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Old 05-03-2011, 11:56 AM   #5
Undertoad
Radical Centrist
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Cottage of Prussia
Posts: 31,423
I think Clinton's document is probably a better-res version of this:



Pajamas fellow Wretchard -- an armchair military analyst, but a very good one -- points out the details of the compound:
Quote:
It is shaped like a truncated isosceles triangle with one vertex lopped off. The triangular compound was surrounded by high walls. But it was also internally subdivided, like a ship, in order to make it impossible for a landing force to alight directly within it. The living quarters were grouped in a keep, walled off from the rest of the compound by an alley to either side.

It was designed to delay an assault team long enough for reinforcements to arrive. But the SEALs apparently brought the helicopters down into the confined space anyhow. One of the SEAL helicopters can be seen in this picture of the aftermath, apparently hung up on a high wall.

Interestingly, the Google Maps satellite view shows a series of circular excavations on the interior side of the outer wall. Whatever was to destined be placed there would still leave a clear field of fire from the house but considerably constrict the open space. It would have reduced the maximum available rotor diameter space to something like 20 meters. The CH-53 has a 24 meter rotor diameter and UH-60 has a rotor diameter of about 16 meters.
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