Gosh guys you are putting me on the spot. I have not sat down and looked at the numbers in almost 8 or 9 years now. I have some notes put away in a box of junk from Mog but after looking for the map for Pete a few months back I have not been back to rummage through it. I will tell you this off the top of my head. I thought the OB Pete had was a bit on the high side. The cap on the deployment was either 450 or 500 for TF Ranger. That is support and action folks. The numbers for the QRF (AKA the not so QRF) are about right. The Ranger contingent was about right from memory.

There is a photo of the Ranger element somewhere on the net. As far as TF Green elements a Saber Squadron is around 55 or so guys plus EOD, CCT, Medics and a few support guys. There is also the sniper team from ST6. There were around a dozen or so SOF guy working some special projects but most did not take part in the direct action or the relief column. Now the second relief column, the one VanArsdale lead, was made up of almost anyone who had SF or combat arms experience from the TOC and support element. That is one reason the convoy had so little room when they linked up with C Squadron at the crash site. Now as far as # in a Black Hawk is concerned no there were not 75 in four birds. I would put the number off the top of my head at around 8 to 10. We did plan and practice to put as many as 20 plus in them for the evaluation of Kuwait embassy during the Gulf War. (Thank God we never did that Op.) The number of 5 tons and Humvees in the relief column is, I think, too high also. Only about 1/2 to 3/4 had 50 cals or Mk19s. Most were unarmoured and open compartment.

Here is something you might find interesting...

Garrisons letter of 4 Oct 93 listed the casualties as 1SFOD - 1 KIA, 2 DOW, WIA 15, MIA 2 TF 1 - 160 2 KIA, 4 WIA, 4 MIA 3/75 RGR - 5 KIA, 1 DOW, 38 WIA 24 STS - 1 WIA ST - 6 1 WIA JSOTF - 1 WIA Totals 8 KIA, 3 DOW, 58 WIA, 6 MIA. Other casualties were: QRF 1 KIA, 22 WIA, Malaysian 1 KIA, 9 WIA, Pakistan 2 WIA. NOW I am here to tell you that the WIA total is bull. The walking wounded in the Hanger were not counted. Check the Purple Hearts awarded (I always hated that word "awarded") during the battle. I did a rough count and figured the casualty rate of 40% of the assault element. TF Ranger was combat ineffective after that and A Squadron and more Rangers arrived over the next few days.