The Tragic Toll: Examining The Seal Casualties In Afghanistan

On 6 August 2011, a US Chinook helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan's Tangi Valley, killing 30 Americans and 8 Afghanis. 22 of the Americans who died were Navy SEAL commandos, including members of Seal Team 6, the unit that killed Osama bin Laden. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. The shootdown was the single deadliest loss of US forces in the war in Afghanistan.

30 US military personnel died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan

On August 6, 2011, a US military helicopter was shot down by Afghan insurgents in the Tangi Valley in Maidan Wardak province, Afghanistan. The resulting crash killed all 30 American military personnel on board, including 17 Navy SEALs, two Air Force Pararescue, one Air Force Combat Control Team member, one pilot and two crewmen of the US Army Reserve, one pilot and one crewman of the US Army National Guard, and a military working dog. This incident represents the greatest single-incident loss of American lives in Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan.

The helicopter, a CH-47D Chinook with the call sign Extortion 17, was transporting a Quick Reaction Force of Navy SEALs and other special operations forces to reinforce a unit of the 75th Ranger Regiment that was engaged in a firefight with Taliban fighters. The Chinook was carrying a total of 38 occupants, including the 30 Americans, seven members of the Afghan National Security Forces, and one Afghan interpreter.

The downing of Extortion 17 was the result of a rocket-propelled grenade fired by Taliban insurgents. The helicopter was hit by an RPG round in the aft rotor assembly, causing it to crash and killing all on board. This attack was the deadliest day of the war for American forces, surpassing the previous record set in June 2005 when 16 US soldiers were killed in a helicopter crash in Kunar province.

The US military presence in the Tangi Valley had been established in March 2009 due to increased Taliban activity in the area. American, French, and Afghan National Police forces carried out operations to secure the area, but it fell under Taliban control after American forces withdrew in April 2011. Despite the risks, American forces continued to conduct special operations in the area, often encountering resistance from Taliban fighters.

In conclusion, the downing of Extortion 17 on August 6, 2011, resulted in the deaths of 30 US military personnel, including 22 Navy SEALs, and represents a significant loss for the US military during the war in Afghanistan. The incident highlights the dangers faced by special operations forces operating in hostile territory and the ongoing threat posed by Taliban insurgents.

22 Navy SEAL commandos were among the dead

On August 6, 2011, a US military helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan, killing 31 US special operations troops, most of them from the Navy SEALs unit that killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that they had fired rocket fire at the helicopter while it was taking part in a raid on a house where insurgents were gathered in the province of Wardak.

The helicopter crash resulted in the deaths of 22 Navy SEAL commandos, including members of SEAL Team 6. The team had previously conducted the raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan, that killed Osama bin Laden. However, officials stated that those who perished in the crash were not involved in the Pakistan mission.

The Navy SEAL commandos were part of a larger group of 38 occupants in the Chinook helicopter, which included US Army Rangers, seven Afghan commandos, an Afghan civilian interpreter, and a US military dog. The helicopter was headed towards a landing zone in the Tangi Valley, a remote and inaccessible area known for its resistance to foreign invasion.

The loss of 22 Navy SEAL commandos in the crash marked a tragic day for the US military, highlighting the dangers faced by special operations forces in Afghanistan. The incident underscores the challenges of operating in hostile and rugged terrain, where militants have the advantage of higher ground and cover.

The downing of the helicopter by Taliban insurgents underscores the constant danger faced by US military personnel in Afghanistan, especially those undertaking high-risk missions to neutralize insurgent threats. The loss of so many highly trained and seasoned fighters in a single incident also underscores the human toll of the war and the sacrifices made by those serving on the front lines.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack

On August 6, 2011, a US military helicopter was shot down by the Taliban in Afghanistan's Tangi Valley, resulting in the deaths of all 38 people on board. This incident marked the greatest single-incident loss of American lives in Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan, with 30 Americans and 8 Afghans perishing. The Taliban's successful attack on the helicopter was likely due to their advantageous position in the steep valley, from which they fired rocket-propelled grenades.

The helicopter, with the call sign Extortion 17, was transporting a Quick Reaction Force of US Army Rangers to reinforce a Joint Special Operations Command unit. The Rangers were engaged in a firefight with Taliban fighters and had called for reinforcements. As the helicopter approached the landing zone, it was struck by an RPG round, causing it to crash and killing everyone on board.

The Taliban's ability to down Extortion 17 raised concerns about the planning and execution of the mission. Critics questioned the decision to fly into an area where the helicopter could easily be targeted and the use of a conventional helicopter instead of one designed for special operations. Some even alleged that the Taliban had prior knowledge of the mission, claiming that Afghan forces leaked information.

The shootdown of Extortion 17 highlighted the dangers faced by US military personnel in Afghanistan and the challenges of operating in difficult terrain against a determined enemy. It also underscored the need for careful planning and coordination to ensure the safety of troops, especially when operating in complex and hostile environments.

The Taliban's claim of responsibility for the attack underscored the group's ongoing threat and their ability to inflict significant damage on US forces. It also served as a reminder of the human cost of the war in Afghanistan and the sacrifices made by military personnel and their families.

The US responded with an F-16 air strike

On 6 August 2011, a US CH-47D Chinook helicopter was shot down by Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan's Tangi Valley, killing all 38 people on board, including 15 US Navy SEALs. This was the greatest single-incident loss of American lives in the war in Afghanistan.

In response, the US military launched an F-16 air strike two days later, killing the insurgents believed to be responsible for the attack. The F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American single-engine supersonic multirole fighter aircraft. It is highly agile and was the first fighter aircraft designed to be slightly aerodynamically unstable, which reduces drag and improves manoeuvrability. The F-16 has been used by the US Air Force, Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard units, as well as the US Navy.

The F-16 strike that killed the insurgents responsible for the Chinook helicopter attack was carried out in the Chak Valley, west of the Tangi Valley. The F-16 dropped four GBU-54 "Laser JDAM" bombs on the insurgents, killing all six of them. The strike was monitored and controlled by a Joint Terminal Attack Controller at Forward Operating Base Shank via a General Atomics MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle.

The F-16 has been used extensively by the US military in Afghanistan and other conflict zones, including Iraq, Libya, and Syria. It has also been procured by the air forces of 25 other nations. The F-16's first air-to-air combat success was achieved by the Israeli Air Force over the Bekaa Valley in 1981, when it shot down a Syrian Mi-8 helicopter.

The names of the Navy SEALs who died were released by the Department of Defense

On August 6, 2011, a US military helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan, killing 30 Navy SEALs and special operation troops, along with seven Afghan commandos and an interpreter. The Department of Defense released the names of the personnel who died in the incident, though not all were Navy SEALs. Here is a list of the Navy SEALs who were killed:

• Lt. Cmdr. (SEAL) Jonas B. Kelsall, 32, of Shreveport, Louisiana
• Special Warfare Operator Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Louis J. Langlais, 44, of Santa Barbara, California
• Special Warfare Operator Senior Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Thomas A. Ratzlaff, 34, of Green Forest, Arkansas
• Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Senior Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Kraig M. Vickers, 36, of Kokomo, Hawaii
• Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Brian R. Bill, 31, of Stamford, Connecticut
• Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) John W. Faas, 31, of Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Kevin A. Houston, 35, of West Hyannisport, Massachusetts
• Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Matthew D. Mason, 37, of Kansas City, Missouri
• Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Stephen M. Mills, 35, of Fort Worth, Texas
• Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist/Diver) Nicholas H. Null, 30, of Washington, West Virginia
• Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Robert J. Reeves, 32, of Shreveport, Louisiana
• Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Heath M. Robinson, 34, of Detroit, Michigan
• Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Darrik C. Benson, 28, of Angwin, California
• Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Parachutist) Christopher G. Campbell, 36, of Jacksonville, North Carolina
• Information Systems Technician Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Jared W. Day, 28, of Taylorsville, Utah
• Master-at-Arms Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) John Douangdara, 26, of South Sioux City, Nebraska
• Cryptologist Technician (Collection) Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) Michael J. Strange, 25, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist) Jon T. Tumilson, 35, of Rockford, Iowa
• Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Aaron C. Vaughn, 30, of Stuart, Florida
• Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jason R. Workman, 32, of Blanding, Utah
• Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jesse D. Pittman, 27, of Ukiah, California
• Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 2nd Class (SEAL) Nicholas P. Spehar, 24, of Saint Paul, Minnesota

The downing of the helicopter, known as Extortion 17, represents the greatest single-incident loss of American lives in Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan. It was a tragic day for the Navy SEAL community and a reminder of the sacrifices made by US military personnel and their families.

Frequently asked questions