Decisions that led to Chinook shoot down were 'sound', CENTCOM report says

Operational decisions that led to a 6 August US Army Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopter shoot down that killed 30 US troops in Afghanistan were deemed, "tactically sound" by US military investigators in a report released on 13 October by US Central Command (CENTCOM).

The Chinook was transporting a quick reaction force (QRF) of 17 US Navy (USN) SEALs, five USN Special Operations Forces (SOF) support personnel, three US Air Force special tactics airmen, five US Army helicopter crew, seven Afghan commandos and a civilian interpreter. They were scrambled to aid a Ranger platoon pursuing a Taliban leader. When the Chinook reached the landing zone (LZ) in Wardak province, about 60 miles southwest of Kabul, it was downed by a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) strike to the rear rotor.

"The first RPG missed the helicopter, but the second RPG struck one of the blades on the aft rotor assembly and exploded," said the report.

After the rotor was hit the helicopter crashed in a creek bed and was engulfed in flames, followed by several explosions of fuel and ammunition. None of the 38 on board survived.

The crash and subsequent findings of the report have highlighted the trades commanders have made to prosecute the high volume of SOF raids in Afghanistan. One is reliance on the Chinook.

"In the high altitudes of Afghanistan, the Chinook is generally guaranteed to carry a full load of troops anywhere," an active army helicopter pilot told Jane's .