The End of Operation Red Wings

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The movie "Lone Survivor", which has just been released in the USA, is based on a true story that happened on June 28, 2005, in the Kunar Province near the Pakistani-Afghan border. A four-man team of Navy SEALs was tasked with a reconnaissance mission. The target of the mission was the Taliban leader Ahmad Shah, who was protected by 10 to 30 fighters. Ahmad Shah had between 200 and 250 armed Taliban fighters under his command, known as the "Mountain Tigers", who carried out attacks against the international coalition forces of "Operation Enduring Freedom". The four-man team's mission was to locate Shah, prepare and/or execute a "Capture or Kill Mission". "Capture or Kill Missions" are common orders against "High Value Targets" (HVT). If the targets surrender, they are captured and brought to trial. If they resist, their death is accepted.

The team (seen in the main image above) consisted of the team leader Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy, Sonar Technician 2nd Class (SEAL) Matthew G. Axelson, Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class (SEAL) Danny P. Dietz, and Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class (SEAL) Marcus Luttrell, the later author of "Lone Survivor".

After being inserted via Fast Roping under the code name SPARTAN 01, the team encountered a similar fate to that of SAS Paroullie B20 in the Second Gulf War in 1991. The men ran into a "Soft Compromise", civilian reconnaissance. The team was spotted by a shepherd boy leading his goats to graze.

After capturing the boy, the team had to make a fateful decision: release or kill the boy. The latter was not an option, as he was not a combatant. The boy was released, and the team moved into the "Escape and Recovery" (E&R) phase to be picked up by their own forces, such as CSAR forces.

The simultaneous loss of communication with their own forces was significant. Due to the high altitude nature of the Hindu Kush, no Line of Sight connection could be established. Line of Sight means direct contact with the satellite. The only remaining connection was a conventional satellite phone.

The Taliban forces alerted by the shepherd boy pursued SPARTAN 01. The "Mountain Tigers", who were local to the region, managed to outflank the SEALs. They were trapped in a classic three-sided ambush and were almost all wiped out except for M. Luttrell (pictured on the left, with actors during the filming of "Lone Survivor").

Marcus Luttrell was found by villagers and subjected to the "Pashto-Wali", the Pashtun tribal law. It requires providing food and protection to the "guest", even by the entire village community with force. The Taliban constantly abuse the "Pashto-Wali", leading to their success in Afghanistan. They can move lightly and receive food, shelter, and protection in every village.

The tables were turned. The village turned against the Taliban. This did not lead to a firefight, but to robust negotiations, in which Luttrell was "visited" in the village.

The villagers were aware of their situation and tried to escort Luttrell out of the village at night. A RANGER unit, pushing through to the SEALs' position, was informed. Luttrell was evacuated at night by a PJ unit from the "Air Force National Guard" with "Night Hawk" helicopters.

The failed operation had major consequences. Concurrent with the firefight, a hastily assembled "Quick Reaction Force" (QRF) of Navy SEALs and 160 SOAR "Night Stalkers" came under fire in their "Chinook" helicopter. The helicopter, without escort, flew to assist the wounded SEALs. The helicopter crashed, and all occupants (16 men) were killed. The heaviest loss in Afghanistan at that time. Also significant was the loss of the SEALs' equipment, which included laptops, maps, and identification documents, sensitive data they were carrying.

All mission procedures, from planning to implementation, were completely revised. All "Safe Houses", camps, access permissions were generated ad hoc. Everything in the field was changed, from tactical troop movements to "Forward Air Controlling", a necessary intervention in the entire operation management.

Fixed QRFs and newly formed "Immediate Reaction Forces" (IRF), able to intervene even faster, were established and maintained. In the field of reconnaissance, long-demanded drone technology was restructured and deployed. The generation of reconnaissance results was increased and improved. The KUNAR region is one of the hottest regions in Afghanistan. In 2005, this region was nearly unknown but later came under intense scrutiny. The "Anti Coalition Movement" (ACM) was specially considered there. On August 6, 2011, the heaviest loss of the "Special Warfare Community" would occur in the same region: A helicopter with 22 SEALs on board was shot down. Members of this SEAL team - belonging to the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU) - had eliminated Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan months earlier (HERE is the best article on the topic).

All bodies of the deployed soldiers from both operations were recovered in the following days and repatriated to the USA.

Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy was posthumously awarded the "Congressional Medal of Honor". He had exposed himself in open terrain during the battle to call for help and support via satellite phone. Despite being wounded multiple times, he continued until he was fatally shot.

In the end, it was the lacking or faulty enemy reconnaissance that led SPARTAN 01 into a hornet's nest.

Recommended background reading:

Bravo Two Zero

Lone Survivor (HERE our book review)

Not a good day to die

SEAL of Honor

http://youtu.be/qmBf6WvwQt0

Here is a map view of the operational area.