The SEALs and Rangers on Roberts Ridge, Afghanistan 2002

First published in Great Britain in 2013 by Osprey Publishing,

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Print ISBN: 978 1 78096 198 9

PDF ebook ISBN: 978 1 78096 199 6

ePub ebook ISBN: 978 1 78096 200 9

Index by Marie-Pierre Evans

Typeset in Sabon

Maps by bounford.com

3D BEVs by Alan Gilliland

Originated by PDQ Media, Bungay, UK

Printed in China through Worldprint Ltd

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thanks to Jodi Fraser and to Kathy and Eddie Schluter for their continued support.

DEDICATION

This work is dedicated to the seven servicemen who lost their lives on Takur Ghar on March 3–4, 2002:

Specialist Marc A. Anderson, US Army Rangers

Technical Sergeant John A. Chapman, USAF Special Tactics

Private First Class Matthew A. Commons, US Army Rangers

Sergeant Bradley S. Crose, US Army Rangers

Senior Airman Jason D. Cunningham, USAF Special Tactics

Petty Officer First Class Neil C. Roberts, US Navy SEALs

Sergeant Philip J. Svitak, US Army 160th SOAR

AUTHOR’S NOTE

Note on weights and measures used in the text: the US military uses a curious mix of US customary and metric measurements. Metric is used in measurements pertaining to small arms, most support weapons and heavier ordnance such as ground artillery (for example 7.62mm, 25mm, or 105mm) although some weapon systems retain a US customary measurement (notably the .50-caliber M2 Browning). Metric distance is used to define distances between two points (100km, for example) but altitude is measured in US customary units (for example, 500ft). To confuse matters further, air-delivered ordnance is weighed in US customary units (thus a 500lb JDAM), as are the weights of weapons systems. In the interest of matching the sources and in commonality with current US military terminology, this text follows US military protocol.

Additionally, many names of locations and individuals in Afghanistan are spelt, and translated from Dari or Pashto into English, in multiple ways. Wherever possible, we have followed the most common spelling available in English.

EDITOR’S NOTE

For ease of comparison please refer to the following conversion table:

1 mile = 1.6km

1yd = 0.9m

1ft = 0.3m

1in = 2.54cm/25.4mm

1 gallon (US) = 3.8 liters

1 ton (US) = 0.9 metric tons

1lb = 0.45kg