Battle of Takur Ghar

Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001-present)

Date	4–5 March 2002
Location	Takur Ghar
Result	Coalition Victory

Belligerents

United States

Australia

Afghanistan

Taliban insurgents

Al-Qaeda

Commanders and leaders

Brigadier General Gregory Trebon

Lieutenant Colonel Blaber

Saifurrahman Mansoor

Strength

1 SEAL team (DEVGRU)

1 Army Ranger platoon

3 Airmen

1 or 2 Australian SAS teams

4 MH-47 Chinooks

1 AC-130 gunship

Two F-15Es

Two F-16s

1 CIA armed Predator drone

500–1,000 Al-Qaeda Fighters

Casualties and losses

3 Rangers
1 SEAL
2 Airmen
1 SOAR
Total: 7
2 Chinooks lost

20 Al-Qaeda Fighters

The Battle of Takur Ghar was a short but intense military engagement between United States special operations forces and al Qaeda insurgents fought in March 2002, atop Takur Ghar mountain in Afghanistan. For the U.S. side, the battle proved the deadliest entanglement of Operation Anaconda, an effort early in the war in Afghanistan to rout al Qaeda forces from the Shahi-Kot Valley and Arma Mountains. The battle saw three helicopter landings by the U.S. on the mountain top, each greeted by direct assault from al Qaeda forces. Although Takur Ghar was eventually taken, seven U.S. service members were killed and many wounded. The battle is also known as the Battle of Roberts Ridge, after the first casualty of the battle, Navy SEAL Neil C. Roberts.

In the evening of March 3 2002, the Task Force 11 leadership essentially ordered the Delta Force AFO commander to pass control of the AFO teams involved in the Operation Anaconda to the SEALs of Task Force Blue-who were moving teams in from Bagram to Gardez for this purpose. The SEALs were not heavily involved in the Operation up to this point but the TF11 commander bluntly ordered their deployment as well as changing the immediate command in an ongoing operation, possibly so that the SEALs could gain combat experience.

In the late evening of March 3, two SEAL teams from DEVGRU, MAKO 30 & MAKO 21, were to arrive in Gardez for immediate insertion into the Shahi-Kot Valley. MAKO 21 planned to link up with AFO team Juliet at the northern end of the valley, resupply it and then establish a hide site/observation post on the eastern ridge above Task Force Rakkasan's blocking position; whilst MAKO 30 planned to establish an observation point on the peak of Takur Ghar, which commanded a view of the Shahi-Kot valley. Due to time constraints, a helicopter insertion would be needed for the team to reach the peak before dawn. The AFO suggested insertion at a point 1,400 meters (4,300 ft) east of the peak, but due to a delayed B-52 bomber sortie in the area, the team was told to turn back and land at the airstrip near Gardez. Further complications arose during the second lift off as they were delayed due to an air assault in proximity of the LZ. With the threat of daylight getting near, the SEALs chose the peak itself as the insertion point.

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Wikipedia