Soldiers in the United States Army must be able to rely on one another in every situation on the battlefield. Support can come in all different forms, from boots on the ground to military vehicles, air support, and beyond.
A video posted to YouTube shows U.S. Army and Afghan soldiers getting caught under Taliban sniper ambush. In order to regain control over the situation, an airstrike is called in and an A-10 Warthog comes to the rescue.
Check out the harrowing video below:
According to the video’s description, the soldiers were in the midst of conducting a search on villages in the hopes of locating enemy weapons and IED factories.
“The U.S. mission is to disrupt Taliban activities in the area and to mentor Afghan soldiers so that they’ll be able to take over operations by 2014,” the uploader wrote.
U.S. and Afghan Army soldiers are caught in a sniper ambush after conducting a search on villages to locate enemy weapons and IED factories. (MilitaryNotes/YouTube)
However, not everything goes according to plan. Within moments, a barrage of gunfire goes off, echoing in every direction. The soldiers attempt to identify the combatants, but are pinned down.
“Enemy fire! Locate them!” one of the soldiers exclaims. A dozen men can be seen with guns at the ready. But in this instance, additional assistance is required.
U.S. and Afghan Army soldiers are caught in a sniper ambush after conducting a search on villages to locate enemy weapons and IED factories. (MilitaryNotes/YouTube)
The video cuts to the sound of the A-10 aircraft flying overhead. The aircraft screams by and drops one single artillery strike on the landscape. In a fireball of flames and smoke, the pilot seems to have nailed his target.
A second shot of the aircraft appears to show it go whizzing by in the opposite direction, with U.S. and Afghan soldiers traversing the landscape after successfully eliminating the threat.
U.S. and Afghan Army soldiers are caught in a sniper ambush after conducting a search on villages to locate enemy weapons and IED factories. (MilitaryNotes/YouTube)
Affectionately nicknamed the Warthog by its crew, the military plane has been a staple in the United States Air Force’s fleet for nearly 50 years. The sinister jet aircraft destroyed thousands of military vehicles in its combat debut during the Gulf War, and continues to be an integral tool for the men and women in uniform.
At any given time, the Warthog packs a number of armament that includes a 30mm rotary cannon, multiple rocket pods, air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles, guided and unguided bombs, targeting pods and drop tanks.
