Qualla: Battle of Wanat https://qualla.com/battle-of-wanat en-us © 2026 Bendyline Mon, 20 Jul 2026 10:21:32 GMT Qualla serial false Qualla support@bendyline.com yes https://qualla.com/_m/t/w/4/r/battle-of-wanat-wp/hero-small.webp Qualla: Battle of Wanat https://qualla.com/battle-of-wanat Battle of Wanat: Introduction https://qualla.com/battle-of-wanat/ Photo credit "173rd ABCT soldiers", Public domain. The militants began flooding an irrigation ditch the day before. The background noise of rushing water masked the sound of fighters moving into position around the tiny American patrol base at Wanat, a village in Afghanistan's far eastern Nuristan Province. At dawn on July 13, 2008, an estimated 200 Taliban insurgents opened fire simultaneously from the mountains, the farmland, and the village itself. Vehicle Patrol Base Kahler had been under construction for only five days. Its defenses were incomplete. What followed was among the most devastating coordinated attacks on American forces in the entire Afghan war.

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]]> Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/t/w/4/r/battle-of-wanat-wp/tw4r-battle-of-wanat-intro.mp3 0:06 1 full Battle of Wanat: Five Days to Build, Five Minutes to Breach https://qualla.com/battle-of-wanat/ Photo credit "173rd ABCT soldiers", Public domain. The platoon had arrived after dark on July 8 -- 48 American soldiers and 24 Afghans from 2nd Platoon, Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade. They drove from Camp Blessing in five armored Humvees, a 90-minute convoy through hostile terrain....

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]]> Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/t/w/4/r/battle-of-wanat-wp/tw4r-battle-of-wanat-five-days-to-build-five-minutes-to-breach.mp3 0:06 2 full Battle of Wanat: The Fight for Topside https://qualla.com/battle-of-wanat/ Photo credit "173rd ABCT soldiers", Public domain. A small observation post called Topside sat 50 to 70 meters outside the main base, nestled among rocks under a tree. Seven soldiers manned it under Forward Observer Sergeant Ryan Pitts. The first rounds hit with terrible accuracy, wounding or stunning every soldier at the positio...

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]]> Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/t/w/4/r/battle-of-wanat-wp/tw4r-battle-of-wanat-the-fight-for-topside.mp3 0:06 3 full Battle of Wanat: Ninety-Six Rounds of 155mm https://qualla.com/battle-of-wanat/ Photo credit "173rd ABCT soldiers", Public domain. At the main base, the situation was nearly as desperate. The Taliban had destroyed much of the Americans' heavy weaponry in the opening minutes and breached the eastern barriers. Fighters threw rocks that soldiers initially mistook for grenades, flushing them from cover. Medic PF...

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]]> Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/t/w/4/r/battle-of-wanat-wp/tw4r-battle-of-wanat-ninety-six-rounds-of-155mm.mp3 0:06 4 full Battle of Wanat: Investigations and Recriminations https://qualla.com/battle-of-wanat/ Photo credit "173rd ABCT soldiers", Public domain. The aftermath generated as much controversy as the battle itself. An Army investigation completed in August 2008 found that local Afghan police had assisted the Taliban -- large weapons caches were discovered in the police barracks, far more than a 20-man force could use. A civil...

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]]> Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/t/w/4/r/battle-of-wanat-wp/tw4r-battle-of-wanat-investigations-and-recriminations.mp3 0:06 5 full Battle of Wanat: What Remains at Wanat https://qualla.com/battle-of-wanat/ Photo credit "173rd ABCT soldiers", Public domain. In July 2014, Sergeant Ryan Pitts received the Medal of Honor for his actions that morning -- holding Topside alone, wounded and bleeding, until help arrived. He was 22 years old during the battle. The Army's official praise for the soldiers who fought at Wanat acknowledged what ...

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]]> Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/t/w/4/r/battle-of-wanat-wp/tw4r-battle-of-wanat-what-remains-at-wanat.mp3 0:06 6 full