From: Adam Flinton 

Monte Davis wrote:
> Adam Flinton  wrote:
>
>
>>Interesting that they are following a similar path to the iraqs wrt
>>IED'es. One wonders how much cross-fertilization is going on.
>>
>>Bad news given like Iraq there is a vast pool of IED raw materials left
>>lying around.
>
>
> Me, no tactician,  after digesting _Blackhawk Down_: "Not  a good idea
> to pull the same helo-in, light-convoy-out trick five times in a row."
>
> Afghanistan: Special forces team attacked, helicopter with
> reionforcements hit on approach. Lt.Gen. Conway speculates it was "a
> lucky shot." (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4640045.stm)
>
> Compare and contrast w/ Maj.Gen. Webster in Baghdad: "They're a
> learning enemy."
>
> My brother: "Back in the good olde days, the NVA used to find a 4-man
> recon patrol, pick on 'em a little bit, wait for the chopper filled
> with rescuers to arrive, then shoot it down as it approached the LZ.
> Obviously things have changed since then. Very transformational."
>
> -Monte

It's not a lucky shot. Is it just me who remembers heaps of former hips
& hinds( Mil 8 & 26 helicopters) lying around in Afganistan?

OK so the hmg (esp the sov 14.5) did the job (esp with hips) but a std
tactic was the wall of rpgs (esp wrt a "helo-convoy") given how
afghanistan is often "hot & high" i.e. the helos can't gain
enough height to get away from such weapons (in fact often they were
shooting down at the helos).

Sure that rpg was a lucky shot but then the others fired didn't get lucky....

I'm just thankfull that the Iraqis ain't really cottoned onto the rpg as a
piece of ballistic artillery.

If any "insurgent militia" has the most experience with helos
it's the Afghans.

Adam

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