Post; Operation Anaconda ( The battle of Takur Ghar)

Warwick · March 9th, 2005

Artillery is no good where they operated as the terrain is so mountainous and riddled with gullies.
At the time of the battle/ operation this was at the disposal of the forces present:
AC-C130 Spectre gunship, US Marine Hornets, french Mirages stationed in Manas, USN F-18s, F-14 Tomcats form carriers off Pakistan , And A-10 warthogs based in Bagram.
They could also call in B-52s and B-1bs from Diego Garcia.
All this was layed down in the mission briefings.
The main problem to me was a lack of understanding of the intel collected by various patrols that the enemy was in large numbers and prepared to stand and fight, not run away.
Major general Hagenbrook tried to stick the intiial insertion on an enemy occupied ridge (Takur Ghar) which led to the chopper being hit and Roberts falling out and being left behind.
The Australian SAS patrol wher ein an OP where they had a ringside view of events and from there co ordianted Airstrikes, relief forces and on site intel back to HQ.
Anaconda was a big ambitous operation to bring the Al-Qa'ida to battle by running them into well prepared blocking forces and destroying them.
Instead they stood, reinforced and fought back, ultimately withdrawing , badly chewed up an exhausted fighting force.
Funny that the Afghan troops pissed off pretty quick before the battle proper?
Cheers.

March 9th, 2005
Warwick Centurion	Post; Operation Anaconda ( The battle of Takur Ghar) Artillery is no good where they operated as the terrain is so mountainous and riddled with gullies. At the time of the battle/ operation this was at the disposal of the forces present: AC-C130 Spectre gunship, US Marine Hornets, french Mirages stationed in Manas, USN F-18s, F-14 Tomcats form carriers off Pakistan , And A-10 warthogs based in Bagram. They could also call in B-52s and B-1bs from Diego Garcia. All this was layed down in the mission briefings. The main problem to me was a lack of understanding of the intel collected by various patrols that the enemy was in large numbers and prepared to stand and fight, not run away. Major general Hagenbrook tried to stick the intiial insertion on an enemy occupied ridge (Takur Ghar) which led to the chopper being hit and Roberts falling out and being left behind. The Australian SAS patrol wher ein an OP where they had a ringside view of events and from there co ordianted Airstrikes, relief forces and on site intel back to HQ. Anaconda was a big ambitous operation to bring the Al-Qa'ida to battle by running them into well prepared blocking forces and destroying them. Instead they stood, reinforced and fought back, ultimately withdrawing , badly chewed up an exhausted fighting force. Funny that the Afghan troops pissed off pretty quick before the battle proper? Cheers.