Thread: Unknown Stealthy Helo Used in Bin Laden Raid?

This whole thing seems slightly suspicious the more I think about it. I know it was a covert op, but SEALs rarely do anything half-ass, and rarely ever blow anything up half-ass. The US must have had other assets in the area, I've heard everything from the RQ-170 to A-10's (there MUST have been fighters close by in case on a Pakastani intercept), they must have known the tail section was not fragged, why didn't they direct other forces to take care of it. Fear of collateral damage, it really wasn't all that important or groundbreaking technology wise?

If the stealthy Blackhawks were operating with Chinooks, then what was the point? The Chinooks are louder and WAY bigger on the radar.

This mission had been in planning for months it sounds like, and it utilized the best men and the best equipment, I realize unexpected things happen during operations, but this seem to be a rather large blunder in a otherwise perfectly executed mission. The conspiracy theorist in me would almost say it was left there on purpose...

Originally Posted by JA Boomer

This whole thing seems slightly suspicious the more I think about it. I know it was a covert op, but SEALs rarely do anything half-ass, and rarely ever blow anything up half-ass. The US must have had other assets in the area, I've heard everything from the RQ-170 to A-10's (there MUST have been fighters close by in case on a Pakastani intercept), they must have known the tail section was not fragged, why didn't they direct other forces to take care of it. Fear of collateral damage, it really wasn't all that important or groundbreaking technology wise?

Didn't the tail section fall outside of the compound wall? Maybe ST6 didn't want to go outside the compound walls.

Originally Posted by JA Boomer

If the stealthy Blackhawks were operating with Chinooks, then what was the point? The Chinooks are louder and WAY bigger on the radar.

You assume the Chinooks were "normal" Chinooks.

Originally Posted by JA Boomer

This mission had been in planning for months it sounds like, and it utilized the best men and the best equipment, I realize unexpected things happen during operations, but this seem to be a rather large blunder in a otherwise perfectly executed mission. The conspiracy theorist in me would almost say it was left there on purpose...

As a calling card, maybe?

While on the topic of secret aircraft used in this mission, over the past day or two I have started to see some speculation that this raid may have also offered some confirmation of the RQ-170s suspected EW capabilities. While some Pakistani posters here have mentioned that electricity and cell phone service going off during the raid was proof of Pakistani involvement, others are now wondering if the RQ-170 has some nasty tricks that it can play. Looks like the black budget has been going somewhere after all.

20 yrs ago there were machines in university labs that would fit in a van that could generate an EMP strong enough to blow breakers and fry computers at considerable distance - several floors away in a large building - through reinforced concrete walls. They were called Electromagnetic "pinches" and were used in fusion research. Modern tech could probably make them man portable. Shielding was very tricky, a simple Faraday cage didn't get it done.

Originally Posted by JA Boomer

...I realize unexpected things happen during operations, but this seem to be a rather large blunder in a otherwise perfectly executed mission. The conspiracy theorist in me would almost say it was left there on purpose...

Not left on purpose, I'm sure. I tend to agree with gunnut- it was outside the wall, and trying to hit it with a missile and really get a perfect hit isn't all that easy. The SEALS were on a schedule, and had more serious matters to deal with.

It's a small price to pay to get OBL.

Dianne Feinstein gave an interview after the Senate Intelligence Cmte. briefing, what she described was a hard landing due to density altitude and rate of descent. Ambient temp was 17 deg. above expected, which indicates a pretty heavily loaded helo depending on the angle it was coming in.

So it hit the ground hard and broke off the tail, they blew up the remainder and went about their business.

Pakistanis assure us that we will recover the pieces, but it would be easy enough to snag a small chunk.

I don't doubt we have "eyes" on it 24/7 though, we know who is coming and going.