Operation Rhino

Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2014)

Ranger parachute drop on objective "Rhino."

Date	19–20 October 2001 (1 day)
Location	Kandahar, Afghanistan
Result	U.S. victory

Belligerents

United States

Taliban

Commanders and leaders

Colonel Joseph Votel

Strength

200 Army Rangers

Unknown

Casualties and losses

Few casualties, 2 killed in a helicopter crash while on standby for CSAR.

N/A

Operation Rhino was a raid led by the United States Army's 75th Ranger Regiment (3rd Ranger Battalion), who were led by Colonel Joseph Votel, and the 101st Airborne Division on several Taliban targets in and around Kandahar, Afghanistan during the invasion of Afghanistan at the start of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2014).

The Ranger's objectives were to:

On the night of October 19, 2001, before the Rangers dropped, several targets on and around the objective were targeted by U.S. air power, first by bombs dropped from B-2 stealth bombers, then by fire from orbiting AC-130 aircraft. These air strikes resulted in a number of enemy KIAs and several enemy fleeing the area. Following the air strikes, the 4 MC-130 Combat Talon aircraft flew over the drop zone at 800 feet. In zero illumination, 199 Rangers proceeded to exit the MC-130s.

Led by a small pathfinder team to mark the DZ (Drop Zone), a company-sized element of approximately 200 Rangers from 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, parachuted from four Lockheed MC-130 aircraft towards a desert landing strip south of the city on an "objective Rhino".AC-130 gunships remained orbiting over the DZ in case the Rangers ran into trouble; the Rangers met almost no resistance (a solitary Taliban fighter attempted to engage the Rangers but was quickly shot and killed).

Once on the ground, A Company, 3/75 Rangers, cleared several objectives, code-named TIN and IRON, without resistance. C Company moved out towards a walled compound, code-named objective COBALT. PSYOP specialists from the 9th Psychological Operations Battalion, broadcast messages on loud speakers in an attempt to coax any defenders to surrender but it was soon established that the compound was empty. With the landing strip secured, a MC-130 landed with medical personnel from JSOCs JMAU proceeded to treat 2 Rangers who had been injured during the jump.

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Wikipedia