Thursday, August 19, 2021
We've got to get the Order Of Battle for the siege of Karzai Airport together...
Jon (a reader of this blog) put together the Order Of Battle for the siege of Karzai Airport. Let's see if you're as stunned as I was by the number of forces on the ground...
From what I gather the orbat is:-Commander, US Forces Afghanistan (a SEAL Rear Admiral)--82nd Airborne Division HQ---Airborne brigade from the 82nd----3x Airborne battalions----Infantry battalion from the 10th Mountain (original embassy security force)---5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade----Marine battalion from the 24th MEU----Marine battalion from CENTCOM SPMAGTF----Minnesota Army National Guard battalion---elements of an Army Combat Aviation Brigade (Black Hawks, Chinooks, Apaches)UK ParatroopersOver watch provided by Carrier Air Wing 5 flying off the Reagan CSG and other 9th Air Force assets
Back of the napkin, OLD SKOOL calculations would have this being at LEAST Regiment sized.
That's alot of infantry on the ground and it leaves out security forces that allied air forces are bringing with them to safeguard their aircraft/aircrew.
Additionally it leaves out the Special Ops bubbas that have flowed into country to do only God knows what.
If you're dismissive of the way the Pentagon handled this situation (and how could you be when they have to follow the orders of civilian leadership that is at best arrogant and at worst stupid as fuck) then at least be impressed by how quickly they flowed this many personnel to the scene.
Personally I'm beyond impressed.
NOTE. I stand ready to make any corrections to this list. If you have different info then hit me up. Another thing. Is it Brit Paratroops or the entire 16 Air Assault?
10th Mountain and 82nd Airborne running security at Karzai Airport...
AFGHANISTAN: Our Immediate Response Force elements, including troops from @10MTNDIV and @82ndABNDiv, are providing security at the Hamid Karzai International Airport to assist the US @StateDept with an orderly withdrawal of designated personnel. pic.twitter.com/8k0o2TwZuz
— XVIII Airborne Corps (@18airbornecorps) August 18, 2021
I have to wonder if we're entering a period like in the 70's and 80's. The US military was gearing up for a big armored fight thru the Fulda Gap and the next war was actually in the deserts of the Middle East. Small wars everywhere. Never the fight we were actually prepping for.
Sidenote. Are the Marines gonna remain at the airport or are they flying in more brigades from the 10th & 82nd to relieve them for other missions?
SecDef says we can't go out and grab US citizens caught in Afghanistan...
He tossed me for a loop with his effort to clarify the question.SEC AUSTIN: "We don't have the capability to go out and collect large numbers of people." pic.twitter.com/k4cZESUav2
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) August 18, 2021
Idiot reporter did not help because her follow-up question was just as murky as the first.
The SecDef seems to be hanging alot on the word "in-extremis" and I think she was pushing more to the idea of negotiated escorts of Americans to the airfield.
I think its pretty clear that many are gonna be left behind. They MIGHT extend this thing past the 31st but its gonna be lipstick on a pig.
For show only.
But I believe something is brewing because Special Ops is on the ground now so they might make a run to pick up some high value people that are stuck deep in country (that would carry CRAZY risks though...once word reaches the Taliban in Kabul then you can bet they'll start mortaring the airport...especially if the Special Ops bubbas start filling body bags).
Wednesday, August 18, 2021
Evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport
Marines of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) process Department of State personnel for evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, August 15. U.S. Soldiers and Marines are assisting the Department of State with an orderly drawdown of designated personnel in Afghanistan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Isaiah Campbell)
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