Battle Analysis Paper Takur Ghar
Mission Command Analysis
The Battle of Takur Ghar
“Roberts Ridge”
Operation Anaconda, 03 – 04 March 2002
CPT Michael A. Broussard PA-C
SG 11, CCC
30 October 2014
1
Abstract
In the late evening of March 3rd 2002, through to the evening of March 4th 2002, Special
Operation Forces were engaged in an intense fire fight with al Qaeda forces on a mountain top known as Takur Ghar. This battle was the product of a botched reconnaissance insertion and ultimately resulted in a 24 hour fire fight and the deaths of 7 U.S. service members and over 200 al Qaeda fighters. Navy SEAL, Neil C. Roberts is believed to be the first U.S. casualty of this battle and thus, the battle also became unofficially known as “Roberts Ridge” (1).
This paper will give a brief description of The Battle of Takur Ghar, and will look at the mission command of Captain Nate Self, The Quick Reaction Force (QRF) commander from
Alpha company, 1st Ranger Battalion; The principles of mission command will be used to analyze his leadership:
1) Build cohesive teams through mutual trust.
2) Create shared understanding.
3) Provide a clear Commander’s intent.
4) Exercise a disciplined initiative.
5) Use mission orders.
6) Accept prudent risk.
.
2
Review of the Battle
In October of 2001, due to the attacks of 9/11, U.S. special operation forces (SOF) seized key terrain in Afghanistan in order to provide a platform from which the U.S. and coalition forces could hunt down al Qaeda forces that were believed to be responsible for the attacks (2). Al
Qaeda forces were embedded with well trained and seasoned Taliban fighters. The al QaedaTaliban fighters specifically had a stronghold in the Arma Mountains, a mountain range southeast of Zormat (3). In early 2002, a conventional force commanded by Major General Hagenback,
Task Force Mountain (TF MOUNTAIN) “conceived a classic military “hammer and anvil” maneuver—codenamed Operation ANACONDA” (3). Operation Anaconda (02-18 March 2002) was an operation designed to
The Battle of Takur Ghar
“Roberts Ridge”
Operation Anaconda, 03 – 04 March 2002
CPT Michael A. Broussard PA-C
SG 11, CCC
30 October 2014
1
Abstract
In the late evening of March 3rd 2002, through to the evening of March 4th 2002, Special
Operation Forces were engaged in an intense fire fight with al Qaeda forces on a mountain top known as Takur Ghar. This battle was the product of a botched reconnaissance insertion and ultimately resulted in a 24 hour fire fight and the deaths of 7 U.S. service members and over 200 al Qaeda fighters. Navy SEAL, Neil C. Roberts is believed to be the first U.S. casualty of this battle and thus, the battle also became unofficially known as “Roberts Ridge” (1).
This paper will give a brief description of The Battle of Takur Ghar, and will look at the mission command of Captain Nate Self, The Quick Reaction Force (QRF) commander from
Alpha company, 1st Ranger Battalion; The principles of mission command will be used to analyze his leadership:
1) Build cohesive teams through mutual trust.
2) Create shared understanding.
3) Provide a clear Commander’s intent.
4) Exercise a disciplined initiative.
5) Use mission orders.
6) Accept prudent risk.
.
2
Review of the Battle
In October of 2001, due to the attacks of 9/11, U.S. special operation forces (SOF) seized key terrain in Afghanistan in order to provide a platform from which the U.S. and coalition forces could hunt down al Qaeda forces that were believed to be responsible for the attacks (2). Al
Qaeda forces were embedded with well trained and seasoned Taliban fighters. The al QaedaTaliban fighters specifically had a stronghold in the Arma Mountains, a mountain range southeast of Zormat (3). In early 2002, a conventional force commanded by Major General Hagenback,
Task Force Mountain (TF MOUNTAIN) “conceived a classic military “hammer and anvil” maneuver—codenamed Operation ANACONDA” (3). Operation Anaconda (02-18 March 2002) was an operation designed to
Bibliography: Executive Summary of the Battle of Takur Ghar, Released through the Department of Defense, May 24, 2002 http://www.defense.gov/news/May2002/d20020524takurghar.pdf Macpherson, Malcolm. Roberts Ridge Bantam Dell (New York), 2005: Naylor, Sean. "Not a Good Day to Die" Penguin Group (New York), 2014: Ranger Handbook SH 21-76 'Space Bubbles ' may have aided enemy in fatal Afghan battle http://www.verticalmag.com/news/article/SpaceBubblesmayhaveaidedenemyinfatalAfghanbattle Stephen Tanner, Afghanistan: A Military History, Page 317 12