Three Paratroopers From 2 PARA Killed

[Tab]

The three Parachute Regiment soldiers were on a perimeter patrol under a mile outside their base in Helmand province when they were approached by the suicide bomber.

100 British dead in Afghanistan: Three paratroopers killed in suicide attack
By Thomas Harding in Qarat-e-Hazrat, Zabul province
Last Updated: 11:42PM BST 08/06/2008

The three Parachute Regiment soldiers were on a perimeter patrol under a mile outside their base in Helmand province when they were approached by the suicide bomber.


3rd Bn The Parachute Regiment search compounds and local people
after coming under fire from the Taleban

It is unclear what device the insurgent used but it is believed that the explosives were strapped to his chest.

While foot patrols are used regularly to secure base perimeters it is also known that Taliban spies regular keep watch on movements reporting back by mobile phones or hand-held radios.

If it was a bomber then he would have approached the Paras at speed, possibly not giving them enough time to fire warning shots or fatal rounds that would have killed him.

Even if they did hit him there was a good chance that the huge blast would have caused fatalities from many yards away

But the fighting spirit of the Parachute Regiment was undeterred on Sunday as soldiers A Company, 3 Para, accompanied by the Telegraph, began another mission against the enemy deep in Taliban territory.

The daily dangers faced by troops operating against a determined enemy that is evolving its tactics was emphasised after a booby trap was found close to the patrol.

A Royal Military Police soldier crawled to the area and uncovered an 82mm mortar bomb that was probably linked to others.

A few hours later news came over the tactical radio that B Company of 3 Para, who are operating at the other end of the valley in Mizan district, Zabul province, had come under fire by a heavy machine gun, small arms and mortars.

But the Paras, who had used an air assault by helicopter to flush out the enemy, managed to fight off the Taliban in a 90 minute gunfight.

At A Company's base in a mudbrick compound surrounded by villages terrorised by the Taliban and overlooked by steep hills, news filtered in of possible attacks being mounted.

Soldiers were "stood to" around their machine gun emplacements as the troops waited for possible probing attacks followed by a main onslaught.

As the hours of darkness continued no assault materialised but it was another tiring night for the Paras who have to be constantly on the alert.

Only a day earlier, a machine gunner had opened up on three suspected Taliban who approached to within 250 yards of the compound made up of five main buildings protected by high brick walls, machine gun sangars, mortars and other defences.

The defences were tested to the full when a 20-strong Taliban force attempted to storm a hill-top positions two days ago but were beaten back suffering at least three dead.

After one of the biggest helicopter air assaults in the regiment's history, 3 Para has landed at two ends of a mountainous area that is one of the remaining Taliban strongholds.

Every day the Paras have patrolled in the heat into villages and up mountains to flush out the enemy while constantly in danger of roadside bombs or long-distance ambushes.

For the coming weeks the paratroopers will be pushed to the limits as they attempt to flush out the insurgents and reassure the local population that they are a force for the good here to end the Taliban's reign of violence.

As we waited for the names of he dead paratroopers to be confirmed a soldier said: "This is a horrible time for us waiting to find out if it's someone you know.

"It is not a good thing to know that anytime now a family's life is about to fall apart."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop ... ttack.html

[Boxingmad]

RIP lads.

[got1]

Rip lads.
Condolences to friends and families.

[Wacky-Backy]

RIP

[Tab]

I must say I have been impressed with the parents of these lads, there has been no moans or groans, just a statement that they were proud to have been in the Regiment and died doing what they wanted to do, hoping that they were working towards a greater good.
Having said that I would like pay my condolences to all these families on their sad loss

[tom163]

Yes it makes a nice change from everyone suing each other, RIP.

[Illustrious]

Tab, I cant speak for all of them but for Tom I can because I know his cousin & judging by her attitude, they were incredible proud. Rest easy lads.

[anglo-saxon]

Very brave, tough young men, one and all!

Rest easy!

[broders120]

RIP and condolonces to those left behind.

[Paddysprat]

All three of these lads were the same age as most of my students, it never fails to sadden me.

Sleep well boys, you speak volumes for the youth of today.