Defense Tech has been doing some document exploitation over the last couple of days to help provide some interesting tidbits to our readers from the release of US military reports dumped by WikiLeaks. We know you're all busy, so our team will keep reading them so you don't have to.
In our first couple of scrapes, we noticed some pretty intensive use by SOF of the AC-130 gunship. In the following excerpt, check out the amount of ordnance expended during their gun runs...
Hell hath no fury like a Spectre scorned.
(17957)At 1300Z TF Bushmaster reported the enemy ambushed an ANA convoy SE of FOB Tagab at the mouth of the Tagab Valley. The ANA reportedly detained multiple enemy.
At 1538z TF Bushmaster reported recieving SAF from 2x pax w/AKs
1700Z SE 44 TAKING RPG AND SMALL ARMS FIRE, CAS REQUESTED AND WILL BE PROVIDED BY F-18s, 1725Z MIRAGE WILL BE ON STATION, LOCATED AT CHECK POINT 4, 1724Z CAS AND JTAC ATTEMPTING TO GAIN CONTACT, 1747Z SE 44 JTAC IS IN CONTACT WITH AIRCRAFT, 1744Z JTAC IS IN CONTACT WITH CAS WHICH IS 2 F-18s, 1813Z AC-130 IS SCREENING THE ROUTE TO SE 44s FRONT, 1830Z SE 44 JTAC HAS RELEASED F-18s, 1830Z A-C130 IS ENGAGING TARGETS, 1833Z SE 44 IS BEING ENGAGED WITH SAF AND RPG AT LOCATION 42S WD 599 614, 1848Z SE 44 IS IN A LINEAR AMBUSH AT THIS TIME, 1854Z LEAD ELEMENT OF SE 44 CONVOY FOUND AN IED, SE 44 WILL MARK IT WITH A CHEM LIGHT AND C-130 WILL DESTROY IT WITH DIRECT FIRE, LOCATION OF IED IS 42S WD 590 607, 1931Z SE 44 MOVING BACK TO FIRE BASE LOCATION IS 42S WD 59563 60670, 1934Z AC-130 (SLASHER) REPORTS ESTIMATED 27 ENEMY KIA, IED WAS DESTROYED AND CAUSED NO DAMAGE, 2008Z SE 44 CALLED IN AT CHECK POINT TWO WITH NO FRIENDLY BDA AND APPROXIMATELY 4K UNTIL THEY REACH FIRE BASE TAGAB, 2036Z SE 44 HAS REACHED CP1, 2039 AC-130 EXPENDED 202 X 40MM ROUNDS AND 52 X 105MM ROUNDS, 2049Z SE 44 HAS RETURNED TO FIRE BASE TAGAB AND CALLED TIC COMPLETE
...and this one...
(19981)At 1448Z TF Bushmaster reported 12 enemy attempting to break contact 3km northeast of Camp Echo. CAS has been requested and B1B arrived on station at 1510Z to support. B1 dropped 2 GBU 38s and 1 GBU 31. AC-130 arrived on station at 1600Z. QRF was launched. TF Bushmaster cleared caves and discovered caches. At 1800Z the AC130 engaged targets. At 1830Z F-15s arrived on station and the AC-130 departed for refueling. At 1840Z Gunship reported 16 to 20 enemy KIA and 10 enemy motorcycles destroyed. At 1940Z the AC-130 was back on station and engaged motorcycles. At 2010Z TF Bushmaster conducted SSE and located another 2 EKIA. At 0010Z TIC complete. Total enemy KIA was 24. No friendly BDA. ISAF Tracking# 04-245.
There were also some interesting AARs on improvized bombs and suicide vests with very detailed descriptions of how they're made and what the explosives are...
(7957)At 0340Z, TF Wolfpack received a report from NDS. NDS reported 3 suicide bombers were in the village of Metakhan Soh in the Mando Zayi district 17 KM West of Khowst City. As one of the bombers attempted to attach the device to himself, it detonated killing him and wounding the 2 others. The 2x injured individuals are fleeing to Pakistan in an unkown vehicle using the Torkubay road, and PCC is unable to locate the road on their map. These 2x individuals are believed to be traveling towards BCP4. At 0420Z, TF Wolfpack reported that PCC reports the vehicle is yellow, with license plate #2265 and traveling on an improved road S of Gurbuz to Bori Khal that leads to Pakistan. Authorities in the area have been notified. At 0615Z, NDS reported that KPF arrested an injured LN Male at BSP 3. They believe he is one of the suicide bombers who was wounded earlier today. At 1035Z, ODA reported that KPF brought three detainees, one of whom was wounded and believed to be the 3rd suicide bomber to FOB Chapman. One individual is critically wounded and is being ground CASEVAC''d to FOB Salerno for treatment. ODA has questioned the other two individuals and believe that there is not enough to keep in detention. ODA will turn over the other two to NDS. [UPDATED ON 05/02/2006 0048]:
...when bombmaking goes wrong, huh?
And this one...
(50018)SNAPSHOT OF CIRCUMSTANCES HOW INCIDENT OCCURRED (FACTS): On 052220ZFEB09 755A EOD TM8 was tasked to respond to two IEDs turned in at FOB Fortress. The IED was stored at 42S XD 78702 42631. Team ensured the IED was safe and collected forensics. The first IED was a suicide vest with two pockets. One pockets contained 1ea Russian RGD5 Hand Grenade with an UZRG fuze. It also had an electric blasting cap with red & green wires connected to the blue & white wires running through the vest. The other pocket contained 1ea Russian O-832 82MM mortar with UBE and a 14.5MM bullet in the nose well. Both pockets contained UBE, approximately 20-LBS (identified as Sulfur Powder 77% & Phosphorus pentabromide 23% in the Ahura) with pieces of small metal for fragmentation. The other IED was 2 bottoms from North Korean AT Landmines, ATM-72, merged together. Inside was approximately 20-LBS of UBE (identified as Ammonium nitrate 80.7%/Silver Nitrate 6.5%/Ammonium Carbonate 5.3% in the Ahura) and 1ea electric blasting cap with red & green wires. Team ensured all items were safe, removed initiators from explosives, and collected forensics to turn over to CEXCE. RECOVERED ITEMS: Vest (1), UBE (1), Russian RGD5 hand Grenade w/ fuze (1), Russian O-832 82MM Mortar (1), plastic bags (4), blasting cap (2), ATM-72 bottom halves (2), tape, wires
And here's an interesting one showing some sophistication in how the Taliban is building, detonating and implanting IEDs:
(72866)11/15/2009TF STEEL REPORTS AN IED FIND AT GRID WB 79646 87883. BDA: NO INJURIES OR DAMAGES TO REPORT.UNIT: 2-377 (TF STEEL)
TYPE: IED
WHO: TRIDENT 32
WHERE: WB 79646 87883
REPORT:0508Z
*******SALTR********
S- UNK
A- LAND MINES PLACED
L-WB 79646 87883
T-0507
R- TRIDENT 32 REPORTS THAT THEY HAVE FOUND MINES ATTACHED TO AN ANA VEHICLE WITH A CELLULAR DEVICE ATTACHED TO MINES.******SALT**********
UPDATE:0709Z ANA CONDUCTED A CONTROLLED DET BEFORE EOD ARRIVED, NO PBA CONDUCTED
CLOSED 0710Z
While lots of papers and reports centered on how the US/Pakistan relationship didn't work, here's an example of how just picking up the Bat Phone stopped the bullets from flying...
(21591)At 0949Z, per telephone conversation between CJTF-82 CHOPS and J3, 11th Corps (PAKMIL), all firing had ceased along the border IVO BSP 12. The cease fire had been holding for 30 minutes prior to the call. The 11th Corps J3 requested an immediate Border Flag Meeting between PAKMIL, ANSF, and coalition forces. We are currently working to facilitate a meeting between the on-scene PAKMIL and ANSF commanders as well as Diablo 6.The cease fire was brokered using a number of different paths. CJTF-82 CHOPS contacted ISAF to begin engaging IRoA government, particularly the MOI to implement a cease fire by the ANSF. We also used our PRD LNO at CSTC-A to engage the senior mentors for the MOI. We also contacted the Pakistan LNO in Islamabad to work of cease fire by the PAKMIL. The Commander, CJTF-82 also engaged the MOD.
At 0430Z TF Bushmaster reported the ABP and Pakmil were involved in a direct fire engagement near BSP 11. Bushmaser observed from FB Chamkani. No US forces involved. ISAF Tracking# 05-271
There's been a lot of talk about how the WikiLeaks document dump has cause harm to US national security and may have endangered lives in the field. I tend to agree with most critics that the military classifies way too much information basically in the "better safe than sorry" mentality. Well, we did run across several instances where reports name names and could either endanger the lives of those named or imperil US intelligence operations by revealing that that person was captured and interrogated...
(22358)At 0528Z TF Bushmaster reported that 3 MVTs Mullah Salim, Mohamad and Mullah Abdula are in SC 23''S immediate AO(w/in 3-5k) and planning an IED ambush. Bushmaster intercepted TB Comms wih hostile intent over the past 36 hours. TF Bushmaster believes they have emplaced up to 4 IEDs on routes they expect them to take. TB in area are re-directing civilian traffic away from suspect IED locations. We do not have eyes on TB Re-direction location.TF Bushmaster is not in immediate danger, holding the high ground and the tactical advantage ATT. TF Bushmaster believes they are at fixed pos and they have eyes on the general locations. Bushmasetr is not planning to call "game on" because they do not plan on moving ATT
A lot of old (and maybe new) Russian equipment making up the insurgents' kit, as we know. But this entry seems to confirm that North Korea is helping supply the enemy in Afghanistan...
(2194)(S REL GCTF) TF BRONCO 2-5 IN REPORTS CACHE IVO FOB RIPLEY. AT 1527Z THE FOLLOWING SALT REPORT WAS SENT: S- 29X 82MM TYPE-63 RUSSIAN MORTAR ROUNDS, 12X 82MM HE83LD YUGOSLAVIAN MORTAR ROUNDS, 16X 82MM MODEL 64 RUSSIAN RECOILLESS RIFLE ROUNDS, 124X 82MM TYPE-65 CHINESE RECOILLESS RIFLE ROUNDS, 8X PG7S, 4X 82MM MODEL 0-881 NORTH KOREAN RECOILLESS RIFLE ROUNDS, 28X MORTAR PRIMERS, 12X MORTAR PRIMER KITS, 92X M6 MORTAR FUSES, 1X M1102C ANTI-TANK MINE FUSE, AND 50 FEET OF NON-MIL DET CORD, A- CACHE, L- 42S TB 24 21, T- 101151ZFEB05. REMARKS: CACHE WAS CONFISCATED BY ORUZGAN GOVERNORS AMF AND TURNED OVER TO UNIT AT FOB RIPLEY.
There was some talk around the blogosphere a couple years ago about US forces seeing so-called "air burst" RPGs being used on the battlefield. The Chinese and Iranian knock off Type 69 RPG round detonates a shroud of steel balls in a 15 meter radius, and reportedly Pakistan has developed a similar knock-off of its own. But in this report below, it seems that the bad guys are using it not just for personnel on the ground...
(38930)At 0230Z, the 24th MEU reported 2x USMC helicopters were engaged with RPG and SAF by an unknown number of Anti Afghan Forces while supporting ground elements IVO 41R PQ 160 352, 9.7KM SE of FOB Garsmer. An AH-1 was engaged with 4x rounds air burst RPG's and SAF. pon completion of ground support, both aircraft returned to Bation AF to conduct BDA. The AH-1 had a small hole in the tail boom. Event closed at 1715Z. ISAF Tracking #05-065.
And here's a sad report on the recovery of the pilots and crew of two Marine helicopters that collided in mid air in Helmand back in October. One thing you might notice is that the man-killers from TF 373 were involved in the recovery. It's also kind of scary to see that at one point, the military thought one of the crew was missing in action...
(70802)WHEN: 26 0136D OCT 09
WHO: RP 68/69 (HMLA-169)
WHERE:
NORTHERN CRASH SITE: 41R PQ 05253 44212 (AH-1W)
SOUTHERN CRASH SITE: 41R PQ 05132 44064 (UH-1N) 4.1 KM NE OF FOB DWYER
WHAT: MIDAIR COLLISIONEVENT: TF373 REPORTED A MIDAIR COLLISION WITH RP 68/69. AN ASSAULT FORCE WAS LAUNCHED FROM DWY TO SECURE THE CRASH SITE AND LOCATE SURVIVORS. INITIAL REPORTS: (1) URGENT, (1) PRIORITY, (3) KIA AND (1) MIA.
AT 0146D, A PR EVENT WAS OPENED FOR (1) MIA. AT 0228D, (2) CAS AND (1) KIA WERE CASEVACD TO DWYER STP. AT 0242D, QRF ALONG WITH CRASH FIRE/RESCUE ARRIVED AT THE CRASH SITE. AT 0325D, (1) MIA WAS CONFIRMED TO BE KIA BY BATTLE FIELD COMMANDER. AT 0415D, MWSS-372 EOD WAS DISPATCHED TO THE SCENE FOR ANY UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE AT THE CRASH SITE. AT 0544D, MRAP CO LINKED UP WITH TF-373, TOOK CONTROL OF THE CRASH SITE, AND SET A CORDON. AT 0612D, MWSS-373 EFL (DYWER) FROM THE CRASH SITE. AT 0713D, PITCHBLACK 40 DEPARTED TO RECOVER THE REMAINING (3) FALLEN ANGLES. REPORTS INDICATED ENEMY FORCES WERE PREPARING FOR AN ATTACK ON THE CRASH SITE. CONTAINMENT FIRES WERE CONDUCTED NEAR THE ENEMIES POSITION BY TF 373.
CASUALTIES:
THE (1) URGENT MARINE WAS TRANSPORTED TO BSN ROLE 3, CURRENTLY IN CRITICAL CONDITION. THE (1) PRIORITY MARINE IS CURRENTLY STABLE AT DWYER STP AND WILL LATER BE TRANSPORTED TO BSN.BDA: (2) WOUNDED, (4) KIA, (1) DESTROYED AH-1W, AND (1) DESTROYED UH-1N.
ISAF REF# 10-2301
MEDEVAC# 10-26A (DWY TO BSN)
PR EVENT# 09-032
These are but of few of the interesting stories living deep within the 91,000 pages of reports released by WikiLeaks. As Greg pointed out earlier, the media's read on at least one of the "revelations" was way off. But there are some technologies, tactics and equipment highlighted in these reports that have been either not previously reported, or not given their proper due. We'll keep peeling out some of the more intriguing items to share as we discover them.
-- Christian Lowe
