FAQ

It would depend on the strength of the roadblock that was set up. A Humvee is a powerful vehicle but not as powerful as a tank. A hastily set-up roadblock might not be as formidable as one that the Somalis had more time to construct but the Humvee drivers probably didn't want to take the chance of losing any more vehicles in the operation.

Additionally, the Somalis would often plant bombs or other types of explosives in the roadblocks making them a more effective deterrent. Likewise, smashing through the road blocks would cause the humvees to slow down as they push through, which could give the Somalis time to ambush them.

Also, debris could also get jammed underneath the vehicle or the tires. Which would also slow down the vehicle or stop them completely.

Yes. Black Hawk Down is based on true events that occurred in Somalia's capital city, Mogadishu (or Moqdishu) in October 1993. Starting in 1992, "Operation: Restore Hope" was the focus of major U.S. military operations in Somalia to supply aid and restore order to Somalia, which had been mired in civil war since 1991. The film is based on the particular mission which became know as the Battle of the Black Sea, (or the Battle Of Mogadishu) or, in Somalia, Ma-alinti Rangers (the Day of the Rangers). Most of the basis for the script came from Mark Bowden's book of the same title which gives a detailed account of the combat events and the lives of the soldiers involved. Although there was a considerable loss of life, the mission was deemed a success, as all mission objectives were accomplished. However, the high number of casualties (and especially the dragging of dead American soldiers by Somali mobs through the streets of Mogadishu) created a backlash in the U.S. By 1994, the Americans left Somalia and the UN followed suit in 1995. After the U.S. withdrawal following this crisis, Somalia slipped further into anarchy and militia-rule. While Somalia's internationally recognized interim government has reasserted its control over Mogadishu in recent years, the country remains a hotbed of insurgent and extremist activity.

According to the DVD commentary by some of the veterans of the mission, the dust kicked up by the choppers was too thick for the pilots to navigate through. As depicted in the film, the dust is thick but not nearly as much as it was in real life. Also, the top rotor of a Black Hawk is very wide and the space between buildings on the street probably was too narrow. Finally, as the veterans have said, there was much more debris and auto wreckage on the streets than shown, likely making it even tougher for a BH pilot to land or hover close to the ground. Such landings weren't as impossible for the smaller helicopters (the Little Birds), as we see in the film.

When I got involved with 1993 Operation Continue Hope, what I noticed compared to this movie was that the buildings at Mogadishu were closer together than depicted. The worst part was also that the walls at the outskirts were we were located at were only about knee high, too short to use as cover. Even if the buildings were far enough apart, a helicopter (U.S. Army 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment) landing between buildings would be subjected to "Vortex ring state", the down wash causes a vortex that forces the helicopter to rapidly be forced down out of control (crash).

It's standard practice to destroy remaining military equipment that can't be salvaged. They do this to mainly prevent enemies from salvaging parts to use against them or others or stealing any advanced technology. Thermite or plastic explosives are commonly used. There's a similar moment in Zero Dark Thirty (2012).

MH-60s of the U.S. Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (S.O.A.R.) are not the same as a U.S. Conventional Warfare Forces UH-60, "Utility Helicopter". The MH-60 even then, 1993, had a HUGE amount of extremely Classified High Tech, including Cryptographic Secure Communications. Attempting to remove all of that would take days.

Bad intelligence about the streets in the Bakaara Market section of Mogadishu and faulty communications between the convoy and those attempting to guide it as Harrell, one of the air observers, notes. The convoy was being directed by a spyplane flying overhead, but rather than communicating directly with Colonel McKnight their instructions first went to the Joint Operations Centre then the Command helicopter overhead. This meant that by the time the convoy got the order to turn it was past the correct point and had to reverse back under fire or would actually turn down the wrong street. Twice during the battle, the convoy drove past the first Black Hawk crash site. Also, the Somali militia were able to set up roadblocks very quickly and effectively. These roadblocks were more than sufficient to prevent Humvees from entering the city or getting near the crash sites.

It's quickly explained in the film as such;

McKnight: I need to know where to turn before I GET TO THE GOD DAMN STREET!

Harrell: You have to slow down first. There's a delay from surveillance, to J.O.C and then to me.

McKnight: We can't slow down! We're taking heavy enemy fire!

After the first home video releases, Sony published an extended version on DVD and logically one has to decide between both versions. Thankfully, there's a comparison out there that may help you, because the extended version features several scenes that can be found as Deleted Scenes on the first DVD release. The majority of added scenes give us a bit more time with the soldiers before the battle. Giving several of the minor characters a moment to stand out.