Video : 160th SOAR (Nightstalkers)

Here is a fantastic video featuring the men and machines of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR).



The SOAR, or 'Nightstalkers', are a US Army unit who fly modified Black Hawks, Chinooks, Ah-6 and MH-60 'Little Bird' helicopters in support of US Special Operations Forces such as Delta Force and the 75th Rangers.

for more info on the 160th SOAR see:

160th SOAR (us special ops)
160th SOAR (wikipedia)

Video : Special Operations Firefight in Iraq

Found this cool video on youtube of U.S. Special Operations Forces in action in Iraq:



Note the Special Operation Forces' M4's laser aiming devices visible through the night vision fitted to the camera. Also, note the M134 minigun firing from a mount atop a HMMMV - not something you'd want to be on the wrong end of!

read more on American Special Operations Units

Navy SEAL to Receive Medal of Honor

A U.S. Navy SEAL who was killed when he threw himself on a grenade is to be awarded America's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor, 25, was part of a SEAL sniper team that was operating in the Iraqi town of Ramadi, a hotbed of insurgent activity, in September 2006. The building the SEAL snipers were firing from came under attack by a group of insurgents, one of whom lobbed a hand grenade into the SEAL's position. Without a moment's hesitation, Monsoor jumped onto the grenade, shielding his fellow SEALs from the blast. This selfless act saved his brothers in arm's lives but cost him his own as, sadly, Monsoor died from his wounds within 30 minutes.

The brave SEAL's family will receive the medal during a White House ceremony April 8.

Monsoor, a platoon machine gunner, had previously received the Silver Star, the third-highest award for combat valor, for his actions pulling a wounded SEAL to safety during a May 9, 2006, firefight in Ramadi.

further reading:
info on the U.S. Navy SEALs

U.S. Special Forces Clash With Iraqi Gunmen

U.S. Special Operations units have been reportedly operating in civilian clothes in the l-Jamiya district in central Hilla, Iraq.

According to the Washington post :

"Police sources in the Shi'ite city said five people had been killed in the predawn operation, including four policemen. They said fighting broke out after U.S. troops wearing civilian clothes entered the al-Jamiya district in central Hilla...

...The U.S. military said gunmen opened fire on U.S. troops who were on an operation to detain a so-called "special groups" member, the military's term for rogue elements in the Mehdi Army militia of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr."

Such an operation would normally be the preserve of so-called 'tier one' SOF units such as Delta Force (otherwise known as CAG [combat applications group]) and the Navy SEALs DEVGRU counter-terrorism cadre.

source of story:
U.S. forces clash with gunmen in Iraq's Hilla

Safety Equipment Could Have Saved Special Forces Plane

An inquest into the downing of an RAF Special Forces aircraft in Iraq, January 2005, is expected to hear evidence that vital safety gear that could have prevented the loss of the aircraft and crew should have been fitted.

The C-130K Hercules flown by the Special Forces Flight of 47 Squadron, RAF, was hit by enemy ground fire whilst flying low following a mission flown in support of the Special Air Service. A fire broke out on board the Hercules which quickly spread and caused an explosion which brought the aircraft down, killing all 10 servicemen on board.

Experts say that had the Hercules been fitted with an Explosive Suppressant Foam (ESF) system, specifically designed to extinguish aircraft fires, then it may well have been able to land safely. ESF systems are fitted as standard on American Hercules and have now been fitted to the RAF Hercules fleet.

RAF Special Forces Hercules are specially-equipped with additional defences against surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) as well as carrying extra sensors and communications gear. 47 Sqn SF flight fly in support of UKSF ground operations, inserting and extracting SAS and SBS troops and carrying out other tactical operations such as TALO (tactical air landing operations) - airfield seizures in which up to 4 C-130s land Paras directly onto enemy-held runways.

further reading:
US delay may have doomed targeted Britons
(Telegraph online report)

info on RAF 47 Squadron Special Forces flight

Iraqi SWAT unit and U.S. Special Forces swoop on car smugglers

BALAD, Iraq (Courtesy of CJSOTF-AP Public Affairs, Apr. 1, 2008)

A Hillah Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, advised and assisted by U.S. Special Forces, detained 20 suspected vehicle smugglers in Basra on April 1.

During the operation, ISWAT and U.S. Special Forces took 20 suspected smugglers into custody as well as recovering 2 illegal vehicles, a cache of weapons and $262,000 of U.S. currency. 2 boats used by the smugglers were destroyed.

As the Iraqi and U.S. troops pulled off target, they came under ineffective fire by both small arms and IEDs.

more reading:

info on U.S. Army Special Forces

British Royal Marine Throws Himself On Grenade

A Royal Marine has been nominated for Britain's highest military honour, the Victoria Cross (VC). Lance Corporal Matt Croucher, of 40 Commando, Royal Marines, was on a recon mission in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, when he tripped an IED, fashioned from an anti-personnel grenade . In a displays of selfless courage, Lance Corporal Croucher yelled 'Grenade!' and leaped on top of the grenade, shielding his fellow Marines from the blast. It was by pure luck that the blast and shrapnel from the explosion was absorbed by the Lance Corporal's backpack and ceramic plate body armour, leaving the heroic Marine with nothing more than a nosebleed.

It was the other members of his troop which nominated Lance Corporal Croucher for the VC.

read more on this incident:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3648975.ece

read more on Royal Marines operations in Afghanistan