ANACONDA was botched from the moment, 36 hours earlier, that special recon reported to the operations chief for ANACONDA, telling him that he had personally seen that the satellite intel they received was wrong. Taliban were dug in on the sides of the valley - good for shooting down helos - and there was plenty of Taliban artillery whereas the satellite intel showed none. What's more, Taku Gar was held by numerous enemy. The ops chief said it was too late to change the operation.
So America's best of the best, SEALs, DELTA, SOF, Rangers and infantry enter the valley and get way more than they planned for. On Taku Gar, we landed not one CH-47 (the first SEAL team), not two CH-47s (Slabinski's), but THREE CH-47s (Ranger QRF from Bagram) almost in the same place in the middle of interlocking fires near the top of Taku Gar. I still shake with anger about this incredibly idiotic operation that should have been delayed.
Oh, and I forgot to mention that the CG of the op had a beef with USAF, and didn't read them in until the last minute, when they couldn't get their planes into the fight. So no CAS other than helos. Dear God, we should weep at such incompetence.
I’ve always heard that referred to as the battle of Roberts Ridge in Operation Anaconda. And yes it was FUBAR. Still congrats to the Chief for recognition
ANACONDA was botched from the moment, 36 hours earlier, that special recon reported to the operations chief for ANACONDA, telling him that he had personally seen that the satellite intel they received was wrong. Taliban were dug in on the sides of the valley - good for shooting down helos - and there was plenty of Taliban artillery whereas the satellite intel showed none. What's more, Taku Gar was held by numerous enemy. The ops chief said it was too late to change the operation.
So America's best of the best, SEALs, DELTA, SOF, Rangers and infantry enter the valley and get way more than they planned for. On Taku Gar, we landed not one CH-47 (the first SEAL team), not two CH-47s (Slabinski's), but THREE CH-47s (Ranger QRF from Bagram) almost in the same place in the middle of interlocking fires near the top of Taku Gar. I still shake with anger about this incredibly idiotic operation that should have been delayed.
Oh, and I forgot to mention that the CG of the op had a beef with USAF, and didn't read them in until the last minute, when they couldn't get their planes into the fight. So no CAS other than helos. Dear God, we should weep at such incompetence.
I’ve always heard that referred to as the battle of Roberts Ridge in Operation Anaconda. And yes it was FUBAR. Still congrats to the Chief for recognition