 131 132 133-136 137-140, 14 142 143 - 147 148 149