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Bootneck
06-17-2004, 12:30 PM
Subject: FW: Ambush details info
Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2004 07:42:35 +0200

Subj: Ambush Details

All,
I ask in advance that you respect the dead. We will never know exactly Why they made certain decisions, it’s easy to pick it apart and second guess. Don’t. You don’t know exactly where everyone was, where they perceived the threat, or where they were trying to go.

I knew every man, I’ve spent several months with one of them in Ramadi. And worked with the others as well. Not a knob among them, all locked on and vigilant.

Things are still murky, this AAR is built from three perspectives of the three surviving members of the Team. There are contradictions and Differing views. We all know how that goes.

A seven man crew was on a movement to BIAP. Two Surburbans. One a Level 6 hard and the other soft. The rear was the soft vehicle. It was a gun truck so to speak and carried four of the guys.

While passing the first main overpass at a speed around 120K, six indigenous vehicles merged alongside (their right). This is where lots of high speed merging traffic comes from. And is very common.

Without warning an RPG struck the rear vehicle at the door jam on the Front passenger side, immediately disabling and igniting the rear vehicle.

It slowed to a controlled stop.

Small arms fire sprayed the lead armored car.

They had no principle and elected to immediately reverse and try to recover/ extract their Teammates.

While backing up and coming along the left side of the suburban in Distress (using the stricken vehicle as cover), Two Pajaro SUV stopped ahead at 100M and opened up with PKM belt fed machine guns, using armor piercing and incindiary rounds. This destroyed the engine of the Level 6 vehicle and wounded a man in the lead.

The TL decided to unass the dead vehicle and they were now on E&E.

The bad guys made a 180 degreed turn and came alongside for another pass.

They came to a complete stop and engaged. Estimate 20 bad guys on guns.

While still being peppered by PKM from the front and now in a 30Meter gunfight on the right they engaged.

They traded fire, the three still in the fight went through 3,4 and 8 Mags respectively and throw 10 frag grenades on the cocksuckers.

They believe the frags were the only thing that broke contact.

The enemy rolled off after collecting their dead and wounded (4 KIA for sure).

The three survivors rallied, collected ammo and distributed it evenly, They approached the vehicles and accounted for all the team.

They then crossed the median via foot, stopped a local, put a glock to His head, handed him 500 bucks and took his car. They arrived at CP 12 and were medevaced.

Some Points we assume:

THE ENEMY MADE A HIGH SPEED PASS AND ENGAGED, REALIZED THEY ONLY HAD TWO VEHICLES AND RETURNED TO FINISH THE AMBUSH. This creates the assumption of Command Control and Communication of a high caliber.

The enemy wanted to survive and exfil as opposed to the Iranian SHia TTP of suicide, we suspect Syrian Sunni or Chechen hired guns.

Some other points:

The Team Leader who was driving the lead vehicle received a gunshot wound to the head, two to the legs and frag wounds on his face from a grenade. He continued to fight, expending five frags and eight mags, he accounted for his team, made decisions, and ran 600 meters in full kit while shooting, AFTER being shot in the head. He spent several hours in surgery and is now recovering well. John "RAT" Ratliff. Everyone owes him beer and gratitude.

Sasha was shot three times and charged and enemy vehicle and tossed a Frag in the window, ran past the others spraying into their cars form the oblique. Treated and released for GS and broken Clavicle.

The third survivor had nary a scratch.

The four dead went out hard. There were thousand of shell casing and two bodies were draped over their guns still aiming at the enemy. The other two were found next to the car as they had attempted extraction and died.

All died of massive gunshot wounds and were later burned badly from the fire. They did not die from the fire.

The family of Chris "Learch" Neidrich has been notified. Chris survived a fatal accident 72 hours ago, was supposed to be going home yesterday. He volunteered to stay and help give the new guys time to learn the ropes. That’s the kind of guys Chris was. I spent months with him in Ramadi, Fallujah, I was his Team Leader and when I left he became the TL. He was my friend and a good man. The world is a ****ier place without him.

Tex was with also a survivor of that tragedy and died. He escorted Kato's body with me to the morgue and sadly three days later he is in the same morgue.

Teamates and collegues. Take what you can from this. Learn, adapt.

Stay vigilant, Stay aggressive and make the ****s pay in spades.

B


http://www.theregimenthq.com/images/BWS%20AAR/June%205%20-%20Debrief_1.jpg

http://www.theregimenthq.com/images/BWS%20AAR/June%205%20-%20Debrief_2.jpg

http://www.theregimenthq.com/images/BWS%20AAR/June%205%20-%20Debrief_3.jpg

http://www.theregimenthq.com/images/BWS%20AAR/June%205%20-%20Debrief_4.jpg

http://www.theregimenthq.com/images/BWS%20AAR/June%205%20-%20Debrief_5.jpg

http://www.theregimenthq.com/images/BWS%20AAR/June%205%20-%20Debrief_6.jpg

http://www.theregimenthq.com/images/BWS%20AAR/June%205%20-%20Debrief_7.jpg

tuckerhat
06-17-2004, 01:37 PM
interesting. thanks. this is reliable right? cause Argyll's version of events had the 4 dead "taken out" within the first moments of the engagement.

Alphabet76
06-17-2004, 01:51 PM
I'm a little bit confused, in the text:

The rear was the soft vehicle.
on the 1st graphics:

One soft, One hard (soft lead)

Just want to remind you the original version (from CIS site):

Two PSC vehicles, a soft skin Suburban (with four occupants: 2 American, 2 Poles) in the lead and an armored Suburban (3 occupants: 1 American, 2 Poles) in the trail, headed toward BIAP from CPA. Past the second bridge, they were approached by two enemy vehicles at a very high rate of speed. SAF from enemy vehicles disabled the lead (softskin) vehicle which almost immediately caught fire. Second (armored) vehicle moved into screening position near disabled vehicle. Armored vehicle had a flat tire and catches fire. Enemy vehicles stop approximately 100 meters away and begin SAF. Occupants of softskin vehicle try to exit- some/all possibly dead or may be near dead at that time. At least one more enemy vehicle possibly two approached and was stopped to the rear of two vehicles and began SAF. At this point with both vehicles disabled, remaining personnel decide to break contact. Depleting all available ammunition, PSC exfilled across highway to oncoming traffic, commandeered a vehicle from local national and are driven to GZ by vehicle owner. Four KIA (2 Americans, 2 Poles), three WIA.

ShotOver
06-17-2004, 01:52 PM
Very interesting read.
Cheers.

Rest in Peace to the fallen Security personell.

AFG
06-18-2004, 03:15 AM
holy **** RIP... Im glad they survived.

SOG
06-18-2004, 08:47 AM
sadly interesting. rip. and to the survivors, giants on this here earth. absolutley incredible men.

SOG
06-18-2004, 09:04 AM
interesting. thanks. this is reliable right? cause Argyll's version of events had the 4 dead "taken out" within the first moments of the engagement.

Things are still murky, this AAR is built from three perspectives of the three surviving members of the Team. There are contradictions and Differing views. We all know how that goes.

not to mention argyll got a early report, since hes there! stay safe argyll!

G36
06-18-2004, 02:42 PM
Would be helpful from a lessons learned standpoint if someone had similar intel on the March 31 Fallujah ambush, the April 7 ambush on BIAP road t of two-man Custer Battles PSD and principle, and the deal a few days ago when the convoy on the airport road got hit from an overpass.
Any detail could save a life.

ctcboy
06-18-2004, 06:32 PM
Please excuse my ignorance but what does, "flash crash" mean?

Argyll
06-19-2004, 12:08 AM
One of the big problems over here,is the lack of sharing Intel,and post incident accounts,BSC,3C and Dynacorp are cagey about passing info onto other PSD's........info that might just help all of us,why this is I don't know.......we're all doing the same job,and all taking the same rounds,and this ASU has been targetting all PSD's.

iflu
06-19-2004, 12:29 AM
One of the big problems over here,is the lack of sharing Intel,and post incident accounts,BSC,3C and Dynacorp are cagey about passing info onto other PSD's........info that might just help all of us,why this is I don't know.......we're all doing the same job,and all taking the same rounds,and this ASU has been targetting all PSD's.

I think the problem may derive from the department of defense. u just cant sign contracts with private companies and get away. anyway it is quite different from civil affairs. and importantly pentagon MAY have much intel could be shared(of couse u should keep ur own little secrets). so i think a better way is to set up a certain kind of contacting meetings or intel briefing meetings attended by both military intel officers and coordinators from every private co. anyway those private companies may be good at military tactics but not necessary to be good at intel collecting and analyse.

Argyll
06-19-2004, 01:03 AM
It's been tried mate,the big boys don't want to play ball mate,if there is something out there that will save lives of other PSD's then share it,it's irrelevant who thoses guys are contracted by,DoD or State.

iflu
06-19-2004, 02:46 AM
sorry about the present situation. and u take care argy ll. always watch ur back.

TriggerPuller
06-19-2004, 05:02 AM
If Ive told ya once Ive told you a thousand times,dont believe everything you read!!

TP

P.S. Yes Iam still alive and in the sandbox!!

tacmed
07-11-2004, 03:52 PM
This may be a good place for the IC's to share info.

http://www.opsbrief.com/index.php?s=89520ab8fdb83b08ffb0d0bacd1b8502&

TM

dacanadianbomb
07-12-2004, 02:38 AM
RIP. Bloody shame.
How would have a rear facing member be able to prevent this stuff from happening ?
Maybe a coordiantion office of some sort. Like pmc corp 1, you are heading to baghdad airport, you have a team of XXXXXXX moving accross your route at position XXXXXX.

But I guess this is a lot of logistics etc.

Its a shame that the people cant officially move info between each other to save lives.

everyone take it easy and stay safe.

Praetorian 05
07-17-2004, 08:54 AM
Why did the soft skin allow the ambush vehicle to get beside them? Did it say if they were porcupinin? If not, that could be why that ambush ended up that way.