Читать книгу Weapon of Choice: The Operations of U.S. Army Special Forces in Afghanistan - Combat Studies Institute - Страница 24

The compressed time line drove the 160th SOAR “helicopter buildup” teams, the D Company mechanics, the maintenance test pilots, and the B Company crew members to attack the aircraft like “ants on a Twinkie.” Despite the fatigue and jet lag from the long journey, the buildup crews performed exceptionally well. Quality control NCOs who certified every completed maintenance task found only three minor errors during the night helicopter buildups. MH-60L DAP crewmen and mechanics unloaded their helicopter gunships to prevent damage when it became evident that the Air Force TALCE and C-17 loadmasters were unfamiliar with these aircraft. Thus, within 24 hours, the JSOAC had an immediate reaction force.

Figure 45. Aircraft maintenance was a crucial factor for success.

When the rest of the helicopters arrived the next day, the mechanics and aircrews had to forego their rest and subsist on short catnaps until all four Chinooks and the two DAPs had been built up, test flown, and made mission ready. Within 48 hours, the entire Army helicopter fleet had been made ready for war. Exhausted maintenance crews fell asleep alongside helicopters on the guano-covered floors of concrete bunkers. When they awoke the next day, they were covered with dust and debris from a sandstorm.

The 160th SOAR MH-47E Chinook and MH-60L DAP Black Hawk pilots and aircrews spent the first week in Uzbekistan rehearsing combat search and rescue (CSAR) scenarios. LTC Brinks, the JSOAC commander, believed that it was imperative that his staff, the 160th SOAR enlisted planners, and the aircrews could seamlessly exercise their mission responsibilities. He knew from experience during Operation DESERT STORM that time was the critical element in successfully recovering a downed pilot or aircrew in northern Afghanistan. His acceptable standard was to launch a rescue within an hour of notification, and it was met.