Osprey Elite 37 : Panama 1989-1990

In the late 1980s, while much of Eastern Europe was beginning to realise its own new-found freedom, the United States found itself enmeshed in a progressively trying situation with the belligerent and illegal government of a country with which it has long had friendly, though unfortunately sometimes stormy, relations and with which it is deeply involved economically. In December 1989, U.S. Army forces supported by the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy, participated in Operation 'Just Cause' - the invasion of Panama. Ground forces, consisting of combat elements of the XVIII Airborne Corps, the 82nd Airborne Division, the 7th Infantry Division, the 75th Ranger Regiment, a Joint Special Operations Task Force and U.S. Marines, executed a night assault into Panama. A combination of airborne, helicopter and ground assaults on multiple objectives quickly brought a close to this hostile action. Corps elements began returning on January 12, 1990, while units of the 16th MP Brigade continued police patrols throughout the Panama City area to help restore and maintain law and order in support of the Panamanian people and their duty-elected government. Ex-US Special Forces soldier, Gordon L. Rottman examines the events in Panama 1989-90, focusing principally on the military aspects of Operation 'Just Cause' and the actions of the committed armed forces units. It is the story of the men and women who successfully executed an extremely complex operation under difficult circumstances. Accompanied by illustrations by Ron Volstad.

Contents

• Introduction
• Panama and the USA
• Panamanian Defense Forces
• Joint Task Force South
• 'Maximum Leader'
• Just Cause
• Summary & Aftermath
• The Plates