Navy SEALs and Extortion 17

The Largest Single-Day Loss of Life During the War in Afghanistan

By Tom Hawkins

On 6 August 2011, the shooting down of a U.S. Army CH-47D Chinook helicopter, call sign “Extortion 17” (pronounced “One Seven”), resulted in the single deadliest incident involving the U.S. military during the war in Afghanistan. Extortion 17 was hit with a rocket-propelled grenade, crashing the helicopter and killing all 38 onboard instantly. Seventeen were U.S. Navy SEALs and their dog, and five were Naval Special Warfare (NSW) support personnel. Others included the helicopter crew, USAF and U.S. Army Special Operations personnel, an Afghan interpreter, and Afghan commandos.

The original mission that day did not include Navy SEALs. The objective was for Extortion 16 and Extortion 17 helicopters to transport 47 ground troops with the U.S. Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment to capture or kill Qari Tahir, a senior Taliban chief determined to be in Tangi Valley. He had been connected to upper-echelon Taliban leadership in Pakistan. Both helicopters inserted the Rangers safely and returned to base to wait for their call for extraction.

Several hours after being inserted, the Rangers had secured Qari Tahir’s compound and held many of his fighters prisoner, yet they had been unable to locate Qari Tahir. Unfortunately, their situation began to deteriorate as more Taliban fighters began to assemble. Reinforcing the Rangers was now considered crucial, and a Quick-Reaction Force (QRF) was hastily assembled with the core of the assault force comprised of U.S. Navy SEALs.

SEALs were already operating in Tangi Valley and were well-conditioned to the hazardous operating environment. The men frequently operated with U.S. Army pilots and crews. The SEALs had spent weeks conducting operations nearly every other night to capture or kill Taliban forces, disrupt attacks, and deny them sanctuary in Tangi Valley’s strategic approach to Kabul City.

Because of the urgency, a decision was made that, to get the QRF on the ground as quickly as possible, they would all fly on the same helicopter: Extortion 17. The intention was to land and act with such speed that the Taliban would have little time to react. Extortion 16 would fly empty, hovering on station nearby in case needed.

When Extortion 17 was traveling slowly and maneuvering to land, Taliban fighters positioned in a two-story building with rocket-propelled grenade (RPGs) launchers were prepared. The helicopter was an easy target. Two RPGs were fired almost simultaneously, causing the helicopter to crash and explode. The resulting crash instantly killed all 38 people on board.

Fifteen Navy SEALs, killed with their combat-assault dog, were members of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, two were from SEAL Team FIVE, and five were NSW support personnel. Others included the U.S. Army aviator crew, five Army Special Operations Forces personnel, one Combat Controller and two Pararescuemen from the USAF 24th Special Tactics Squadron, seven Afghan commandos, and one Afghan interpreter.

The American deaths were the greatest single loss of life suffered in the then 24-year history of the U.S. Special Operations Command.

Known Resources:
“Betrayed: The Shocking True Story of Extortion 17 as told by a Navy SEAL’s Father,” © 2013, by Billy Vaughn.
“The Final Mission of EXTORTION 17,” © 2017 by Ed Darack.
“Call Sign Extortion 17: The Shoot-Down of SEAL Team Six,” © 2018 by Don Brown.

SGT Alexander J. Bennett
SPC Spencer Duncan
CWO Bryan J. Nichols
CWO David R. Carter
SSG Patrick D. Hamburger
TSgt John W. Brown
SSgt Andrew W. Harvell
TSgt Daniel L. Zerbe
PO1 (SEAL) Darrik C. Benson
CPO (SEAL) Brian R. Bill
PO1 (SEAL) Christopher G. Campbell
PO1 Jared W. Day
CPO (SEAL) Heath M. Robinson
PO2 (SEAL) Nicholas P. Spehar
PO1 Michael J. Strange
PO1 (SEAL) Jon T. Tumilson