bobdina
10-01-2009, 03:31 PM
Scots Soldiers Smash Taliban Bomb-Makers' Stronghold
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Source: Ministry of Defence
Hundreds of soldiers from The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS), launched an 'audacious' night-time assault on an insurgent stronghold in Kandahar province, finding an 'Aladdin's cave' of weapons.
Almost 500 soldiers, including Afghan Warriors and Canadian IED (improvised explosive device) experts, swooped into Howz-e Madad in Zhari district in three waves of six Chinook helicopters in the early hours of Monday 14 September 2009.
The masses of troops landed almost within touching distance of enemy positions, causing chaos and mayhem among the insurgents who were quickly engulfed by ISAF forces.
Supported by British, Canadian and American fast jets, attack helicopters and unmanned drones co-ordinated by experienced fire controllers from 40 Regiment Royal Artillery, the soldiers touched down in an area known to be one of the biggest insurgent strongholds in southern Afghanistan.
The insurgents opened fire, initiating a series of intense fire fights. Air support proved vital to the soldiers on the ground, as Private Kevin Murphy recalled:
"The weight of fire from the aircraft was staggering; it was like a fireworks show as heavy-calibre cannon and rockets ripped into the tree-lines around us as the insurgents tried to regroup; some of it was very close to us but we had total faith in the pilots above."
As dawn broke on the first day, Alpha (Grenadier) Company began to exploit the compounds that they had assaulted. They found an 'Aladdin's cave' of insurgent ammunition, 28kg of explosives, medical supplies, communications equipment and weaponry.
"The plan was an audacious one; we assaulted from helicopters literally into the insurgents' backyard."
Major Matt Munro
The finds included two motorbikes rigged as suicide bombs. Significantly, a grenade-launcher and recoilless rifle, both of which had been used effectively against coalition forces in the area for some months, were also recovered.
Meanwhile, Bravo Company had broken into three insurgent defensive lines to link with Alpha Company. They fought off insurgent counter-attacks to hold their ground. Corporal Jim Copeland said:
"The insurgent's defences were extraordinary. The wadi was lined with dug-in bunkers with interconnecting trenches, rat-runs and tunnel systems.
"IEDs laced the ground to their front. To the rear, the buildings had carefully constructed sniper positions and nearby hides were found where they cached their weapons.
"All around, strike marks in the walls told the story of where previous coalition assaults had attempted to dislodge the insurgent."
Charlie (Fire Support) Company secured the Battle Group's northern boundary, finding further IEDs, fighting back the insurgents, and, ultimately, securing a safe route and location for other elements of the Battle Group to extract to after the deep strike had been completed.
Operating in what was effectively the enemy's front line, there were few, if any, local farmers; all the compounds had been long abandoned and prepared as firing positions.
The insurgents were clearly aware of how important this northern flank was and launched an intensive attack on the company positions which was repelled by a combination of machine gun fire and helicopter support.
Sadly one young soldier was seriously injured during the battle as he worked to clear the extraction route for his comrades from Alpha Company.
Major Ben Cattermole of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, commanding Charlie (Fire Support) Company, said:
"Tragically during the operation to secure the extraction route of Alpha Company, a young soldier was struck by an IED.
"He had been working tirelessly for 48 hours to protect Alpha Company's route, and was about to join Bravo Company to continue to take the fight to the enemy when the incident happened.
"His comrades' immediate actions to treat his wounds were exemplary and second-to-none.
"Our thoughts and prayers are now with him and his family as he continues to undergo surgery back in the UK. His sacrifice will not be forgotten."
Over the next few days, the Battle Group manoeuvred in order to maintain the initiative. There were more finds of insurgent arms and explosives and a number of fire fights in which more insurgents were killed.
Alpha Company's Corporal Richard Clark described a section attack that he commanded against an enemy position:
"The coalition forces in southern Afghanistan have combined extremely effectively to deliver a devastating strike."
Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Cartwright
"A pure adrenaline rush; as our mortar fire mission lifted we knew that we had to push forward to clear that particular enemy position. All the months and years of training simply kicked in; the insurgents never stood a chance."
Now accompanied by a troop of Canadian tanks, the operation culminated in a Bravo Company break-in of the village of Kolk. Lance Corporal Scott Mackie was at the forefront of their insertion on foot:
"The insertion was gruelling and we moved only 500 metres in the first two hours. We spent most of the time up to our waists in mud and water as we moved through the wadi systems avoiding the dozens of IEDs laid to our flanks, designed to halt us in our tracks."
During the final phase of the attack, insurgents were caught laying a further IED screen and were quickly engaged by attack helicopter. The break-in and search, in the face of further enemy counter-attacks, provided key intelligence for further operations in the area.
Major Matt Munro, Officer Commanding Alpha (Grenadier) Company, described the operation as an 'unqualified success':
"The plan was an audacious one; we assaulted from helicopters literally into the insurgents' backyard. We destroyed a number of enemy fighters and denied them their arms and equipment. Our actions will have a substantive impact on the insurgency in this part of southern Afghanistan."
Major Al Steele, working alongside Major Munro, as Officer Commanding Bravo Company, said that the insurgents had 'been given a bloody nose'. He explained:
"Yet again The Black Watch has proved that there is nowhere that the insurgents can operate with impunity."
The Commanding Officer of 3 SCOTS, Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Cartwright, said that the impact of the operation would be felt throughout the area:
"We have badly damaged their IED-making capacity in this important area of Kandahar province and destroyed their defensive positions. Above all, the combination of the canny Jock on the ground and surveillance from the air has delivered a physical and psychological blow to the insurgent's credibility in what they consider to be their safe haven.
"The coalition forces in southern Afghanistan have combined extremely effectively to deliver a devastating strike."
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Source: Ministry of Defence
Hundreds of soldiers from The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS), launched an 'audacious' night-time assault on an insurgent stronghold in Kandahar province, finding an 'Aladdin's cave' of weapons.
Almost 500 soldiers, including Afghan Warriors and Canadian IED (improvised explosive device) experts, swooped into Howz-e Madad in Zhari district in three waves of six Chinook helicopters in the early hours of Monday 14 September 2009.
The masses of troops landed almost within touching distance of enemy positions, causing chaos and mayhem among the insurgents who were quickly engulfed by ISAF forces.
Supported by British, Canadian and American fast jets, attack helicopters and unmanned drones co-ordinated by experienced fire controllers from 40 Regiment Royal Artillery, the soldiers touched down in an area known to be one of the biggest insurgent strongholds in southern Afghanistan.
The insurgents opened fire, initiating a series of intense fire fights. Air support proved vital to the soldiers on the ground, as Private Kevin Murphy recalled:
"The weight of fire from the aircraft was staggering; it was like a fireworks show as heavy-calibre cannon and rockets ripped into the tree-lines around us as the insurgents tried to regroup; some of it was very close to us but we had total faith in the pilots above."
As dawn broke on the first day, Alpha (Grenadier) Company began to exploit the compounds that they had assaulted. They found an 'Aladdin's cave' of insurgent ammunition, 28kg of explosives, medical supplies, communications equipment and weaponry.
"The plan was an audacious one; we assaulted from helicopters literally into the insurgents' backyard."
Major Matt Munro
The finds included two motorbikes rigged as suicide bombs. Significantly, a grenade-launcher and recoilless rifle, both of which had been used effectively against coalition forces in the area for some months, were also recovered.
Meanwhile, Bravo Company had broken into three insurgent defensive lines to link with Alpha Company. They fought off insurgent counter-attacks to hold their ground. Corporal Jim Copeland said:
"The insurgent's defences were extraordinary. The wadi was lined with dug-in bunkers with interconnecting trenches, rat-runs and tunnel systems.
"IEDs laced the ground to their front. To the rear, the buildings had carefully constructed sniper positions and nearby hides were found where they cached their weapons.
"All around, strike marks in the walls told the story of where previous coalition assaults had attempted to dislodge the insurgent."
Charlie (Fire Support) Company secured the Battle Group's northern boundary, finding further IEDs, fighting back the insurgents, and, ultimately, securing a safe route and location for other elements of the Battle Group to extract to after the deep strike had been completed.
Operating in what was effectively the enemy's front line, there were few, if any, local farmers; all the compounds had been long abandoned and prepared as firing positions.
The insurgents were clearly aware of how important this northern flank was and launched an intensive attack on the company positions which was repelled by a combination of machine gun fire and helicopter support.
Sadly one young soldier was seriously injured during the battle as he worked to clear the extraction route for his comrades from Alpha Company.
Major Ben Cattermole of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, commanding Charlie (Fire Support) Company, said:
"Tragically during the operation to secure the extraction route of Alpha Company, a young soldier was struck by an IED.
"He had been working tirelessly for 48 hours to protect Alpha Company's route, and was about to join Bravo Company to continue to take the fight to the enemy when the incident happened.
"His comrades' immediate actions to treat his wounds were exemplary and second-to-none.
"Our thoughts and prayers are now with him and his family as he continues to undergo surgery back in the UK. His sacrifice will not be forgotten."
Over the next few days, the Battle Group manoeuvred in order to maintain the initiative. There were more finds of insurgent arms and explosives and a number of fire fights in which more insurgents were killed.
Alpha Company's Corporal Richard Clark described a section attack that he commanded against an enemy position:
"The coalition forces in southern Afghanistan have combined extremely effectively to deliver a devastating strike."
Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Cartwright
"A pure adrenaline rush; as our mortar fire mission lifted we knew that we had to push forward to clear that particular enemy position. All the months and years of training simply kicked in; the insurgents never stood a chance."
Now accompanied by a troop of Canadian tanks, the operation culminated in a Bravo Company break-in of the village of Kolk. Lance Corporal Scott Mackie was at the forefront of their insertion on foot:
"The insertion was gruelling and we moved only 500 metres in the first two hours. We spent most of the time up to our waists in mud and water as we moved through the wadi systems avoiding the dozens of IEDs laid to our flanks, designed to halt us in our tracks."
During the final phase of the attack, insurgents were caught laying a further IED screen and were quickly engaged by attack helicopter. The break-in and search, in the face of further enemy counter-attacks, provided key intelligence for further operations in the area.
Major Matt Munro, Officer Commanding Alpha (Grenadier) Company, described the operation as an 'unqualified success':
"The plan was an audacious one; we assaulted from helicopters literally into the insurgents' backyard. We destroyed a number of enemy fighters and denied them their arms and equipment. Our actions will have a substantive impact on the insurgency in this part of southern Afghanistan."
Major Al Steele, working alongside Major Munro, as Officer Commanding Bravo Company, said that the insurgents had 'been given a bloody nose'. He explained:
"Yet again The Black Watch has proved that there is nowhere that the insurgents can operate with impunity."
The Commanding Officer of 3 SCOTS, Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Cartwright, said that the impact of the operation would be felt throughout the area:
"We have badly damaged their IED-making capacity in this important area of Kandahar province and destroyed their defensive positions. Above all, the combination of the canny Jock on the ground and surveillance from the air has delivered a physical and psychological blow to the insurgent's credibility in what they consider to be their safe haven.
"The coalition forces in southern Afghanistan have combined extremely effectively to deliver a devastating strike."