Operation Rhino
Operation Rhino | |||||||
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Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present) | |||||||
Ranger parachute drop on objective "Rhino." | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
United States | Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan | ||||||
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. | 30-100 killed |
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,[1] and other SOCOM units on several Taliban targets in and around Kandahar, Afghanistan during the invasion of Afghanistan at the start of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present).[2]
Plan[]
The Ranger's objectives were to:
- Seize the landing strip (to become Camp Rhino)
- Destroy any Taliban forces
- Gather intelligence
- Assess the suitability of the landing strip for future operations
- Establish a forward aerial refuel/rearm point (FARP) for helicopters involved in the nearby operation at Objective Gecko
- Destroy major weapons and utilities
Operation[]
On the night of 19 October 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[3], 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[4] flew over the drop zone (DZ) at 800 feet. In zero illumination, the Rangers proceeded to exit the MC-130s.
No casualties were suffered in the operation itself but 2 Rangers assigned[5] to[6] Combat Search and Rescue element supporting the mission were killed when their MH-60L helicopter crashed at Objective Honda in Pakistan - a temporary staging site used by a company of Rangers from 3/75. The helicopter crashed due to a brownout.[7]
Result[]
As a result of the raid, a base was set up over the airstrip and named Camp Rhino. It was then handed off[8] to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, who began leading forward operations throughout Kandahar along with the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division.
References[]
- ^ "CNN.com - Transcripts". transcripts.cnn.com.
- ^ "The United States Army in Afghanistan – Raid on Kandahar". Archived from the original on 16 February 2008.
- ^ Ramirez, Senior Airman Cody H. "10 year anniversary of strikes against Afghanistan". Retrieved 15 September 2021.
- ^ Life, Tactical. "Operation Rhino, Gecko: Tackling the Taliban in Afghanistan". Retrieved 15 September 2021.
- ^ "Army Pfc. Kristofor T. Stonesifer| Military Times". thefallen.militarytimes.com.
- ^ https://www.forevermissed.com/spc-john-j-edmunds/#about
- ^ Neville, Leigh (2015). Special Forces in the War on Terror (General Military). Osprey Publishing. p. 36. ISBN 978-1472807908.
- ^ Spiegel, Capt Jay M. "The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit's Seizure of Camp Rhino" (PDF). Retrieved 15 September 2021.
Coordinates: 30°29′12″N 64°31′32″E / 30.48667°N 64.52556°E
- Conflicts in 2001
- Battles of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- Military operations of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) involving the United States
- Operations involving American special forces
- United States Army Rangers
- 2001 in Afghanistan
- United States Marine Corps in the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- History of Kandahar Province