The new UK kevlar battle helmet hasn't gotten much press, but all of those soldiers lived, something that the attacking Taliban didn't manage to do.
Posted on 09/19/2006 11:49:56 PM PDT by MadIvan
British forces' determination is undermining rebel credibility
BRITISH forces in Afghanistan insist that despite the surprising toughness of Taleban fighters they are more than up to the task.
“This is what the Army is meant to do,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Stuart Tootal, commanding officer of 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, whose troops make up the bulk of the 4,300 troops Britain has in Helmand province.
The fiercest battles the troops have faced have taken place in Sangin, Nauzad, Musa Qala and Kajaki, all in the north of the province. In these towns the British are based in platoon houses, administrative centres that have been strengthened with sangars and sandbags, which provide the troops with a rudimentary base.
Before the British deployed to the towns, Colonel Tootal insisted, they “very nearly fell to the Taleban”.
“The Taleban thought they were going to push us out of all the district centres in three days and that’s what they told the people,” he said. “The fact that we are still there is a big blow to their creditability.”
Lieutenant Angus Mathers, 26, with 2nd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles, was based in Nauzad. During a particularly busy two-week period the Gurkhas were attacked on 28 occasions. “We had 28 tics [troops in contact] in two weeks. They ranged from one hour to five or six hours,” said Lieutenant Mathers.
During several of the battles Taleban fighters got to within 10metres (30ft) of the Gurkha platoon house. They launched rocket-propelled grenades, threw grenades and fired Kalashnikov assault rifles.
“It was terrifying,” said Gurkha Rifleman Dic Limba, 22. “Ten metres is close contact. At night you could see the flash of the weapon and the tracer rounds. Some of the boys got hit in their helmets. I was firing a 50 cal and got hit on my weapon.”
Although most of the attacks in Nauzad took place during the night, the Taleban also had a sniper who fired during the day. “It was very accurate,” said Rifleman Limba.
Lieutenant Mathers told The Times: “After your first battles, including a six-hour one, you get battle inoculated pretty quickly. The guys are battle hardened.”
“They were never going to get into our platoon house,” added Lieutenant Mathers.
Regards, Ivan
Ping!
is this mainly tribal conflict being depicted as 'taliban' in affiliation? my impression is that afgh. is very tribally-oriently country, and it is hard to trust the media to represent local politics accurately.
"and fired Kalashnikov assault rifles. "
sounds ominous, though considering it is a best-selling weapon among my countrymen perhaps this isn't as bad as it seems. are they ak-74's or 47's? i know the soviets tried the 74 in afgh as part of initial trials.
BUMP !!!
The new UK kevlar battle helmet hasn't gotten much press, but all of those soldiers lived, something that the attacking Taliban didn't manage to do.
It sure would appear that way.
I'm much pleased, sir.
I'm glad they sent in the Gurkhas. I can't imagine any home-grown fighting force who could stand against them.
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