A tier one unit lost.

I'm back to the Chinook shoot down.

The strategic implications are shocking.  One of our two,  tier 1 Special Operations Units has been decimated in a single attack.

They will reconstitute.

The military always does.

But it does make you wonder about how we operate now.  Additionally, I would assume that the Afghan Special Ops people were some of the best that they had produced so we have a one two punch here.

Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha now assumes the lead.

Good luck guys.

22nd MEU at Summer Storm 2011 training with Romanian Marines.

All photos by Staff Sergeant Dwight Henderson.

Marines with Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, fire an M-240 machine gun during squad-attack, live-fire training aboard Capu Midia, Romania, Aug. 1, 2011. The training was part of the Summer Storm Amphibious Bilateral Exercise 11, a five-day exercise with Romanian marines from the 307th Marine Infantry Battalion meant to increase the interoperability between American and Romanian forces. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group serving as a potent, formidable and deterrent force who continues to train and improve their capability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Combat Element.

Lance Cpl. Eric T. Adams, a machine gunner and Daytona Beach, Fla., native with Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, fires an M-240G machine gun during squad-attack, live-fire training aboard Capu Midia, Romania, Aug. 1, 2011. The training was part of the Summer Storm Amphibious Bilateral Exercise 11, a five-day exercise with Romanian marines from the 307th Marine Infantry Battalion meant to increase the interoperability between American and Romanian forces. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group serving as a potent, formidable and deterrent force who continues to train and improve their capability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Combat Element.

Seaman Rodney K. Cohens, a corpsman and Chicago native with Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, fires his weapon during squad-attack, live-fire training aboard Capu Midia, Romania, Aug. 1, 2011. The training was part of the Summer Storm Amphibious Bilateral Exercise 11, a five-day exercise with Romanian Marines from the 307th Marine Infantry Battalion meant to increase the interoperability between American and Romanian forces. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group serving as a potent, formidable and deterrent force who continues to train and improve their capability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Combat Element.

Romanian marines with the 307th Marine Infantry Battalion show their AK-47 rifles to Marines with Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, during military operations in urban terrain training aboard Capu Midia, Romania, July 31, 2011. The training was part of the Summer Storm Amphibious Bilateral Exercise 11, a five-day exercise with Romanian marines from the 307th Marine Infantry Battalion meant to increase the interoperability between American and Romanian forces. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group serving as a potent, formidable and deterrent force who continues to train and improve their capability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Combat Element.

A Romanian marine with 307th Marine Infantry Battalion discusses military operations in urban terrain tactics, techniques and procedures with Marines from Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, during MOUT training aboard Capu Midia, Romania, July 31, 2011. The training was part of the Summer Storm Amphibious Bilateral Exercise 11, a five-day exercise with Romanian Marines from the 307th Marine Infantry Battalion meant to increase the interoperability between American and Romanian forces. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group serving as a potent, formidable and deterrent force who continues to train and improve their capability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Combat Element.

Marines with Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, fire their weapons during squad-attack, live-fire training aboard Capu Midia, Romania, Aug. 1, 2011. The training was part of the Summer Storm Amphibious Bilateral Exercise 11, a five-day exercise with Romanian marines from the 307th Marine Infantry Battalion meant to increase the interoperability between American and Romanian forces. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group serving as a potent, formidable and deterrent force who continues to train and improve their capability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Combat Element.

Cpl. Marlon Rutledge, a team leader and Modesto, Calif., native with Easy Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, signals to his team during squad-attack, live-fire training aboard Capu Midia, Romania, Aug. 1, 2011. The training was part of the Summer Storm Amphibious Bilateral Exercise 11, a five-day exercise with Romanian marines from the 307th Marine Infantry Battalion meant to increase the interoperability between American and Romanian forces. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group serving as a potent, formidable and deterrent force who continues to train and improve their capability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Combat Element.

Marines and equipment came ashore as part of the Summer Storm Amphibious Bilateral Exercise 11, a five-day exercise with Romanian marines from the 307th Marine Infantry Battalion meant to increase the interoperability between American and Romanian forces.

An amphibious assault vehicle attached to Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, comes ashore, aboard Capu Midia, Romania, July 31, 2011. Marines and equipment came ashore as part of the Summer Storm Amphibious Bilateral Exercise 11, a five-day exercise with Romanian marines from the 307th Marine Infantry Battalion meant to increase the interoperability between American and Romanian forces. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group serving as a potent, formidable and deterrent force who continues to train and improve their capability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Combat Element.

An amphibious assault vehicle attached to Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, comes ashore, aboard Capu Midia, Romania, July 31, 2011. Marines and equipment came ashore as part of the Summer Storm Amphibious Bilateral Exercise 11, a five-day exercise with Romanian marines from the 307th Marine Infantry Battalion meant to increase the interoperability between American and Romanian forces. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group serving as a potent, formidable and deterrent force who continues to train and improve their capability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Combat Element.

Navy SEALs/160th Night Stalkers suffer combat losses.

Major Hat Tip to Rohan.  via SkyNews.

The operators from Seal Team Six were being flown by a crew of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, according to US officials.
One source says the team was thought to include 22 Seals, three Air Force air controllers, seven Afghan Army troops, a dog and his handler, and a civilian interpreter, plus the helicopter crew.
Afghan officials at president Hamid Karzai's office said 31 US special forces and seven local soldiers died in the attack on the Chinook.
A senior US official has confirmed the helicopter was apparently shot down by insurgents.

Terrible news.

I wonder what the Insurgents have identified in our operations that have them getting so much success lately?

I also wonder if they are purposefully targeting only US helicopters or if  our allies are operating differently --- the last three helicopters to be shot down have all been by RPGs....have all been US and have all been Chinooks.

Something is off here.  I just can't put my finger on it.

UPDATE*
LEX is thinking along the lines of my previous post and with his experience in aviation I'm becoming more positive that these can't be RPG ambushes that our guys are flying into.  This from his blog but read the whole thing....

A night-time catastrophic hit with a “rocket” is pretty unlikely, unless that rocket had a guidance system, in which case we’d call it a Man Portable Air Defense System (MANPAD) rather than a rocket. The Stinger missiles that the US provided the Afghan mujahadin back in the 80′s are well beyond their service lives.
I’d sure like to know who is providing the Taliban this technology now, there’s a reckoning due.
Salute to fallen heroes, and prayers for those they left behind.

Once is an incident. Twice is pattern. Three times is concerted enemy activity.

Bad news from Afghanistan.  This from the morning ISAF Brief.

Helicopter Crashes in Eastern Afghanistan; Recovery Underway

ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan 2011-08-S-014For Immediate Release KABUL, Afghanistan (Aug. 6, 2011) – An International Security Assistance Force helicopter crashed in eastern Afghanistan today, and recovery operations are underway. ISAF is still in the process of assessing the circumstances to determine the facts of the incident, reporting indicates there was enemy activity in the area. Additional details will be released as appropriate.

My eyes flashed straight to the enemy activity in the area.

Of course they're not telling us everything but I just can't see our guys flying into RPG ambushes.  Maybe I'm being a homer but the main aviation unit in eastern Afghanistan---the 10th Aviation Combat Brigade---is no stranger to the area and has alot of experience operating there.

I don't expect ISAF to provide much more than they already have but I do wonder if we're not seeing anti-air missiles on a large scale being introduced into this conflict.  It would make sense with so many disappearing with the mess in Libya...the confusion in Egypt and the troubles with Iran.

Boxer variant...unknown.

Boxer variant...unknown.  I didn't even know they put the Puma turret on the Boxer and have absolutely no idea what they're calling it.  Love them or hate them but KMW is definitely a world leader in the armored vehicle industry.  I can't wait to see their offering for the Marine Personnel Carrier Program and wonder how they're going to make a 33 ton wheeled vehicle float.

Infantry Weapons and their Effects 1943

Tracks gets back to their roots.

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.-Marines with 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, ready themselves to enter the water in their amphibious assault vehicle during amphibious training operations aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., August 4, 2011. The Marines train each year to brush up on their old techniques and tactics, as well as learn new ones. During this operation, the Marines had the cooperation of USS Ponce, an Austin-Class amphibious transport dock, and USS Oak Hill, a Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship. After launching from the beach, the Marines boarded the ship with the help of their vehicles., Pvt. Brian M. Woodruff, 8/4/2011 4:26 AM

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.-Marines with 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, ready themselves to enter the water in their amphibious assault vehicles during amphibious training operations aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., August 4, 2011. The Marines train each year to brush up on their old techniques and tactics, as well as learn new ones. During this operation, the Marines had the cooperation of USS Ponce, an Austin-Class amphibious transport dock, and USS Oak Hill, a Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship. After launching from the beach, the Marines boarded the ship with the help of their vehicles. , Pvt. Brian M. Woodruff, 8/4/2011 4:27 AM

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.-Marines with 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, prepare to enter the water in their amphibious assault vehicle during amphibious training operations aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., August 4, 2011. The Marines train each year to brush up on their old techniques and tactics, as well as learn new ones. During this operation, the Marines had the cooperation of USS Ponce, an Austin-Class amphibious transport dock, and USS Oak Hill, a Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship. After launching from the beach, the Marines boarded the ship with the help of their vehicles. , Pvt. Brian M. Woodruff, 8/4/2011 4:15 AM

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.-Marines with 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, enter the water in their amphibious assault vehicle during amphibious training operations aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., August 4, 2011. The Marines train each year to brush up on their old techniques and tactics, as well as learn new ones. During this operation, the Marines had the cooperation of USS Ponce, an Austin-Class amphibious transport dock, and USS Oak Hill, a Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship. After launching from the beach, the Marines boarded the ship with the help of their vehicles. , Pvt. Brian M. Woodruff, 8/4/2011 4:22 AM

The update that wasn't...

Well.

The Dark Lord is at it again.  Read Bill's latest here.  But as always, here's a tidbit....

Flight and ground tests of the 20-strong F-35 Joint Strike Fighter force could be suspended “for a few weeks,” according to an industrial source close to the program, after the secondary power system of F-35A AF-4, a USAF-variant test aircraft, failed on Aug. 2 at Edwards AFB, Calif., during a ground maintenance engine run. However, another government source says that foreign object damage has not yet been ruled out, and notes that such a finding would allow a more rapid return to flight. A clearer picture is expected to emerge next week

Two sources.

One an industrial source that says that the plane might be grounded for weeks.

The other a government source that says that they don't know but will have a better idea next week.

Long story short.

We don't know yet.

But on Bill's original blog post on this story he posts this update...

Update:  Program officials are preparing for a long stand-down, measured in weeks. We should know more next week. Foreign object damage hasn't been ruled out, in which case the program will breathe a large sigh of relief and move on. But if it's not FOD....

Just plain wow.

Nope.  That ain't strong enough.

JUST FUCKING WOW.

The Jihad continues.  Death to the F-35 (according to Sweetman)...Long live the Eurofighter!

PS.

Will someone in Lockheed Martin, the USAF, US Navy, USMC or the Joint Strike Fighter Program Office find out who this bastard is that's talking to Sweetman and keel haul his sorry behind.  How many times do you give your enemy a chance to punch you in the face before you finally wise up!  Geez!