Posted on 09/21/2016 10:55:19 AM PDT by Chainmail
New TV series about combat in Afghanistan
It's very good video and it shows the day-to-day activities of a very inexperienced army platoon led by a very experienced Sergeant First Class.
If any of you are from that unit or at least that era, a couple of questions:
The combat base is set up in a deep valley. Why not on a hilltop? Most known military tactics dictate using the high ground. Are we trying to replicate Dien Bien Phu?
There seems to be some reasonable available Air Force air support but no artillery or heavy mortar. Why not?
The platoon patrols both in the countryside and the small hillside villages and generally seem to wait until someone shoots before returning fire, even if they see military aged males watching them. Why don't they approach those military aged males and if they prove hostile, engage them?
No one seems to carry grenades. Don't we use them anymore?
I have watched several of their firefights and even though they do have 40mm grenades, no one ever seems to fire any. Is that also due to the rules of engagements? Most of the fighting appears to be rather ineffectual automatic fire in the enemy's guessed direction. Why doesn't the platoon have designated marksmen/snipers for better precision?
"The high ground is no good without trees" - Earnest P Worrell
One of the great strategic minds....
Truly... I’ve been waiting for years to be able to use that quote.
Much easier to shoot down than have climb and shoot up.
I’d reckon they’re using 0bama’s battle plan—lose at all costs, and make America ever more weak and ineffective..
I’ve been watching and the program. Have similar questions, especially the apparent lack of snipers/designated marksmen. It’s rather surreal to see them shooting blindly into hills several hundred meters distant. I have a clearer picture of the frustration of our warriors who are using the 5.56 at ranges beyond the cartridges capability. The 7.62x51 machine gun is much better but it is not reliable as filmed. Couldn’t believe they observed snipers alone in the hills and nearby cornfields.
I can’t bear watching anything related to current military activity anymore. These guys are hung out to dry by the current leadership.
At the distances that Taliban is engaging them, the 40mm grenade launcher should be effective and a 60mm mortar would be golden.
No clue why they aren't using them. Does the army have 60mm mortars?
You’re not the only one.
DC has put them in terrible harm’s way.
RE: “I can’t bear watching anything related to current military activity anymore. These guys are hung out to dry by the current leadership.”
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