bobdina
11-27-2009, 03:21 PM
Lance Bombardier gunning for the Taliban in Helmand
A Military Operations news article
27 Nov 09
Six weeks into his deployment to northern Afghanistan, Lance Bombardier Michael McClarence is using one of the Army's powerful artillery guns to keep the enemy's head down.
Lance Bombardier (LBdr) Michael McClarence from 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery is based in Forward Operating Base Inkerman in Helmand province.
He works as the Second-in-Command on a 105mm Light Gun, one of the powerful artillery pieces used to give firepower support to the troops on the front line. He said:
"My primary task is to make sure the Light Gun fires quickly and accurately when called upon to assist ISAF troops in contact with the enemy insurgents.
"Often the troops need help on the ground, either high-explosive rounds to attack the enemy or non-kinetic help such as providing smoke so they can extract, or illuminating shells at night so they can see."
"As Gunners, our primary role is to find and, where appropriate, strike the Taliban to disrupt their ability to menace the population.
"Our primary difficulty is that for much of the time they look exactly like the rest of the population, so patience and focus are the keys to success.
"The challenge is disrupting the Taliban without harming the people they hide amongst, but we have the skill, determination and patience to succeed.
"The training has equipped us well to confront the split-second decisions of whether to fire, or what to fire, and what the implications of firing might be.
"Success here will help us separate the insurgents from the people, thus increasing the levels of security the people have to live and prosper within.
"I normally work on the AS90 gun so we had to learn to use a different one for the terrain in Afghanistan which was very challenging and I enjoyed it a lot.
"The challenge is disrupting the Taliban without harming the people they hide amongst, but we have the skill, determination and patience to succeed."
Lance Bombardier Michael McClarence
"Our job is very important and it's great to know that you play such an important part helping troops on the front line.
"It's quite a responsibility, I look after the welfare of the soldiers in my gun detachment making sure the sentry sangers are well manned and vigilant at all times as the Taliban are swift to attack without warning."
Aged 22, LBdr McClarence, from Bolton, joined the Royal Artillery after basic training at Lichfield and has since been based in Tidworth.
In his four years in the Army his job has taken him on operational duty to Iraq in 2007 and presently Afghanistan. From starting at the rank of gunner he has progressed with experience and maturity to his present rank of bombardier.
When asked for his thoughts on the deployment so far he said:
"I have gained a lot of gunnery experience here in Afghanistan so far, presenting me with new challenges every day."
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/LanceBombardierGunningForTheTalibanInHelmand.htm
A Military Operations news article
27 Nov 09
Six weeks into his deployment to northern Afghanistan, Lance Bombardier Michael McClarence is using one of the Army's powerful artillery guns to keep the enemy's head down.
Lance Bombardier (LBdr) Michael McClarence from 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery is based in Forward Operating Base Inkerman in Helmand province.
He works as the Second-in-Command on a 105mm Light Gun, one of the powerful artillery pieces used to give firepower support to the troops on the front line. He said:
"My primary task is to make sure the Light Gun fires quickly and accurately when called upon to assist ISAF troops in contact with the enemy insurgents.
"Often the troops need help on the ground, either high-explosive rounds to attack the enemy or non-kinetic help such as providing smoke so they can extract, or illuminating shells at night so they can see."
"As Gunners, our primary role is to find and, where appropriate, strike the Taliban to disrupt their ability to menace the population.
"Our primary difficulty is that for much of the time they look exactly like the rest of the population, so patience and focus are the keys to success.
"The challenge is disrupting the Taliban without harming the people they hide amongst, but we have the skill, determination and patience to succeed.
"The training has equipped us well to confront the split-second decisions of whether to fire, or what to fire, and what the implications of firing might be.
"Success here will help us separate the insurgents from the people, thus increasing the levels of security the people have to live and prosper within.
"I normally work on the AS90 gun so we had to learn to use a different one for the terrain in Afghanistan which was very challenging and I enjoyed it a lot.
"The challenge is disrupting the Taliban without harming the people they hide amongst, but we have the skill, determination and patience to succeed."
Lance Bombardier Michael McClarence
"Our job is very important and it's great to know that you play such an important part helping troops on the front line.
"It's quite a responsibility, I look after the welfare of the soldiers in my gun detachment making sure the sentry sangers are well manned and vigilant at all times as the Taliban are swift to attack without warning."
Aged 22, LBdr McClarence, from Bolton, joined the Royal Artillery after basic training at Lichfield and has since been based in Tidworth.
In his four years in the Army his job has taken him on operational duty to Iraq in 2007 and presently Afghanistan. From starting at the rank of gunner he has progressed with experience and maturity to his present rank of bombardier.
When asked for his thoughts on the deployment so far he said:
"I have gained a lot of gunnery experience here in Afghanistan so far, presenting me with new challenges every day."
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/LanceBombardierGunningForTheTalibanInHelmand.htm