50% of all profits from the sale of each bottle will be donated to task force dagger special operations foundation helping veterans & families in need
The Gecko Raid
On 19 Oct 2001, a Special Operations Task Force executed a presidentially directed high-risk raid into southern Afghanistan to avenge the attacks of 9/11 and signal to Al Qaeda and their Taliban hosts that the United States will go anywhere to protect the homeland and its citizens. This would be America’s spearhead assault of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) and the Department of Defense’s 1st ground combat action in Afghanistan.
21-years after the 1980 failure at landing zone Desert One in Iran during Operation Eagle Claw – the ill-fated attempt to rescue US hostages being held in Tehran.
Subsequent Congressionally mandated special operations force development and post 9/11 national expectations made this particular raid a ‘no-fail mission’.
No time for full mission rehearsal. The joint force had limited planning at respective home stations. Once at the ISB the force finalized the plan and conducted rock drills - relying on years of joint training relationships.
Limited intelligence without on-ground assets. The small US paramilitary force was hundreds of miles from the target area – in northern Afghanistan. Mullah Omar had not been seen since 9/11 and was not expected to be on target; therefore,capturing him was not a criterion for mission success.
Intel estimated two Taliban divisions in the Kandahar area with tanks, artillery, air defense systems and MANPADs, mechanized and wheeled mobility. The enemy was expected to be on and around objective Gecko, with the high potential for C2 with enemy tanks to respond in 45-60 minutes. A manned ZU-23/4 air defense system was set up 1 km north of the objective, and a bunker complex was 200m to the northeast and elevated above the target. High ground to the east and west afforded the enemy with excellent firing positions.
Objective Gecko was located 3 KMs northwest of Kandahar. It was a large, high walled complex that served as the Taliban’s defacto ‘White House’. The target was a large diamond shaped complex measuring 600m long x 300m wide and contained an inner catacomb-like sanctuary with a separate mosque that served as a C2 node and guard towers at the north and south entrances.
Distances and environmental conditions were extreme & shared similarities to 1980’s Operation Eagle Claw - the targets were east of Desert One. The fixed wings would launch from the same ISB at Masirah Island, Oman while the helicopters would launch from an aircraft carrier and penetrate similar distances, low-level with little illumination, but this time with the capability to conduct multiple in-flight refueling.
Gecko Raiders: 6 x MH-47s and 4 x MH-60 DAPs with the ground force embarked on the USS Kitty Hawk CV-63
- MH-47s #1-4 carried the 90-man Ground Force
- MH-47 #5 carried a 24-man QRF and held in lagger 10-minutes from Gecko
- MH-47 #6 was the flying spare.
- MH-60 DAPs provided close air support and anti-tank capability with Hellfire missiles
AC-130s #1 & 2 were directly over the target
MC-130 JACC/CP was offset to C2 both objectives and the Mobility Reserve
MC-130s refueled helicopters in-flight and carried contingency ‘speed-ball’ resupplies
AFCENT supported the overall operation with limited Bombers, Strike Aircraft, Electronic Warfare, Intelligenceand Tanker assets (fuel was decisive)
USS Kitty Hawk with special operations helicopters in the NorthArabian Sea, ca Oct 2001
Obj Rhino force staged at the ISB. The 75th Ranger Regiment (-) infiltrated on MC-130s and conducted a parachute assaultsimultaneous with the Gecko Raid to seize an airfield 70 miles southwest of Obj Gecko. They set up a forward arming and refueling point and a trauma transload capability.
A small Mobility Reserve of 4 x MH-60Ks with Rangers and USAF staged from the USS Kitty Hawk. This element took off an hour + after the Gecko Raiders and staged at Dalbandin airfield in southern Pakistan in support of both objectives.
19 Oct 2001 at sunset: the Gecko Raiders departed the USS Kitty Hawk and flew ~500 nautical miles north over the ocean, across southern Pakistan and into Afghanistan. MC-130s refueled the helicopters as they descended into the Kandahar desert. Enemy tanks were reported on the flight route and the force offset and continued its approach. Just southwest of the target, AFCENT bombers suppressed suspected enemy positions – this large strike landed less than a minute ahead of the helicopters and the heat from the white-hot shrapnel activated helicopter flare systems just as the MH-60 DAPs pulled ahead to their firing positions.
1745Z – the lead and subsequent MH-47s turned at the IP, crossed over the wall and landed in their designated landing zones. The ground force breached the inner sanctum and commenced the assault. Overwatch positions occupied roof tops and began engaging several enemy occupying the bunker complex, while AC-130s and MH-60 DAPs serviced exterior targets and on-call fire missions.
As the helicopters crossed over the wall, their rotor wash kicked up dust and fanned the flames of an inner target hit by pre-assault fires. As a result, MH-47 #3, with its assault element still onboard, experienced brownout and NVG washout – overshooting its LZ. The helicopter impacted a ridgeline, sheering the landing gear and compressing theramp. The crew saved the bird and managed to insert its assault elements before limping to a secure area. These assaulters crawled through the small gap in the ramp and sprinted 100 meters to their breach points across an area that was under enemy fire.
The enemy fired continuously from a bunker complex to the north while responding enemy forces attacked the Raidersfrom the high ground outside the east wall and to the south. The
MH-60K DAPs orbited above the force and serviced call for fire missions on the bunker complex and enemy forces firing small arms and RPGs from the high ground to the east and built-up area to the south. High overhead, the two AC-130s engaged enemy forces approaching the target complex in vehicles along the roads leading from Kandahar and dismounted troops in the open as they moved over the high ground to the east.
1830Z – Objective Gecko secured ‘on-time’
1845Z – Ground force executed the bump plan and prepared for exfil. 3 x MH-47s departed their airborne lagger and headed to obj Gecko. As they approached, the enemy engaged them with small arms and RPGs – all helicopters had bullet holes and RPG proximity hits. Upon landing the ground force moved under direct fire to their helos while continuing to direct close air support. During departure, the MH-47s’ mini-guns suppressed the high ground while ground force personnel engaged the enemy from open aircraft windows and ramps. The helicopters flew southwest to objective Rhino
1915Z – Gecko Raiders arrived at obj Rhino, cross-loadedonto the spare, assessed injuries and took gas. Objective Rhino was a high dust environment, like Desert One. Averting brownout, the helicopters departed in a singleton fashion - direct to the Kitty Hawk.
20 Oct – the Gecko Raiders arrived on the Kitty Hawk after sunrise. Completing a grueling 13.5-hour helicopter flight profile - longest air assault in history.
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The Gecko Raid was a strategic success. It validated US special operations’ deep-strike capabilities, setting the stage for the long war that followed.
Intercepted Taliban senior leadership comms the next morning:
"If American Can Do This - God Help Us"
50% of all profits from the sale of each bottle will be donated to task force dagger special operations foundation helping veterans & families in need
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700 ml 43%
A blend of Barbados, Australian rum