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20 décembre 2015 7 20 /12 /décembre /2015 16:35
Une province afghane sur le point de tomber aux mains des talibans

Administrative map of Afghanistan (courtesty of University of Texas Perry-Casta�eda Library Map Collection)

 

20.12.2015 Romandie.com (ats)

 

La province afghane du Helmand est "sur le point" de tomber aux mains des talibans, a prévenu dimanche son vice-gouverneur dans un appel à l'aide adressé au président Ashraf Ghani sur Facebook. Quelque 90 soldats sont morts dans les combats ces derniers jours.

Le Helmand, fief des rebelles islamistes et haut lieu de la culture du pavot dans le sud du pays, est le théâtre de violents combats entre les insurgés et des forces armées déjà mises à rude épreuve dans l'ensemble de l'Afghanistan, notamment dans le nord, autrefois relativement stable.

Le vice-gouverneur Mohammad Jan Rasoolyar juge même "catastrophique" la situation dans son message à M. Ghani. "Tout le monde essaye de cacher la vérité", écrit-il sur sa page Facebook, mais "le Helmand est sur le point" de tomber aux mains des talibans.

Une sombre perspective, d'après le responsable qui dresse un parallèle avec la débâcle de l'armée dans le nord du pays fin septembre, lorsque les talibans ont envahi puis tenu la ville stratégique de Kunduz pendant trois jours.

 

"Indifférence" dénoncée

Et M. Rasoolyar de fustiger l'"indifférence" face à la mort de "90 soldats morts au combat vendredi et samedi" dans deux districts du Helmand. Cette assertion a été rejetée par le ministère de la Défense, selon lequel la province n'est pas sur le point de tomber.

"Les ravitaillements en vivres et en munitions n'arrivent pas à temps, nous n'évacuons pas nos soldats blessés et tués et les forces étrangères observent la situation depuis leurs bases sans intervenir", s'insurge encore le vice-gouverneur.

 

Pas de trêve hivernale

L'Otan a mis fin à sa mission de combat en Afghanistan il y a tout juste un an. Les quelque 13'000 soldats étrangers déployés dans le pays se limitent à la formation de leurs homologues afghans et n'interviennent plus officiellement sur le terrain à leurs côtés.

Un obstacle auquel s'ajoute l'absence de répit dans les combats. Contrairement aux années ayant suivi la chute de leur régime en 2001, les talibans n'observent cette année aucune trêve hivernale.

Les rebelles, autrefois surtout actifs dans le sud et l'est, ont même intensifié leur insurrection et particulièrement dans le Helmand, ces dernières semaines. Ils se sont brièvement emparés d'un quartier de la capitale provinciale, Lashkar Gah, en octobre.

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25 juin 2014 3 25 /06 /juin /2014 17:35
Vaste assaut des talibans dans le sud de l’Afghanistan

 

25 juin 2014 par Nicolas Laffont

 

Des centaines de talibans ont lancé une grande offensive dans le sud de l’Afghanistan et affrontent l’armée nationale dans ce qui est désormais LE test pour des soldats locaux appelés à sécuriser leur pays sans l’aide des troupes de l’OTAN d’ici six mois.

 

C’est dans le bastion taliban d’Helmand que 800 talibans, selon les autorités afghanes, combattent l’armée depuis cinq jours.

 

Omar Zwak, porte-parole du gouverneur de la province de Helmand, a indiqué que les combats avaient d’ores et déjà fait plus de 150 morts, dont environ 100 talibans, plus 21 soldats et une quarantaine de civil, dont des femmes et enfants.

 

Les affrontements se déroulent dans quatre districts du nord du Helmand: Sangin, Nowzad, Kajaki et Musa Qala. Ils ont déjà provoqué l’exode de plus de 2.000 familles, soit entre 10.000 et 20.000 personnes.

 

Les talibans ont placé des bombes artisanales sur les routes et dans plusieurs villages pour gêner la progression des forces afghanes, selon les autorités locales.

 

Des renforts ont été envoyés sur place, a indiqué le porte-parole du ministère de l’Intérieur, Siddiq Siddiqi, en affirmant que les forces afghanes n’avaient déploré aucune «perte importante de territoire».

 

Suite de l’article

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9 avril 2014 3 09 /04 /avril /2014 17:35
Territorial Army captain resigns over Afghanistan book

 

9 April 2014 Ewen MacAskill, defence correspondent - The Guardian

 

Decision by Mike Martin will allow him to publish critical account of Helmand conflict without interference from MoD

 

A captain in the Territorial Army has resigned after a dispute with the Ministry of Defence over a book he has written that is critical of the conduct of the campaign in Afghanistan's Helmand province.

 

The MoD commissioned the book by Dr Mike Martin, but took exception to parts of the account. The dispute has gone on for more than a year.

 

In a statement, the MoD said it "has a strong record of learning from previous campaigns and encourages its officers to challenge existing norms and conventional wisdom. However, the publication of books and articles by serving military personnel is governed by well-established policy and regulations. When these are breached, the MoD will withhold approval."

 

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2 avril 2014 3 02 /04 /avril /2014 11:35
Ceremony marks end of Task Force Helmand

British soldiers leave Main Operating Base Lashkar Gah on 1 March 2014 (library image) [Picture: Corporal Ross Fernie, Crown copyright]

 

2 April 2014 Ministry of Defence

 

After 8 years of front line operations, the UK's military headquarters in Helmand was disbanded yesterday.

 

In the latest stage of the ongoing drawdown of UK operations in Afghanistan, the functions of Headquarters Task Force Helmand have been subsumed into the wider US-led Regional Command (South West).

This milestone marks the end of the 16th Task Force Helmand operation for the British-led coalition task force, which has comprised soldiers from the Danish, Estonian, Tongan, Jordanian and Bosnian armed forces.

The Secretary of State for Defence, Philip Hammond, said:

At this important point in the final year of the UK’s lengthy and crucially important combat mission, it is only right to reflect on the significant achievements - and sacrifices - of the past 8 years.

The servicemen and women who have fought under the command of Task Force Helmand have protected the security of the UK and its people; prevented international terrorists from using Afghanistan as a base; and created the conditions for a brighter, more secure and more stable future for the country.

Having relocated from Lashkar Gah to Camp Bastion last year as part of the planned drawdown of British Forces in Afghanistan, the control of Task Force Helmand’s area of operations has now been handed over completely.

The ceremony to mark the end of Task Force Helmand
The ceremony to mark the end of Task Force Helmand [Picture: Corporal Daniel Wiepen, Crown copyright]

Although Task Force Helmand has disbanded, British troops will remain in Camp Bastion throughout 2014, either working in the coalition force under Regional Command (South West) or supporting the redeployment of equipment back to the UK under Joint Force Support (Afghanistan), the UK’s logistical headquarters.

The number of British service personnel in Afghanistan will continue to drop as the operation draws to a close and the Afghan National Security Forces prepare to stand alone without ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) support.

At the ceremony to mark the end of Task Force Helmand, its final commander, Brigadier James Woodham, said:

This is a significant moment in the drawdown of British forces in Afghanistan. It has been an honour to serve as the last Commander of Task Force Helmand and command the soldiers of 7th Armoured Brigade, The Desert Rats, on operations. The Task Force has achieved so much since 2006 and I pay homage to all of those who have served under the task force. We are leaving Helmand in a better place and the Afghan National Security Forces are well set to continue to deliver security to the region.

The number of British personnel in Helmand has reduced from a peak of more than 10,000 to its current level as the Afghan National Security Forces have taken the lead in security across the country. The role for the task force has changed from combat operations to advising the Afghan National Security Forces.

Kit redeployment
British military vehicles arrive back in the UK
Redeployed British military vehicles arrive back in the UK from Afghanistan (library image) [Picture: Shane Wilkinson, Crown copyright]

Since the operation began, the UK Ministry of Defence has approved, through the Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) process, over £5.8 billion of battle-winning equipment to meet emerging threats in Afghanistan. So far more than 1,578 vehicles and items of major equipment have been redeployed from the front line and are now being made ready for future contingency operations.

The MOD has announced today that up to £20 million has been awarded to Coventry-based Morgan Advanced Materials for the maintenance and servicing of the army’s fleet of Mastiff, Wolfhound and Ridgback vehicles, which are based on the US Cougar vehicles made by Force Protection, as they come back from Afghanistan, to be retained in service so that UK troops will benefit from their capability for years to come.

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17 mars 2014 1 17 /03 /mars /2014 17:35
photos UK MoD

photos UK MoD

Soldiers of 2nd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment were the last UK forces to be based at MOB Lashkar Gah

 

16 March 2014 Ministry of Defence

 

UK forces have now closed or handed over to Afghan forces all but 2 of their bases in Helmand province.


 

In a complex and well-planned operation spanning more than a month, Main Operating Base (MOB) Lashkar Gah and Patrol Base (PB) Lashkar Gah Durai have been handed over to Afghan control. A third base, MOB Price, has also been closed.

From a peak of 137 UK bases, just Camp Bastion, which remains the main base for UK personnel, and Observation Post Sterga 2 are now under UK control. The majority of the former UK bases are now in the hands of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF).

Afghan forces are now leading 97% of all security operations across the country and are carrying out over 90% of their own training.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said:

The handover and closure of our bases across Helmand underlines the progress UK forces have made to increase security and stability across the province but also to build up the capability of the Afghan forces who will carry that work forward.

Those service personnel who have served in Lashkar Gah and Lashkar Gah Durai and at MOB Price as part of successive UK brigades have made a huge contribution to the campaign which has safeguarded our national security at home.

UK combat operations will cease by the end of this year but our support for the Afghan people will continue. Meanwhile, our troops will continue the mammoth task of getting our people and equipment home by Christmas.

MOB Lashkar Gah being handed over to the Afghan National Security Forces
MOB Lashkar Gah being handed over to the Afghan National Security Forces

MOB Lashkar Gah was handed over to the Afghans on 24 February 2014 during a ceremony attended by civilian and military leaders from the district centre. It opened in 2006 and served as the headquarters of UK military forces in Afghanistan until August 2013 when Task Force Helmand moved to Camp Bastion.

PB Lashkar Gah Durai, handed over to the Afghans on 8 March 2014, commands an important junction in Helmand. MOB Price, which has been closed, was formerly home to Danish armed forces and was the UK’s largest forward location for most of Operation Herrick.

Each base provided a strategic location in Helmand for International Security Assistance Force personnel supporting the ANSF.

Brigadier James Woodham, Commander Task Force Helmand, said:

The handover of 3 of the largest British bases in Helmand represents a historic moment in the UK’s military campaign in Afghanistan. This was a complex and significant operation requiring detailed planning and much hard work during its execution.

That we are no longer required to operate from these bases is a sign of the progress made by Afghan forces delivering security for their own people.

While the Afghans are firmly in the lead, UK personnel will continue to serve in Helmand throughout this year supporting the Afghan security forces where necessary.

Vehicles from 2 Logistic Support Regiment take equipment back to Camp Bastion
Vehicles from 2 Logistic Support Regiment take equipment back to Camp Bastion [All pictures: Corporal Ross Fernie, Crown copyright]

The gradual operation to remove infrastructure from each base and make the move back to Camp Bastion took around 6 months, with dozens of journeys via road and air, including combat logistic patrols. In the final stages of the operation there were 10 such patrols, involving nearly 600 vehicles.

This month’s handovers come as the ANSF prepare for their second summer in the lead for security operations in Helmand.

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16 janvier 2014 4 16 /01 /janvier /2014 17:35
Air chief praises progress during first Afghanistan visit

Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan [Picture: Corporal Ross Fernie RLC, Crown copyright]

 

16 January 2014 Ministry of Defence

 

Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford spent 2 days meeting personnel at Camp Bastion and Kandahar Airfield.

 

 

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), the head of the Royal Air Force, praised the armed forces during his visit which included meeting the Tornado detachment at 904 Expeditionary Air Wing in Kandahar, currently manned by the ‘Dambusters’, No 617 Squadron.

He also visited Task Force Helmand at Camp Bastion, the unit responsible for the UK’s combat operations across Helmand province, as well as 903 Expeditionary Air Wing, which runs the camp’s busy airfield.

During his visit he spoke about the UK’s mission in 2014:

This year will be another year of hard work, another year of commitment, another year of being in harm’s way; we will need to maintain our focus and effort right through to the end of combat operations.

I continue to be hugely impressed by the contribution being made by all elements of the Royal Air Force to Op Herrick, from the RAF Regiment providing vital force protection on the ground in Helmand to the Reaper and C-130 crews providing support to the ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces) and ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) across the whole of Afghanistan.

CAS was able to see the Royal Air Force’s new Voyager transport aircraft, which has now started flying routinely into Afghanistan to support the airbridge to and from the UK.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford greets a soldier at Camp Bastion
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford, meeting soldiers and airmen at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan [Picture: Corporal Ross Fernie RLC, Crown copyright]

Voyager is a state-of-the-art passenger aircraft and air-to-air refueller with the reliability and capacity of a modern airliner.

During his visit to the Tornado detachment at 904 Expeditionary Air Wing in Kandahar, CAS met Royal Air Force personnel of all ranks.

He said:

The Tornado is the mainstay of the Royal Air Force’s air combat force and has been a fundamental part of air operations across Afghanistan. It has provided close air support to both ANSF and ISAF alike since its first deployment to Afghanistan.

CAS also visited the Joint Aviation Group at Bastion, where pilots from all 3 services fly the UK’s helicopters on operations in Afghanistan.

He said:

The Royal Navy’s Commando Helicopter Force, the Apaches and Lynx of the Army Air Corps, and of course the Royal Air Force’s Chinook and Merlin forces have committed themselves fully over many years in Afghanistan.

The Rotary Wing Force and the medical emergency response teams have day-in day-out provided life-saving care which has directly saved many hundreds of Afghan and ISAF lives.

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30 septembre 2013 1 30 /09 /septembre /2013 11:50
Britain to host Nato summit

27 Sep 2013 By Ben Farmer, Defence Correspondent

 

Britain will host next year’s Nato summit as the military alliance draws up plans for Afghanistan after combat troops pull out, David Cameron has announced.

 

The summit will be the first time the biennial gathering of alliance leaders has been held in the UK since 1990.

 

Downing Street said that the dates and venues would be announced later, but Mr Cameron confirmed the agenda would be dominated by the lengthy Afghan campaign.

 

He said: "It will be an opportunity for leaders to recognise the contribution and the sacrifice made by our service men and women as the [international] mission in Afghanistan draws to a close, and as Nato draws down its forces and looks to help Afghanistan in different ways.”

 

The Nato-led international coalition is quickly withdrawing the more than 80,000 troops it still has in the country. Nato has said all combat troops will leave by the end of 2014 and fully handover security duties to Afghan forces.

 

American and British commanders believe Afghan forces will not be ready in time to stand on their own against the Taliban though, and want to keep a force of military trainers and special forces troops in the country.

 

Last week The Telegraph disclosed that the Army was pushing a plan to keep up to 200 advisers in Camp Bastion in Helmand province to help the Afghan army.

 

Gen Sir David Richards, former head of the Armed Forces, said having the summit was “excellent news” for the UK.

 

He said: “It confirms the leading role the country continues to play in Nato and on the world stage. In terms of combat effectiveness UK armed forces are the second most powerful in Nato. Given other nations’ defence cuts this will still be the case well into the 2020s.

 

“I am delighted that the UK will play a leading role in devising alliance strategy in the post Afghanistan era. In what is a very troubled world, working closely with allies and friends will be as important as at any time in our history".

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23 septembre 2013 1 23 /09 /septembre /2013 11:35
Army proposes keeping 200 troops in Helmand after 2014

22 Sep 2013 By Ben Farmer, Defence Correspondent

 

Military leaders are pushing a plan to keep up to 200 British troops in Helmand after the pullout of Nato combat forces from Afghanistan next year, The Telegraph has learnt.

 

The proposal is the first official acknowledgment that Britain could keep forces in the province where nearly 450 troops have died in seven years of fighting.

 

Senior commanders are concerned the fledgling Afghan army will not be ready to face the Taliban on its own by the end of next year and a total pullout from Helmand risks squandering years of hard work.

 

They also worry a reluctance to draw up plans for Helmand after 2014 is undermining Afghan forces’ morale and weakening British influence in Kabul.

 

The proposal would see up to 200 British troops stay at Camp Bastion to work as advisers at the headquarters of the province’s Afghan army corps, senior military sources said.

 

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10 juin 2013 1 10 /06 /juin /2013 12:35
General Wall receives a briefing about redeployment from Lieutenant Colonel Ceri Morton [Picture: Corporal Si Longworth, UK MoD]

General Wall receives a briefing about redeployment from Lieutenant Colonel Ceri Morton [Picture: Corporal Si Longworth, UK MoD]

10 June 2013 Ministry of Defence

 

The head of the British Army has visited UK Service personnel working in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan.

 

 

General Sir Peter Wall travelled to Lashkar Gah, where he visited the Headquarters of Task Force Helmand and spoke with the Commander of British Forces in Helmand, Brigadier Rupert Jones, who updated him on the role of his troops in support of Afghan security forces.

General Wall also met with the Provincial Reconstruction Team’s Head of Mission, Catriona Laing, to discuss how civilian and military colleagues are working together to ensure Helmand’s progress in governance, development and the rule of law are maintained beyond the drawdown of UK forces from the region.

General Wall then travelled to the Lashkar Gah Training Centre (LTC) where he was briefed by the Commanding Officer of the Police Mentoring and Advisory Group (PMAG), Lieutenant Colonel Robin Lindsay.

General Wall talks with Brigadier Rupert Jones
General Wall talks with the Commander Task Force Helmand, Brigadier Rupert Jones, at Lashkar Gah [Picture: Corporal Si Longworth, Crown copyright]

The PMAG, formed from 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (2 SCOTS), works directly with the Afghan police who will provide enduring security across Helmand.

While at the LTC, General Wall viewed new recruits of the Afghan National Police conducting training to counter the threat of improvised explosive devices.

Lieutenant Colonel Lindsay said:

The Laskar Gah Training Centre is a centre of police excellence and a reflection of the institutional and tactical progress that the Afghan Police have made over the last 4 years.

The standards here are high and the quality of graduates illustrates the increasing professionalism of the police. These policemen and women represent the future for Helmand’s security, so to see their enthusiasm to serve their local communities is really encouraging.

General Wall then flew to the main British operating base in Helmand, Camp Bastion, where he visited the Brigade Advisory Group (BAG), made up of 4th Battalion The Rifles (4 RIFLES), under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Tom Bewick.

The BAG advises the Afghan National Army’s 3/215 Brigade, and General Wall took the opportunity to watch Afghan soldiers conduct mortar training in the adjacent Afghan Camp Shorabak.

General Wall has supper with a group of soldiers
General Wall has supper with a group of soldiers [Picture: Corporal Si Longworth, Crown copyright]

Before leaving Camp Bastion, General Wall visited the Headquarters of Joint Force Support (Afghanistan) where he was briefed by the commander, Air Commodore John Bessell. He then conducted a tour of the various sites on camp involved in the redeployment of military equipment back to the UK – a process that is well underway since it began in October 2012.

General Wall said:

It’s invaluable to come and get an assessment from those on the ground of the progress we’re making, the issues we are having to confront as the campaign evolves, and also to see what sort of shape our people are in.

This was also a great opportunity to see for myself the quality of the training that the Afghan Police and Army are undertaking and I have been impressed by both their professionalism and confidence.

The change between what I found at Christmas time during my last visit and the current situation is quite remarkable.

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17 avril 2013 3 17 /04 /avril /2013 16:51
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18 janvier 2012 3 18 /01 /janvier /2012 08:40
Osprey Over Helmand

01/17/2012 STRATEGY PAGE

A Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey flies in the sky above Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 17. This was the last mission flown during Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162's six-month deployment in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Photo by Cpl. Justin Boling

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19 novembre 2011 6 19 /11 /novembre /2011 08:55
Royal Navy Sea Kings making a big difference in Helmand

photo UK MoD

 

November 18, 2011 defpro.com

 

Royal Navy Sea Kings have over the last five months helped seize more than seven tonnes of drugs and stop insurgents in Afghanistan building over 1,500 homemade bombs.

 

The Sea King Airborne Surveillance and Control helicopters of 854 Naval Air Squadron act as 'eyes in the sky', and have guided forces on the ground in making a series of busts in a summer and autumn of successful operations.

 

The Sea King crews' success can be attributed to the helicopter's cutting-edge radar which tracks insurgents so the crews can inform ground troops where to pounce.

 

The helicopters, based at Camp Bastion, are flying up to 50 hours a week, using the specialist radar in a large grey 'bag' on the side of the aircraft - which gives them their 'Bagger' nickname - to follow the movements of insurgents thousands of feet below on the ground.

 

In the past fortnight alone 854 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) - which comprises fewer than 50 personnel in Helmand - has directed troops to three men travelling in a truck which was carrying 570kg of opium, while a large amount of heroin was found on another vehicle.

 

The Sea Kings, known as 'cloudwalkers' by Afghans, have also this summer helped with the seizure of 7.2 tonnes of explosives - enough to produce more than 1,500 ten-pound (4.5kg) small improvised explosive devices which are then used to kill and maim British, Allied and Afghan troops, and Afghan civilians.

 

In addition to these successes, the past two weeks have also seen the helicopters pass on 70 intelligence tip-offs for ground troops to follow up.

 

Commander Pat Douglas, Commander Maritime Sea King Force, said: "Individually, these 'busts' are quite small, but, collectively, our small force is making a very big difference.

 

"We may be only operating over Helmand and environs but the impact of what we do spreads across the entire country.

 

"Every single time a vehicle we've tracked is stopped and drugs or explosives are found by ground forces, we are making things a percentage safer for Afghan civilians and the forces there who are protecting them."

 

The Baggers have been in Afghanistan since May 2009, with 854 NAS and her sister squadron from Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, 857 NAS, taking it in turns to constantly monitor insurgent activity.

 

Although their missions are hundreds or thousands of feet above Helmand and the helicopters are based many miles from the scene of the various interdiction operations, Allied troops are very quick to pass on their gratitude for the intelligence the Baggers provide.

 

Commander Douglas added: "We're told quite quickly the outcome of our actions and the feedback we get is that we're making a difference, which has a big effect on morale - really satisfying."

 

Crews initially used their sorties over Helmand to build up their knowledge and experience of each area and to understand life on the ground, day-to-day traffic and seasonal movements (such as harvest-gathering).

 

With two-and-a-half years' experience under their belts, Commander Douglas said his men and women are well-attuned and familiar with their operating areas, making it easier for them to spot the unusual: "Operations now are more focused, more targeted and much more effective because we know the ground - there's a lot of knowledge in the squadrons," Commander Douglas added.

 

"We are on a campaign footing. We will continue to do the job out there as long as we are needed - we stay until our job is done."

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23 août 2011 2 23 /08 /août /2011 16:40
Mastiff protects engineer team from Helmand IED blast

A huge Mastiff armoured vehicle overshadows a young Afghan boy, on his way to fetch water from the village well, in the Shahzad region of Helmand province - [Picture: Staff Sergeant Mark Jones, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]

 

23 Aug 11 UK MoD - A Military Operations news article

 

A group of soldiers whose task it is to clear routes in Helmand province of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) recently emerged from their Mastiff armoured vehicle unscathed when a device exploded underneath it.

 

31 Armoured Engineer Squadron (31 AES), 32 Engineer Regiment, normally based in Hohne in northern Germany, are currently part of the Task Force Helmand Engineer Group.

 

They are the leading route proving and clearance squadron and their job is to travel across the UK's area of operations in their Mastiff armoured vehicles to make sure routes are safe from IEDs and bombs.

 

On one of their many patrols recently, the team were clearing one of the main routes through Helmand when their vehicle struck an IED. Sapper Gareth Addy said immediately they knew what it was:

 

"There was a massive explosion that seriously rocked the vehicle. It was the biggest I've ever experienced. Immediately afterwards it went very quiet and then you start to realise what's happened and worry if everyone is OK."

 

The team quickly began their drills to assess the situation and check whether there were any injuries. Despite the size of the bomb and the force of the blast, none of the people in the Mastiff were hurt.

 

The vehicle sustained some damage, but, thanks to the armour and design of the Mastiff, it was only minor, and after a further assessment by the team of the route, the patrol continued with their journey.

 

 

 

Mastiff protects engineer team from Helmand IED blast

Sapper Gareth Addy, 31 Armoured Engineer Squadron, ready to go out on patrol in his team's Mastiff vehicle - [Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

 

Sapper Addy, aged 31 from Bridlington, who is a Mastiff driver and gunner, said it was only when they returned to Camp Bastion some hours later they realised how lucky they had been:

 

"The vehicles we use really do work and everyone now knows that, should the worst happen, they will do a good job of protecting us. In a strange way, that incident increased everyone's morale and confidence for the remainder of the tour."

 

The Mastiff is a heavily armoured, 6x6 wheel-drive protected patrol vehicle which carries eight people, plus two crew. It is used in Afghanistan to transport troops and protect large convoys as well as directly engaging the Taliban with its advanced weapons systems.

 

Although heavily armoured, these wheeled patrol vehicles have a less intimidating profile than tracked vehicles and give commanders on the ground in Afghanistan more options to deal with the threats they are facing.

 

Part of the Mastiff's resilience towards mine explosions comes from the fact that its hull is V-shaped, as opposed to flat, which pushes the force of any explosion outwards.

 

During Operation HERRICK 14, the engineers from 31 AES have played an important part in enabling both troops and locals to move more freely from one area to another and with greater confidence in their security.

 

31 AES is part of the Task Force Helmand Engineer Group, made up of Royal Engineers from both 32 Engineer Regiment based in Hohne, Germany, and 24 Commando Engineer Regiment based in Barnstaple, North Devon.

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