Operation Palliser was a
British Armed forces operation in
Sierra Leone in 2000 under the command of Brigadier (now
General)
David Richards.
Tactical situation
In spring 2000, rebel activity in Sierra Leone was escalating significantly with the rebel forces of the
Revolutionary United Front (RUF) presenting a credible threat to the capital,
Freetown.
Main deployment
On
May 7,
2000, the
Joint Task Force Headquarters, UK Spearhead Battalion: 20 fd sqn Royal engineers, 1st Battalion,
the Parachute Regiment, (minus its A-company, but reinforced by D-company 2 PARA and elements of 2 PARA's support company), the
Pathfinder Platoon, the
Special Air Service and
Royal Air Force Hercules were deployed to conduct a Non Combatant Evacuation of UK,
EU, and
Commonwealth citizens.
Following the evacuation the main aims were to keep control of the
airport, patrol Freetown and allow
UN supplies to be flown in to the country safely.
In support of the effort a number of
Royal Navy assets were diverted:
As Task Group 342.1:
- HMS Argyll 1 man lost overboard en route - never found
Illustrious and Fort George had been diverted from NATO exercises in the
Bay of Biscay, with RAF aircraft embarked for the exercise. Aircraft of both NoIV Squadron and 801 Naval Air Squadron made a number of patrols in support of the mission.
A Forward Logistic Base was established in
Dakar to support the mission.
On
May 17,
2000, the Rebel leader
Foday Sankoh was captured by Government forces and transported to a secure location by helicopter.
Operation Palliser ended on
June 15,
2000 however a continuing UK commitment provides training support to the Government of Sierra Leone.
Operation Barras
Main article: Operation BarrasOperation Barras was an operation carried out to rescue soldiers captured by the
West Side Boys (using the
SAS and paratroopers) and to stabilise the situation in Sierra Leone.
