Battle of Sangin (2010)


The Battle for Sangin was an extended campaign during the War in Afghanistan. Third Battalion Seventh Marine Regiment initiated clearing operations. Third Battalion Fifth Marine Regiment continued and is credited with completing the clearing phase. Sangin is considered the bloodiest battleground of Afghanistan by both US and British alike. With both nations suffering the loss of over 100 killed in action, and several hundred moderate to severe casualties. The volatile campaign in the Sangin Valley has been extensively covered in the media by Wall Street Journal, Time, USA Today, and other publications.

US Marine battle history

In September 2010, Liam Fox, the United Kingdom's Secretary of State for Defense, announced that northern Helmand would be transferred to the U. S. Marines. The British troops withdrew on September 20, 2010 to be replaced by 3rd Battalion 7th Marines. 3/7 deployed to Helmand province, Afghanistan from March 2010 to October 2010. During this deployment, the Marines of 3/7 faced daily attacks and operated in various locations including Musa Qaleh, Marjah, and Sangin.
In Sangin, 3/7 relieved the 40 Commando of the British Royal Marines in July 2010 and began clearing operations in some of the most dangerous areas of Afghanistan, where they begin operation "Sangin Sunrise" which cleared all the tree lines that led to the Helmand River with 1st Marine Tank Division and established bases such as PB Fires, COP Dragon and others later destroyed by 3/5. 3/7 was later relieved by 3/5 in September 2010. 3rd Battalion 5th Marine Regiment, commanded by LtCol Jason Morris, continued clearing operations in early October 2010. Members of 3/5 conducted clearing operations in the Sangin District of Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of the War in Afghanistan between September 2010 and April 2011. Attached to 3/5 was Kilo company of the Third Battalion Twenty-Fifth Marine Regiment commanded by Major Alexander Snowden. Kilo Company along with Echo company Second Battalion Ninth Marines and Naval Corpsman from Regimental Combat Team 2 These units came to the aid of 3/5 due to the number of casualties, 25 KIA, 184 WIA, sustained during the immediate months in their deployment in Sangin, thus allowing the unit to more effectively clear through Sangin. They were actively in Sangin from October 2010 until April 2011 at which point the unit was relieved by First Battalion Fifth Marine Regiment which began the second phase of Sangin, returning in October 2011 with 17 KIA, 191 WIA.
Sangin was a region that was primarily shaped, cleared, held, and built by the units: 1/6, 3/7, 3/5, 3/25, 1/23, 2/8, 2/9, 1/5, 1/7, 2/7, 1st Tanks, 1st/2nd/3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 8th ESB, 7th ESB, 1st CEB, 2nd CEB, 3rd CEB and members of MARSOC/USASOC/NAVSOC.

Casualties