The Failure of Operation Eagle Claw
by In 1977 the United States Army created its Delta Force unit to carry out counter terrorist operations. The establishment of Delta Force was influenced by the success of similar British, German, and Israeli units.
Within two years of its founding President Jimmy Carter gave Delta Force the task of rescuing the American hostages held captive at the United States Embassy in Tehran
after 4 November 1979. Carter despaired of gaining the release of the hostages via negotiations with the Iranian government.
There were various difficulties facing the members of Delta Force when it came down to carrying out a successful rescue mission. Their helicopters and planes had to fly over great distances as there were no suitable American airbases near to Iran. The plan had to rely on all aircraft remaining 100% operational. With hindsight Operation Eagle Claw was far too complex in the first place.
The American assault team took off on 20 April 1980 with high hopes of success. From the start it was a disaster, and Delta Force would not reach their objective. Two helicopters broke down, and a third one crashed into a Hercules transport plane killing half a dozen air crew in the process. Without enough helicopters left the mission was abandoned miles away from Tehran and its survivors made it back to American carriers in the Persian Gulf.
Bibliography
Kemp A (2004) Special forces, Teach Yourself Books
Palmowski J (2008) Oxford Dictionary of Contemporary World History, Oxford
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