Task force viking
Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force - North (C/JSOTF-N), also known as Task Force Viking was the command responsible for the northern front during OIF I (2003-2004).
JSOTF-N was made up of US Army Special Forces, elements of the 10th Mountain Divison, the 173d Airborne Brigade,and elements of Civil Affiars and Psychological Operations Command (CAPOC). All units were initially prepositioned in Constanta, Romania begining in February, 2003 with the exception of the 173d based out of Vicenza, Italy. The mix of conventional and unconvential peronnel for the task foce numbered approximately 5,200. The motto of the TF was "Concede Nothing." The Task Force's mission beginning in 2003 was to conduct unconventional warfare and other special operations in Northern Iraq in order to disrupt Iraqi combat power.
Originally the task force had planned to infiltrate Northern Iraq via Turkey. However, Turkey's refusal to allow overflights or prepositioning troops force Coalition commander's to undertake a complicated and roundabout infiltraion via Jordanian airspace. This operation was known as "ugly baby". After much diplomatic manuvering, Turkey finally allowed US overflights on March 23.
Facing Task Force Viking's 5200 personnel was an estimated 13 Iraqi Divisions consisting of Republican Guard divisions and Sadaam Fedian. TF Viking also had to contend with Ansar Al Islam and Kadeek irregulars and also with dueling Kurdish factions (PUK & KDP), Turkomen, Yazzidis, and the Sunni Arab tribes.
TF Viking Milestones:
Kirkuk Liberation - 10 April, 2003
Mosul Liberation - 11 April, 2003
source: http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2004solic/cleve.pdf
source: http://stinet.dtic.mil/dticrev/PDFs/ADA425938.pdf
source: http://www.cgsc.army.mil/carl/download/csipubs/tunnell.pdf