Battle of Mirbat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Mirbat |
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| Part of Dhofar Rebellion | |||||||
 The Wali's Fort. The Battle centred on the Dhofar Gendarmerie fort (not shown) |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Royal Air Force of Oman |
 PFLOAG Guerillas |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Mike Kealy | Shaheed Salim Musalim † | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
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10 British soldiers (9 SAS, 1 Int Corps) |
200–300 Adoo guerrillas | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 2 SAS soldiers killed, 2 Gendarmes killed | 38 bodies recovered, 12 captured | ||||||
The Battle of Mirbat happened on July 19, 1972. It was an attack by a group of fighters called guerrillas on an Omani government base. This battle took place in the town of Mirbat, Oman, during a bigger conflict known as the Dhofar Rebellion.
During this rebellion, Britain helped the Omani government. Oman was ruled by a king, called a Sultan. British soldiers from the Special Air Service (SAS) helped train Omani soldiers. They also fought against the guerrillas, who were part of the Popular Front for the Liberation of the Occupied Arabian Gulf (PFLOAG). These guerrillas were also known as the "Adoo."
The attack was stopped when Omani planes arrived. These planes, called BAC Strikemaster jets, fired rockets at the Adoo. This forced the guerrillas to retreat. After the battle, the bodies of the Adoo fighters were found. Some were put on display to warn others not to join the rebellion.
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What Caused the Battle of Mirbat?
A conflict started in Oman in 1963. People wanted to change the government, which was supported by the United Kingdom. In 1968, a group of guerrillas formed. They were called the Popular Front for the Liberation of the Occupied Arabian Gulf (PFLOAG), or "Adoo."
The Adoo wanted to create a new country. They hoped for an independent and democratic republic. They also wanted a different economy, where the government controlled important industries like oil. They believed in equal rights for women.
The Battle Begins
At 6 AM on July 19, 1972, the PFLOAG attacked. They targeted a British Army Training Team (BATT) house. This house was just outside the Port of Mirbat. Nine SAS soldiers were inside. The Adoo knew they had to defeat the SAS to reach the port. The SAS was guarding the main path to the town.
Captain Mike Kealy was the officer in charge. He saw waves of attackers coming towards the fort. At first, he thought they were friendly Omani soldiers returning. But he soon realized the Omani soldiers must have been killed. Kealy then ordered his men to start firing.
Kealy and other soldiers took positions on the roof of the BATT house. They fired rifles at the Adoo. One soldier used a heavy machine gun. Two other soldiers on the ground fired an infantry mortar. The Adoo were armed with AK-47 assault rifles. They were also firing mortars at the BATT house. Kealy told his signaller to call SAS Headquarters for help.
Some Omani intelligence staff and Pakistani soldiers were also in the BATT House. A British military intelligence corporal was there too. They joined the SAS soldiers on the roof. They helped fire at the Adoo. Even though some Pakistani soldiers usually did office work, they followed orders and fought.
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The SAS rifles worked best when the Adoo were closer. The soldiers needed heavier weapons. Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba decided to run to a large artillery gun. This gun was next to a smaller fort. Nine Omani Special Forces soldiers were inside the smaller fort, but they had not joined the fight yet. The Omani policeman guarding the gun was badly hurt.
Sergeant Labalaba managed to operate the large gun by himself. This gun usually needed four to six soldiers to work it! He fired one shot per minute at the Adoo. This drew their attention away from the BATT house. Captain Kealy got a radio message from Labalaba. He said a bullet had hit his face. He was badly injured and struggling to use the gun alone.
Back at the BATT house, Kealy asked for a volunteer to help Labalaba. Trooper Sekonaia Takavesi bravely volunteered.
Sekonaia Takavesi ran from the BATT house. The other soldiers fired to cover him and distract the Adoo. Sekonaia ran 800 meters through heavy gunfire. He reached the gun. Sekonaia tried to help his injured friend. He also fired his own weapon at the approaching Adoo.
Realizing they needed more help, Sekonaia tried to get the Omani soldiers in the smaller fort to join. Walid Khamis, an Omani soldier, came out. The other Omani soldiers in the fort started firing from the roof and windows. As Sekonaia and Walid got back to the gun, Walid was shot in the stomach.
The Adoo kept moving closer to both the BATT house and the artillery gun. At one point, they were so close that Sekonaia and Labalaba fired the big gun at very close range. Labalaba crawled to a smaller mortar, but he was shot in the neck and died. Sekonaia was also shot in the shoulder and grazed on the back of his head. But he kept firing his weapon at the Adoo. The signaller kept sending messages. He asked for air support and medical help for the men at the gun.
Captain Kealy and Trooper Tobin then ran to the artillery gun. They dove in to avoid the intense gunfire. Sekonaia kept firing, propped up against sandbags. The Adoo threw several hand grenades. Only one exploded, but it didn't hurt anyone. Trooper Tobin tried to reach over Labalaba's body. A bullet hit his face, and he was badly wounded.
By this time, BAC Strikemaster jets from the Sultan of Oman's Air Force arrived. They started attacking the Adoo. The low clouds meant they had to fly low. They used machine guns and light rockets. One Strikemaster was damaged by Adoo fire. It had to return to base. More British SAS soldiers arrived as reinforcements. The PFLOAG was defeated and pulled back around 12:30 PM.
All wounded SAS soldiers were taken away for medical care. Trooper Tobin later died in the hospital from his gunshot wound.
What Happened After the Battle?
The "Mirbat Gun"
The 25-pounder gun used by Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba is now famous. It's called the "Mirbat gun." You can see it at the Firepower museum in Woolwich, England. Sergeant Labalaba operated this large gun all by himself. Normally, it takes four to six soldiers to use it. His actions were very important. They helped stop the Adoo's attack and gave time for more soldiers to arrive.
Labalaba was honored for his bravery after he died. Some of his friends have asked for him to receive an even higher award, the Victoria Cross.
Public Display of Bodies
After the battle, Omani and British forces found the bodies of 38 Adoo guerrillas. Some of these bodies were put on public display. This was done to scare people and warn anyone who might think about fighting against the Sultan's government.
Awards for Bravery
Captain Kealy received the Distinguished Service Order. Trooper Takavesi received the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Sergeant Bob Bennett and Corporal Jeff Taylor received the Military Medal. These awards were announced three years after the battle.
Walid Khamis, an Omani soldier, was injured during the battle. He received the Sultan's Gallantry Medal. This is Oman's highest award for bravery. The British Military Intelligence Corporal also received a medal from the Sultan.
British Soldiers at Mirbat
Here are the SAS soldiers who were at Mirbat on July 19, 1972:
- Captain Mike Kealy
- Staff Sergeant Talaiasi "Laba" Labalaba (Died in the battle)
- Sergeant Bob Bennett
- Corporal Roger Cole
- Corporal Jeff Taylor
- Lance Corporal Pete Warne (Also known as Pete Wignall, Pete Winner & Soldier I, nickname Snapper)
- Trooper Sekonaia "Tak" Takavesi
- Trooper Thomas Tobin (Died from his wounds)
- Trooper Austin "Fuzz" Hussey
See Also
- Dhofar Rebellion
- Oman
- PFLOAG
