Friday, May 6, 2011

Helicopter Confusion

As I have shown in previous posts the last three days there is lots of different information, and more coming out every day. Yesterday I showed the greatly conflicting stories from different officials about the assault, so somebody is lying. It makes you wonder what you can trust.

The newest details of the operation are that they handcuffed everybody they came across in the compound with plastic strips and moved on for the primary target. After they got him they took the body, searched for and took evidence, and then destroyed the unusable helicopter. The question is did somebody stay behind with the prisoners until they were picked up. Or did they just leave them and inform Pakistan to go get them? They said that the ruined helicopter prevented them from taking them as planned. Although there is some evidence that the number of helicopters used is incorrect as stated.

A new report today is that the operation was conducted with a 79 person US Navy SEAL squad. If you take that 79 Seals were involved and each helicopter can carry only 11 combat soldiers it would indicate that more than four helicopters were involved. Otherwise some of them had another way in besides the helicopters. That many soldiers would require at least eight helicopters, more if taking prisoners. Even if you include the crew that is only 15 or helicopter would still require at least six helicopters. 15 30 45 60 75 + 4 + 1 dog + specialists. The dog and at least three specialists were mentioned the last two days.

The Black Hawk is equipped with advanced avionics and electronics for increased survivability and capability, such as the Global Positioning System. In air assault operations it can move a squad of 11 combat troops with equipment and it's four-man crew or reposition a 105 mm M102 howitzer with thirty rounds ammunition in a single lift.

In the operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment which operated the helicopters during the raid, used a heavily modified MH-60 variant. Features apparently include a modified tail section with extra blades on the tail rotor and other additions which significantly lower noise levels from that of conventional UH-60s. It also had low-observable technology similar to that of F-117 that enabled it to evade radar, and more powerful engines. The aircraft seemed to include features like special high-tech materials, harsh angles, and flat surfaces, found only on sophisticated stealth jets. This came to light only when one of the helicopters used in the operation crashed and was

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