Worst Day of War: 22 from Navy SEAL Team 6 Killed

Tabnabs

A NATO chinook helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan during an overnight operation in eastern Afghanistan, the New York Times reports, killing at least 37 people on board. At least 31 U.S. soldiers were killed, as well as seven Afghan soldiers, a statement from the Afghan president's office said. If confirmed, this would be the deadliest day for the U.S. since the start of the war.

This is what happened, as far as we know: The helicopter was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade in the Tangi Valley of the Wardak Province just west of Kabul. According to Al-Jazeera, the Taliban "quickly claimed to have shot down the helicopter during a firefight." They also said eight of their fighters were killed in the fighting. A spokesman for the Taliban, Zabiullah Mujahid, said insurgents shot down the helicopter around 11 p.m. Friday as it was starting an operation on a house where the militants were gathering, the Times reports. Sources on the ground also told Al Jazeera "that the helicopter was apparently taking off from a roof of a building during this operation when it then crashed."

However, reports are conflicting. Gen. Abdul Qayum Baqizoy, police chief of Wardak, said the operation began around 1 a.m. Saturday as NATO and Afghan forces attacked a Taliban compound, and the firefight lasted at least two hours. Reports are also unconfirmed as to the nationality of the NATO soldiers killed, but the Times notes that "Americans were known to be carrying out most of the operations in the area." But if confirmed, the U.S. casualties would outnumber those in June 2005, the second most deadly day, where 16 U.S. troops were killed when their helicopter crashed in eastern Kunar province after apparently being hit by a rocket-propelled grenade.

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2011/08/deadliest-day-war-25-navy-seals-killed-afghanistan/40917/

This story is still developing, but for those who need reminding, these Navy SEALs are from the unit that killed Osama bin Laden. So a very significant "victory" for the Taliban.

RMD

This will be a serious propaganda victory for the Taliban. The Seals themselves are an outstanding Special Forces as it is, but Seal Team 6 are the elite of the Seals.

Evade

Not only is it a propaganda win for the Taliban it will probably put a huge operational strain on Team 6. If they have a similar structure to the other teams they could have lost about 15% of Team 6.

Rawhead

It might not be DEVGRU, it may be a regular SEAL team. I don't think that the Tier 1 units work with ANA at any level and it looks like there were a few of them on board. Either way its a serious loss and RIP all killed.

mcko

It is about time that the West admits they have lost and leave, I feel sorry the families but you live by the sword you die by it. The US should stop invading other countries and they would not be hated as much.

Topper Harley

There is a conspiracy theory that SEAL Team 6 were killed in the helicopter crash that happened when Osama was killed and that they were just tagged on to this crash to cover that up. It wouldn't have been such a great victory for the US to admit it at the time.

Another conspiracy theory is that Osama wasn't killed and that this is to ensure that those involved can never tell the real story.

I don't want to sound like a nutcase conspiracy theorist but the first one sounds like an actual possibility.

Although,

None of the deceased participated in the SEALs mission that killed Bin Laden, but they were from the same unit as the team that carried out the raid.

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/193697/20110806/seal-team-6-members-perish-when-taliban-shoot-down-nato-helicopter.htm

mcko wrote: »

It is about time that the West admits they have lost and leave, I feel sorry the families but you live by the sword you die by it. The US should stop invading other countries and they would not be hated as much.

Look at what happened when the US didn't get involved in Rawanda in 1994 after getting their fingers burned too many times. An estimated 800,000 deaths. I'm not suggesting that they went into Afghanistan to prevent genocide but I don't think 'The West' is the evil that you seem to think it is. There are people in these invaded countries that actually welcome the US and UN, as life was no bed of roses for many people under some regimes.

Sorry for going off topic.

Stev_o

I don't know, being shot down in the middle of the night. Either it was still very bright or someone got a lucky shot off. Will be interesting to hear what they say. But 31 SEAL's dead is a tragedy, if you know how much is invested these guys just to become SEAL's let alone Team 6 it's a huge burden on the SEAL's resources.

iceage

That's a serious blow. RIP to them all.

Jaafa

I wonder how they shot it down. If it was in the middle of the night it was hardly a lucky RPG shot.

The Taliban have said they have some sort of new tech and while we know they are prone to exaggeration I think this claim should be taken seriously.

Edit:Scratch that according to this report the Taliban have claimed it was a RPG and the helicopter was taking off from a roof when it happened. An easier target than thought then. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2011/08/201187135638374809.html

constantg

Jaafa wrote: »

I wonder how they shot it down. If it was in the middle of the night it was hardly a lucky RPG shot.

The Taliban have said they have some sort of new tech and while we know they are prone to exaggeration I think this claim should be taken seriously.

Edit:Scratch that according to this report the Taliban have claimed it was a RPG and the helicopter was taking off from a roof when it happened. An easier target than thought then. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2011/08/201187135638374809.html

quite a heavy bit of kit to park on a mud rooftop in afghanistan doncha think? plus generally not how chinooks do it either, usually hover to deploy and exfil in open areas with apaches in overwatch...

Im thinking SAM, probably russian or waarsaw pact, but a helluva shot for an rpg man....

Zambia

I saw the danger and I passed
Along the enchanted way
And said let grief be a fallen leaf
At the dawning of the day

RIP