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Admiral Howe, a UN senior administrator, requested the use of United States Special Forces - specifically Delta Force and Army Rangers. The group consisted of 400 well-trained and disciplined specialist that were collectively designated "'Task Force Ranger" (TFR) with the sole purpose of capturing Aidid.
From the beginning, the required intelligence for the group was poor. On one occasion, TFR kidnapped a Somali thought to be Aidid only to have his identity confirmed as someone else, in particular - and rather embarrassingly, a large US supporter within the country. The detachment then mistakenly arrested and detained eight members of a special UN envoy until, finally, on September 23rd, a US helicopter was shot down by enemy forces, killing three aboard. The $25,000US bounty put on Aidid's head was not enough for locals or his supporters to turn him in.
Somali guerillas gained several tactical advantages during this period. They were fighting on familiar ground and leaders could muster an army of several thousand men and boys in short order. Their civilian appearance made identifying friend from foe impossible to American troops. The Somalis also learned a great deal of the American strategy in the theater, particularly in the timed response of air support dispatching to assist ground forces. They understood Army Rangers were utilized to cordon the outlying areas of an engagement zone and Delta Force were used to clear structures within. Within time, Somali commanders were able to draw up their own tactical plans and respond to the American response in turn.
Special Forces elements were lightly armed warriors fielding submarine guns, automatic rifles and light machine guns. Delta Force members were issued variety of assault rifles whilst Army Rangers could count on the support of squad-level, small-caliber machine guns in the M60 and M249 SAW. Heavy-caliber, vehicle-mounted 0.50 caliber weapons might be available on lightly-armored HUMVEE vehicles though the main line of heavy support lay in the air cover provided by Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk medium transport and Hughes OH-6 "Little Bird" light helicopters. The Black Hawks were outfitted with a pair of 0.50 caliber heavy machine guns while "Little Birds" fielded a collection of mini-guns, rocket pods or M60 machine guns as needed. The true danger for American troops lay in the scenario where air support was not possible.
Another factor working against American Special Forces was the urban fighting environment where tight streets and passageways were common settings for maneuvering Somali fighters. There proved few wide-open roads and intersections in the city as most of Mogadishu was built from winding alleys with guerillas eventually blocking off certain streets from access with debris. American forces were trained and accustomed to wide-open streets and alleyways of their hometowns and training grounds. Additionally, Mogadishu itself was awash with weapons that could arm all manner of Somalis - men, women and children able to move about the familiar city with ease.
On October 3, 1993, US intelligence learned of a secret meeting to take place in a nondescript, two-story building. It was suggested, and then later confirmed, that Aidid himself would be there and this ultimately presented itself as an opportunity for American elements seize the warlord utilizing the talents of Task Force Ranger.
By the end of the fighting, US casualties numbered 73 wounded, 18 dead and one helicopter pilot taken prisoner (Michael Durant was released after eleven days in captivity). Somali militiamen and civilians (including armed and unarmed women and children) suffered over 500 dead and another 1,000 wounded. What began as a peacekeeping endeavor turned into a nightmare mission of survival that proved a disaster for American prestige and an embarrassment to the Clinton Administration. The gradual withdrawal of US forces from the region gave rise to Osama Bin Laden's rather incorrect assessment that the American soldier was weak and cowardly. The "Black Hawk Down" incident undoubtedly shaped US policy for the long term and restricted American involvement in subsequent humanitarian crisis such as that occurring in Rwanda.
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