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Letter from the desert
Hey all,
Just a quick update...
Doubt I can tell you much that you haven't seen in the news, so I won't go on about the situation out here. I'm sure you've all heard about the death of the 45 Cdo lad in a suicide attack in Lash - I believe (please correct me if I'm wrong) this is the first Bootneck death from direct enemy action since the Falklands. The deepest condolences from all of us out here are with his family. Our squadron suffered a casualty when a lad somehow trapped his head between two four tonners, fractured jaw and skull, been cas-evacced, he's gonna be fine though, fortunately.
The tempo of ops is slowly increasing, although everything keeps getting shifted right - but then this is the Corps! Hurry up and wait. Getting increasingly threaders with not getting out on the ground, it's got to happen sooner or later! One of our first convoys out has now been out for over 3 weeks and been attacked a couple of times, and things are predicted to hot up over the next couple of weeks as Ramadan's over.
Other than that, suntan's coming along nicely, with our private nekkid sunbathing area tucked between two tents
We've also constructed a sun-warmed hot tub, essence after a hard day's work (read: lounging). So all is well, if a little dull, in the desert. Speaking to lads at 45 they're as restless as we are, doing endless training and not getting out on the ground much. Everyone just wants to get on with it; hopefully in the next few weeks Brigade will get into the swing of things.
Just a quick update...
Doubt I can tell you much that you haven't seen in the news, so I won't go on about the situation out here. I'm sure you've all heard about the death of the 45 Cdo lad in a suicide attack in Lash - I believe (please correct me if I'm wrong) this is the first Bootneck death from direct enemy action since the Falklands. The deepest condolences from all of us out here are with his family. Our squadron suffered a casualty when a lad somehow trapped his head between two four tonners, fractured jaw and skull, been cas-evacced, he's gonna be fine though, fortunately.
The tempo of ops is slowly increasing, although everything keeps getting shifted right - but then this is the Corps! Hurry up and wait. Getting increasingly threaders with not getting out on the ground, it's got to happen sooner or later! One of our first convoys out has now been out for over 3 weeks and been attacked a couple of times, and things are predicted to hot up over the next couple of weeks as Ramadan's over.
Other than that, suntan's coming along nicely, with our private nekkid sunbathing area tucked between two tents
We've also constructed a sun-warmed hot tub, essence after a hard day's work (read: lounging). So all is well, if a little dull, in the desert. Speaking to lads at 45 they're as restless as we are, doing endless training and not getting out on the ground much. Everyone just wants to get on with it; hopefully in the next few weeks Brigade will get into the swing of things.
Hey all, another update; mods please edit if required, should be fine now tho, it's all done and dusted. It may not be entirely accurate as to who did what, it's just the picture as we saw it and got over the net, so don't quote it as gospel!
Just got back in from a week long jaunt out to Gereshk, which was fun. Started out last Thurs morning with a double trip down to FOB (Forward Operating Base) Price just outside Gereshk, about 30km down the road. Once we'd moved all the stores down to the FOB, we got the usual military hurry up and wait scenario, ending up stuck in the mini-camp down there with absolutely nothing to do except sunbathe! Eventually the task got the green light, and on Saturday afternoon we got orders. Basically we had to move into the town of Gereshk in two waves, transporting material for permanent VCP (vehicle checkpoint) construction and fortification of ANP (Afghan National Police) outposts, dump it at the locations, then provide force protection alongside Whiskey Coy 45 Cdo and Juliet Coy 42 Cdo for the engineers whilst they built.
We left at first light Sunday, the short trip into town being uneventful, as all self respecting muslims were still in their pits at that time! Our wave was to drop the stores and plant near the hydroelectric dam on the river Helmand - the only water (and electricity) for miles around. The two bridges in Gereshk offer the only crossing point for a considerable distance, and as such the town is a hotspot of trouble as the Taliban try to take control of them away from us. However, it was uneventful; we dropped the kit and headed back to FOB Price for the second wave, leaving the engineers along with Juliet Coy to start their work. The run back was a little more entertaining as the town was now throbbing, the streets too narrow to push anyone back away from us, so we were literally feet away from the crowds on either side - a suicide bomber in there would not be nice! Plenty of warning shots and mini-flares were pinged off at people who moved towards us, but fortunately they got the message and no-one was hurt.
The second wave took us to the main ANP outpost in the town on top of a small hill, with a valley to the front and the main residential area of mud buildings on the slope opposite and left, and the dam visible to our half right across a fertile plain about 800m wide. We arrived and dropped off our stores, and got the order to dig shell scrapes as the engineers went to work, in case of enemy fire. We picked up shovels with the usual amount of grumbling associated with digging, and tried to put off the inevitable with discussions about the best spot for a nice trench, when the first incoming mortar landed about 100m to our front in the bottom of the valley. The scrapes got dug pretty quickly after that! A few minutes later a second mortar round landed another 50m or so away, flattening the closest house at the bottom of the opposite slope.
The next couple of hours were a bit of a blur, watching the town to try and ping any enemy or 'dickers' who might be guiding in the mortar fire. Off towards the dam, Juliet started sweeping the plain searching for the mortar positions, and were pretty quickly engaged. Unfortunately the enemy positions were invisible from our position of overwatch by the right hand end of the opposite hill to us, so though we could see the Juliet lads moving in we couldn't give any support
The ANA (Afghan National Army) who we're mentoring actually took the first mortar position, taking two casualties in the process, one dead, one injured. That cut the mortar fire on our position and work quickly progressed, and that was pretty much the end of anything interesting for us, who were left just hanging around watching a now-empty town. Down on the plains the patrols continued, and a second mortar position was found and engaged. Juliet Coy claimed 12 confirmed kills by the end of it, whether that's true or just the lads spinning dits I don't know! We saw a couple of cluster bombs dropped by fast air in the distance, don't know what on though. One of the supporting Vikings got a bit bogged in on some swamp, brushed off 5 hits from RPGs before a sixth one caught the more vulnerable hydraulics, disabling it; the lads had to debus, red phos the vehicle to deny it to the enemy, and bug out on foot, calling in air to destroy the vehicle completely in the process. Unfortunately the lad sent the GPS co-ordinates to where he stood as he bugged out, now 50m or so from the vehicle, so the 2000lb bomb that was dropped bang on target wasn't actually on target - the blast took out 6 more Taliban who'd been trying to strip anything off the vehicle they could, but didn't hurt the Viking much. Doesn't really matter, I imagine they've got rid of it properly by now, but all the essentials (stuff that can't fall into enemy hands) would've been destroyed by the phos anyhow.
Excitement over, as it got dark we finished our position and moved on to the second build, fortifications around the ANP house just outside the town. We again acted as security, setting up two gun positions on a flank, but it was deathly quiet all night. We pulled out the next morning, task completed successfully, and went back to FOB Price for tea and medals. Unfortunately the two cans of beer per man that were allocated for the end of the op were scrapped as the Taliban decided to kick off again in the town, so the grav companies had to go back out or were on 5 minutes notice to move, but hopefully we'll get them eventually! Then this morning we moved back to Bastion.
So first excursion onto the ground over with, few scary moments but none too bad, no UK forces hurt, and task accomplished, so all good news.
Just got back in from a week long jaunt out to Gereshk, which was fun. Started out last Thurs morning with a double trip down to FOB (Forward Operating Base) Price just outside Gereshk, about 30km down the road. Once we'd moved all the stores down to the FOB, we got the usual military hurry up and wait scenario, ending up stuck in the mini-camp down there with absolutely nothing to do except sunbathe! Eventually the task got the green light, and on Saturday afternoon we got orders. Basically we had to move into the town of Gereshk in two waves, transporting material for permanent VCP (vehicle checkpoint) construction and fortification of ANP (Afghan National Police) outposts, dump it at the locations, then provide force protection alongside Whiskey Coy 45 Cdo and Juliet Coy 42 Cdo for the engineers whilst they built.
We left at first light Sunday, the short trip into town being uneventful, as all self respecting muslims were still in their pits at that time! Our wave was to drop the stores and plant near the hydroelectric dam on the river Helmand - the only water (and electricity) for miles around. The two bridges in Gereshk offer the only crossing point for a considerable distance, and as such the town is a hotspot of trouble as the Taliban try to take control of them away from us. However, it was uneventful; we dropped the kit and headed back to FOB Price for the second wave, leaving the engineers along with Juliet Coy to start their work. The run back was a little more entertaining as the town was now throbbing, the streets too narrow to push anyone back away from us, so we were literally feet away from the crowds on either side - a suicide bomber in there would not be nice! Plenty of warning shots and mini-flares were pinged off at people who moved towards us, but fortunately they got the message and no-one was hurt.
The second wave took us to the main ANP outpost in the town on top of a small hill, with a valley to the front and the main residential area of mud buildings on the slope opposite and left, and the dam visible to our half right across a fertile plain about 800m wide. We arrived and dropped off our stores, and got the order to dig shell scrapes as the engineers went to work, in case of enemy fire. We picked up shovels with the usual amount of grumbling associated with digging, and tried to put off the inevitable with discussions about the best spot for a nice trench, when the first incoming mortar landed about 100m to our front in the bottom of the valley. The scrapes got dug pretty quickly after that! A few minutes later a second mortar round landed another 50m or so away, flattening the closest house at the bottom of the opposite slope.
The next couple of hours were a bit of a blur, watching the town to try and ping any enemy or 'dickers' who might be guiding in the mortar fire. Off towards the dam, Juliet started sweeping the plain searching for the mortar positions, and were pretty quickly engaged. Unfortunately the enemy positions were invisible from our position of overwatch by the right hand end of the opposite hill to us, so though we could see the Juliet lads moving in we couldn't give any support
The ANA (Afghan National Army) who we're mentoring actually took the first mortar position, taking two casualties in the process, one dead, one injured. That cut the mortar fire on our position and work quickly progressed, and that was pretty much the end of anything interesting for us, who were left just hanging around watching a now-empty town. Down on the plains the patrols continued, and a second mortar position was found and engaged. Juliet Coy claimed 12 confirmed kills by the end of it, whether that's true or just the lads spinning dits I don't know! We saw a couple of cluster bombs dropped by fast air in the distance, don't know what on though. One of the supporting Vikings got a bit bogged in on some swamp, brushed off 5 hits from RPGs before a sixth one caught the more vulnerable hydraulics, disabling it; the lads had to debus, red phos the vehicle to deny it to the enemy, and bug out on foot, calling in air to destroy the vehicle completely in the process. Unfortunately the lad sent the GPS co-ordinates to where he stood as he bugged out, now 50m or so from the vehicle, so the 2000lb bomb that was dropped bang on target wasn't actually on target - the blast took out 6 more Taliban who'd been trying to strip anything off the vehicle they could, but didn't hurt the Viking much. Doesn't really matter, I imagine they've got rid of it properly by now, but all the essentials (stuff that can't fall into enemy hands) would've been destroyed by the phos anyhow.Excitement over, as it got dark we finished our position and moved on to the second build, fortifications around the ANP house just outside the town. We again acted as security, setting up two gun positions on a flank, but it was deathly quiet all night. We pulled out the next morning, task completed successfully, and went back to FOB Price for tea and medals. Unfortunately the two cans of beer per man that were allocated for the end of the op were scrapped as the Taliban decided to kick off again in the town, so the grav companies had to go back out or were on 5 minutes notice to move, but hopefully we'll get them eventually! Then this morning we moved back to Bastion.
So first excursion onto the ground over with, few scary moments but none too bad, no UK forces hurt, and task accomplished, so all good news.
-
Alfa
- Guest
Royal Marines, the thinking mans soldierUnfortunately the lad sent the GPS co-ordinates to where he stood as he bugged out, now 50m or so from the vehicle, so the 2000lb bomb that was dropped bang on target wasn't actually on target
Sorry I just couldn't resist it!
Ok serious now, sounds like you are starting to get into the swing of things now hope you all stay safe and give them hell
good luck for the rest of your tour mate!!
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ariadne241
- Member
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Thu 12 Oct, 2006 6:46 pm
- Location: Southampton, UK
Winegums?ariadne241 wrote:Oh the use and abuse of the girlfriend back home...
I have no money because I have sent this boy too many winegums already!
But yes, when I have said photos I will send them to whoever wants/needs them.
Vx x x
Surely he wants Haribo.
Cheers Druadan for the updates, it makes a really good read. Stay safe for the rest of your tour.
Dwarfy,
