The Battle Rio hato army air base|200px|left At H-hour two F-117A stealth fighter-bombers delivered two 2,000-lb. precision bombs in an attempt to stun and confuse the PDF garrison of two heavily armed infantry companies defending the airfield. Instead of landing at their targets both bombs set off nearby waking the garrison. The PDF 6th and 7th Rifle companies numbered at 520 troops in all. In addition to this the 7th company was known to be a "part of Noriega's best trained and most loyal forces". Thirteen C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, having flown nonstop from the United States, parachuted in two battalions of rangers from a  dangerously low altitude of  500 feet. The paratroopers suffered casualties when they received fire in the air and a dozen  were injured while landing.   Gathering quickly in the darkness, two companies of rangers fanned out to isolate the airfield, cut the Pan-American Highway running through it, and seize a nearby ammunition dump.  &  &   Meanwhile, another company attacked a nearby NCO academy complex and yet another struck the two PDF companies deployed to defend the airfield. The fighting turned into a ferocious exchange of fire, with the ground fire of the rangers heavily reinforced by support from an AC-130 "Spectre" gunship and several attack helicopters. The contested buildings fell in room-to-room fighting following a liberal use of grenades and automatic rifles at close ranges. The Battle of Rio Hato Airfield in total, went on for roughly five hours, by which time the rangers had secured Rio Hato, as well as Noriega’s lavish beach house nearby  &  .
==The Battle== Rio hato army air base|200px|left At H-hour two F-117A stealth fighter-bombers delivered two 2,000-lb. precision bombs in an attempt to stun and confuse the PDF garrison of two heavily armed infantry companies defending the airfield. Instead of landing at their targets both bombs set off nearby waking the garrison. The PDF 6th and 7th Rifle companies numbered at 520 troops in all. In addition to this the 7th company was known to be a "part of Noriega's best trained and most loyal forces". Thirteen C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, having flown nonstop from the United States, parachuted in the entire battalion of 2/75 Rangers 1 company from 3/75 Rangers, with the remainder of 3/75 going to Howard AFB in reserve as a reactionary force. The jump was conducted from a dangerously low altitude of 490 feet. This due to intel. stating the AA could not track accurately below 500 feet. Regardless, 11 of the 13 aircraft were hit by 23mm anti-aircraft fire. The faster than normal air speed of 170 knots the low altitude contributed to the several dozen that were injured while landing. Multiple Rangers were also wounded by ground fire coming thru the aircraft. Several more wounded while under canopy also from ground fire. At least 1 Ranger was killed, 1 paralyzed when there static lines were cut from AA fire. Gathering quickly in the darkness, two companies of Rangers fanned out to isolate the airfield, cut the Pan-American Highway running through it, and seize a nearby ammunition dump. 2 (possibly more) military trucks filled with PDF soldiers drove down the runway adjacent dirt road raking the wounded& assembling Rangers with small arms .50 BMG fire. These were dispatched by a Ranger Platoon Sgt. from 3/75 with a LAW rocket,& 1 NCO from A-2/75 who fired on a truck with a 1911 .45 caliber pistol inadvertently hit the gas tank, exploding said vehicle. Meanwhile, another company attacked a nearby NCO academy complex and yet another struck the two PDF companies deployed to defend the airfield. The fighting turned into a ferocious exchange of fire, with the ground fire of the rangers heavily reinforced by support from an AC-130 "Spectre" gunship and several attack helicopters. The contested buildings fell in room-to-room fighting following a liberal use of grenades and automatic rifles at close ranges. The Battle of Rio Hato Airfield in total, went on for roughly five hours, by which time the rangers had secured Rio Hato, as well as Noriega’s lavish beach house nearby . At least 1 APC engaged Rangers on the west end of the airfield. It was dispatched by Rangers firing LAW rockets& AC130 Spectre gun ship simultaneously .
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The Battle
==The Battle==
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two battalions of rangers from a
the entire battalion of 2/75 Rangers
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1 company from 3/75 Rangers, with the remainder of 3/75 going to Howard AFB in reserve as a reactionary force. The jump was conducted from a
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490 feet. This due to intel. stating the AA could not track accurately below
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The paratroopers suffered casualties when they received fire in the air and a dozen
Regardless, 11 of the 13 aircraft were hit by 23mm anti-aircraft fire. The faster than normal air speed of 170 knots
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the low altitude contributed to the several dozen that
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Multiple Rangers were also wounded by ground fire coming thru the aircraft. Several more wounded while under canopy also from ground fire. At least 1 Ranger was killed,
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1 paralyzed when there static lines were cut from AA fire.
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rangers
Rangers
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2 (possibly more) military trucks filled with PDF soldiers drove down the runway
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adjacent dirt road raking the wounded
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assembling Rangers with small arms
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.50 BMG fire. These were dispatched by a Ranger Platoon Sgt. from 3/75 with a LAW rocket,
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1 NCO from A-2/75 who fired on a truck with a 1911 .45 caliber pistol
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inadvertently hit the gas tank, exploding said vehicle.
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.
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At least 1 APC engaged Rangers on the west end of the airfield. It was dispatched by Rangers firing LAW rockets
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AC130 Spectre gun ship simultaneously