2011 Chinook shootdown in Afghanistan
Encyclopedia
On 6 August 2011, a U.S. Boeing CH-47 Chinook military helicopter was shot down while transporting a quick reaction force
attempting to reinforce an engaged unit of Army Rangers in Wardak province
, west of Kabul
, Afghanistan. The resulting crash killed all 38 people on board—25 American special operations personnel, five Army National Guard crewmen, seven Afghan commandos, and one Afghan interpreter—as well as a U.S. military dog. It is considered the worst loss of life in the Afghanistan campaign, surpassing Operation Red Wing
in 2005.
The 30 American deaths represent the greatest loss of U.S. military lives in a single incident in the decade-long war in Afghanistan
that began in 2001.
(DEVGRU), an elite unit of commando
s formerly known as SEAL Team Six. This unit is best known for having carried out the operation that killed Osama Bin Laden; however, none of those killed had participated in the Bin Laden operation, which was conducted by members of DEVGRU's Red Squadron. The other two Navy SEALs killed in the helicopter shootdown were from a West Coast-based SEAL unit.
Their deaths are believed to be the greatest single loss ever suffered by the U.S. special operations community in the 24-year history of the U.S. Special Operations Command, wiping out an entire troop
out of the three that make up SEAL Team Six
's Gold Squadron (Premier Squadron).
A source from the Navy's special operations community described the reaction as, "Shock and disbelief. There's no precedent for this. It's the worst day in our history by a mile."
The previous highest U.S. death toll from a single incident in the war had also come from a rocket attack on a Chinook helicopter carrying Navy SEALs during Operation Red Wings. On 28 June 2005, sixteen Navy SEALs and Army special operations troops were killed in Kunar province
when their Chinook transport helicopter was shot down by a Taliban rocket-propelled grenade, and three more SEALs were killed in fighting on the ground.
, was most likely brought down by a rocket-propelled grenade, according to military officials.
General Abdul Qayum, the police chief of Wardak, said the military helicopter was shot down around 1 am Saturday after a U.S. night assault on a house in the village of Jaw-e-Mekh Zareen in the Tangi Valley that had lasted at least two hours. Local witnesses reported that at least two helicopters had taken part in the U.S. special forces attack on the compound, killing eight Afghan insurgents, but that just after the helicopter had taken off again it was fired upon from a separate position. Shahidullah Shahid, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said: "The US chopper that crashed last night was shot down by the Taliban as it was taking off. A rocket fired by the insurgents hit it and completely destroyed it."
A spokesman for the Taliban, Zabiullah Mujahid
, confirmed that eight of the movement's fighters had been killed in the assault on the compound. He said: "They wanted to attack our Mujahideen
who were in a house, but our Mujahideen resisted and destroyed a helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade."
Other reports alleged that the Taliban had laid an elaborate trap for U.S. special operations forces, luring them in with false information. A senior Afghan government official, speaking anonymously, said that Taliban commander Qari Tahir had fed U.S. forces false information about a meeting of insurgent leaders and fighters waited for the helicopter from both sides of a steep valley: "The Taliban knew which route the helicopter would take. That's the only route, so they took position on either side of the valley on mountains and as the helicopter approached, they attacked it with rockets and other modern weapons. It was brought down by multiple shots."
who fired the rocket-propelled grenade had been killed only two days afterward in a Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon airstrike
, saying only that intelligence gained on the ground provided "a high degree of confidence" that the person was among those killed in the airstrike from two days earlier, but providing no other details.
During the same Pentagon
news conference in which he announced that the F-16 airstrike had taken out "less than 10" of the insurgents involved, ISAF
commander in Afghanistan John R. Allen
said the military investigation into the helicopter downing would also review whether small arms fire or other causes might have contributed to the downing.
Quick reaction force
Quick Reaction Force or is a military unit, generally platoon-sized in the United States Marine Corps, that is capable of rapid response to developing situations. They are to have equipment ready, to respond to any type of emergency, typically within ten minutes or less, although this is based on...
attempting to reinforce an engaged unit of Army Rangers in Wardak province
Wardak Province
Maidan Wardak Province is one of thirty four provinces of Afghanistan located in the central east region of Afghanistan. It has a population of approximately 540,100. The capital of the province is Maidan Shar...
, west of Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
, Afghanistan. The resulting crash killed all 38 people on board—25 American special operations personnel, five Army National Guard crewmen, seven Afghan commandos, and one Afghan interpreter—as well as a U.S. military dog. It is considered the worst loss of life in the Afghanistan campaign, surpassing Operation Red Wing
Operation Red Wing
Operation Red Wings was a failed counter-insurgent mission in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, involving four members of the United States Navy SEALs, which took place on June 28, 2005....
in 2005.
Deaths
The deaths included:- 22 U.S. Navy SOF personnel 20 of whom were from the Naval Special Warfare Development Group's (formerly known as SEAL Team Six) Gold Squadron
- 5 U.S. crew members from the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment244th Aviation Brigade (United States)The 244th Aviation Brigade is an aviation brigade of the United States Army.The brigade consists of a headquarters company, two general support aviation battalions, one fixed wing battalion, and an aviation maintenance company, as follows:...
and 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment2d Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment (United States)The 2nd Battalion 135th Aviation Regiment is an Army helicopter battalion which deployed to Iraq in September 2006 through August 2007 as part of Task Force Mustang, Operation Iraqi Freedom. The battalion flies the UH-60 Black Hawk, CH-47 Chinook and the OH-58 Kiowa... - 1 U.S. special operations Air Force Combat Controller from the 24th Special Tactics Squadron24th Special Tactics SquadronThe 24th Special Tactics Squadron is one of the Special Tactics units of the United States Air Force Special Operations Command .-Disposition:Based at Pope Air Force Base the 24th STS is among the premier Special Tactics Squadrons in the Air Force....
- 2 U.S. special operations Air Force Pararescuemen from the 24th Special Tactics Squadron
- 7 Afghan National Army special operations soldiers
- 1 Afghan civilian interpreter
- 1 U.S. military working dog
The 30 American deaths represent the greatest loss of U.S. military lives in a single incident in the decade-long war in Afghanistan
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
that began in 2001.
Blow to U.S. special operations forces
Fifteen of the Navy SEALs killed were members of the Naval Special Warfare Development GroupUnited States Naval Special Warfare Development Group
The United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group , commonly known as DEVGRU and informally by its former name SEAL Team Six , is one of the United States' four secretive counter-terrorism and Special Mission Units .The vast majority of information about DEVGRU is highly classified, and...
(DEVGRU), an elite unit of commando
Commando
In English, the term commando means a specific kind of individual soldier or military unit. In contemporary usage, commando usually means elite light infantry and/or special operations forces units, specializing in amphibious landings, parachuting, rappelling and similar techniques, to conduct and...
s formerly known as SEAL Team Six. This unit is best known for having carried out the operation that killed Osama Bin Laden; however, none of those killed had participated in the Bin Laden operation, which was conducted by members of DEVGRU's Red Squadron. The other two Navy SEALs killed in the helicopter shootdown were from a West Coast-based SEAL unit.
Their deaths are believed to be the greatest single loss ever suffered by the U.S. special operations community in the 24-year history of the U.S. Special Operations Command, wiping out an entire troop
Troop
A troop is a military unit, originally a small force of cavalry, subordinate to a squadron and headed by the troop leader. In many armies a troop is the equivalent unit to the infantry section or platoon...
out of the three that make up SEAL Team Six
United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group
The United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group , commonly known as DEVGRU and informally by its former name SEAL Team Six , is one of the United States' four secretive counter-terrorism and Special Mission Units .The vast majority of information about DEVGRU is highly classified, and...
's Gold Squadron (Premier Squadron).
A source from the Navy's special operations community described the reaction as, "Shock and disbelief. There's no precedent for this. It's the worst day in our history by a mile."
The previous highest U.S. death toll from a single incident in the war had also come from a rocket attack on a Chinook helicopter carrying Navy SEALs during Operation Red Wings. On 28 June 2005, sixteen Navy SEALs and Army special operations troops were killed in Kunar province
Kunar Province
Kunar is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, located in the northeastern part of the country. Its capital is Asadabad. It is one of the four "N2KL" provinces...
when their Chinook transport helicopter was shot down by a Taliban rocket-propelled grenade, and three more SEALs were killed in fighting on the ground.
Initial accounts
The U.S. military helicopter carrying special operations forces to a night-raid in the Tangi Valley of Wardak ProvinceWardak Province
Maidan Wardak Province is one of thirty four provinces of Afghanistan located in the central east region of Afghanistan. It has a population of approximately 540,100. The capital of the province is Maidan Shar...
, was most likely brought down by a rocket-propelled grenade, according to military officials.
General Abdul Qayum, the police chief of Wardak, said the military helicopter was shot down around 1 am Saturday after a U.S. night assault on a house in the village of Jaw-e-Mekh Zareen in the Tangi Valley that had lasted at least two hours. Local witnesses reported that at least two helicopters had taken part in the U.S. special forces attack on the compound, killing eight Afghan insurgents, but that just after the helicopter had taken off again it was fired upon from a separate position. Shahidullah Shahid, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said: "The US chopper that crashed last night was shot down by the Taliban as it was taking off. A rocket fired by the insurgents hit it and completely destroyed it."
A spokesman for the Taliban, Zabiullah Mujahid
Zabiullah Mujahid
Zabiullah Mujahid is one of the self proclaimed spokesmen for the Taliban who is believed to be hiding in Afghanistan. He has acted as a media conduit between the isolationist rebel forces and Western media teams. He was interviewed with his back towards the TV camera in early 2009 by CNN reporter...
, confirmed that eight of the movement's fighters had been killed in the assault on the compound. He said: "They wanted to attack our Mujahideen
Mujahideen
Mujahideen are Muslims who struggle in the path of God. The word is from the same Arabic triliteral as jihad .Mujahideen is also transliterated from Arabic as mujahedin, mujahedeen, mudžahedin, mudžahidin, mujahidīn, mujaheddīn and more.-Origin of the concept:The beginnings of Jihad are traced...
who were in a house, but our Mujahideen resisted and destroyed a helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade."
Later accounts
Subsequent reports stated that the U.S. military helicopter had been delivering reinforcements to U.S. Army Rangers, another special operations unit, when their night raid on a compound to kill or capture a senior Taliban leader went awry. During the battle US forces observed a small group of Taliban trying to flee the scene. The group probably contained the commander and a few of his bodyguards while the remaining Taliban fighters offered resistance in an effort to buy the group enough time to escape. In order to prevent this US forces called in for support.Other reports alleged that the Taliban had laid an elaborate trap for U.S. special operations forces, luring them in with false information. A senior Afghan government official, speaking anonymously, said that Taliban commander Qari Tahir had fed U.S. forces false information about a meeting of insurgent leaders and fighters waited for the helicopter from both sides of a steep valley: "The Taliban knew which route the helicopter would take. That's the only route, so they took position on either side of the valley on mountains and as the helicopter approached, they attacked it with rockets and other modern weapons. It was brought down by multiple shots."
Subsequent events
On 10 August 2011, the U.S. military claimed that the insurgentInsurgent
Insurgent, insurgents or insurgency can refer to:* The act of insurgency-Specific insurgencies:* Iraqi insurgency, uprising in Iraq* Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, uprising in India* Insurgency in North-East India...
who fired the rocket-propelled grenade had been killed only two days afterward in a Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon airstrike
Airstrike
An air strike is an attack on a specific objective by military aircraft during an offensive mission. Air strikes are commonly delivered from aircraft such as fighters, bombers, ground attack aircraft, attack helicopters, and others...
, saying only that intelligence gained on the ground provided "a high degree of confidence" that the person was among those killed in the airstrike from two days earlier, but providing no other details.
During the same Pentagon
Pentagon
In geometry, a pentagon is any five-sided polygon. A pentagon may be simple or self-intersecting. The sum of the internal angles in a simple pentagon is 540°. A pentagram is an example of a self-intersecting pentagon.- Regular pentagons :In a regular pentagon, all sides are equal in length and...
news conference in which he announced that the F-16 airstrike had taken out "less than 10" of the insurgents involved, ISAF
ISAF
ISAF may refer to:* International Sailing Federation, the world governing body for Olympic and other competitive sailing.* International Security Assistance Force, the NATO-led security mission operating in Afghanistan since 2001....
commander in Afghanistan John R. Allen
John R. Allen
John R. Allen is a United States Marine Corps four-star general. On 18 July 2011, General Allen assumed command of International Security Assistance Force as Commander, U.S. Forces Afghanistan , succeeding Army General David Petraeus.-Education:John R. Allen attended The Flint Hill School in...
said the military investigation into the helicopter downing would also review whether small arms fire or other causes might have contributed to the downing.
See also
- List of aviation accidents and incidents in the War in Afghanistan
- List of deadliest helicopter crashes
- 1994 Black Hawk shootdown incident1994 Black Hawk shootdown incidentThe 1994 Black Hawk shootdown incident, sometimes referred to as the Black Hawk Incident, was a friendly fire incident over northern Iraq that occurred on April 14, 1994 during Operation Provide Comfort...
External links
- For many Afghans, US helicopter crash confirms Taliban momentum, Christian Science Monitor, 7 August 2011
- Copter Downed by Taliban Fire; Elite U.S. Unit Among Dead, New York Times, 7 August 2011
- Afghan chopper crash a major blow to US commandos AFP, 8 August 2011
- Impact on special forces of Navy Seals helicopter loss BBC News, 8 August 2011
- US says Taliban who shot at US helicopter dead BBC News, 10 August 2011
- Photos of the Fallen WJLA ABC News, 8 August 2011
- {DoD releases the names of the fallen}: The stories of those who lost their lives in Chinook crash CNN, 12 August 2011
- Portraits of Navy Seals killed in Helicopter Crash Yahoo News, 12 August 2011