A hero Royal Marine saved 130 soldiers from certain death when he rugby tackled a suicide attacker before he could detonate a huge motorcycle bomb.
Posted on 11/25/2008 5:57:10 AM PST by Stoat
The 40-year-old Marine saw the Afghan insurgent reaching for a yellow detonator button on the bike and leapt into action to drag him away.
He foiled a cunningly planned attack in which the same motorcycle had been checked by the same troops just hours earlier when its panniers had been packed with potatoes instead of explosives.
The suicide bomb contained 70 kilograms of explosives and was so huge it would have destroyed everything within 180 metres and left a huge crater.
The 20-year-old Taliban fighter had driven it into the middle of a group of 130 Marines and Afghan Army soldiers.
He tried to set off the first of the two bombs but it failed to go off and the Marine was
alerted by the distinctive pop of the detonator.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Here is the original article from the Plymouth Evening Herald:
EXCLUSIVE Hero Royal Marine tackles suicide bomber
Monday, November 24, 2008, 18:00
The 40-year-old – who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of his Plymouth-based family being targeted – hauled the 20-year-old Afghan insurgent away from his explosive-laden motorbike seconds before detonation.
Major Rich Cantrill, Company Commander of L Company – of which the marine is a member – believes the actions of his marine saved "multiple" lives. More than 130 Royal Marines and Afghans were in the area at the time.
Had the bomb gone off on the red 50cc motorbike, which had broken down, it would have caused a blast across a radius of up to 180 metres.
The bomber tried unsuccessfully to detonate the first of two charges before the marine intervened.
The heroic feat happened as 42 Commando's L Company surged south towards the Arghandab River, west of Kandahar, during last week's major operation entitled Janubi Tapu.
The Herald understands discussions are already under way to recommend the Bickleigh based marine for a gallantry award as a result of his actions.
The marine said: "I can't really tell you what was going through my head at the time.
"My immediate assumption was that he was a spotter for the Taliban who were planning an ambush.
"I just didn't want him to push the button again to detonate the other charge.
"I had my weapon on him and I shouted for him to stop in Pashtu. He did initially and that's why I didn't take the shot, you have to be sure.
"He then carried on walking away. I heard a popping sound like the electric sound when you connect a car battery – it was him trying to set the first of two charges off.
"I ran forward and grabbed him, pushing him over the motorbike bringing him to the ground.
"I searched him, looked at the motorbike and realised I had searched it 24 hours earlier. The saddlebags, which contained the explosives, were full of potatoes the day before.
"I looked up and noticed the yellow button in the centre of the motorbike and realised what was going on. I just went into automatic mode."
But later the marine said other emotions kicked in, adding: "I was angry that he tried to kill us.
"And I was angry with myself for bringing young marines into the situation. We were very lucky, with that much explosive it would have caused a blast with a 180-metre radius."
Maj Cantrill said: "He acted with conspicuous gallantry in the situation and put himself at great peril to get the suicide bomber away from the motorbike.
"He ran over and more or less rugby tackled him to the ground.
"I got on the radio and I heard mention of hand fighting. He had grabbed him away from the bike after seeing wires and switches.
"He quickly realised the full implications of it all. Cool as a cucumber he reorganised the marines in the area and took charge of the suicide bomber.
"He showed great restraint in dealing with him especially as he had tried to kill him and the other lads around him."
Maj Cantrill added: "It was conspicuous gallantry. He saved multiple lives. Everyone thinks he's a hero."
The motorcyclist entered the area on November 19 at around 12.30pm, where the Plymouth marines had been conducting clearance patrols, but did not spot them.
The marines believe the bomber was unable to find a target, so he turned around and began to leave the area. He then got caught up in the motorbike's chain and fell off the vehicle.
It was around this time the marines received a radio report suggesting a suicide bomber on a motorbike may be in the area.
When the marine spotted the suspected suicide bomber he was pushing his motorbike away from the area and acting "suspiciously".
The marine tasked other marines to move into the area to provide cover and he moved in.
"It was a bungled attempt but he still could have set off the other charge," Maj Cantrill added.
"Had it not been for his actions there would have been a massive explosion."
During last week's five-day operation, the marines of L Company also found bomb-making equipment, weapons and ammunition.
Had this been an American soldier, the Democrats would be calling for an investigation, and John Murtha would be calling the hero a killer, who denied the terrorist his civil rights.
For motorcycle enthusiasts not familiar with Limey Bike lingo: Panniers are saddlebags.
That Royal Marine has enough guts for an entire army: a lot of those bombs are remotely detonated!
God Bless Him.
Great story about a fine young man! How do you say “Yard sale” in Pashtu?
Nice to hear about REAL Britons for a change instead of the condescending, America-hating queers who work in their media.
Hail to a rebirth of the magnificent British Lion.
And damn England for this:
The 40-year-old – who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of his Plymouth-based family being targeted
Bravo to the Royal Marines!
My son trained with the Royal Marines, said they are a tough group.
God Bless them.
Hmmm...in other words...
He spotted the scum
Turned it into a ‘scrum’
And saved all his chums!
Salute to Her Majesty’s Marines!
Classic Bike !
On the 28th October 1664 an Order-in-Council was issued calling for 1200 soldiers to be recruited for service in the Fleet, to be known as the Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot. As the Duke of York was The Lord High Admiral, it became known as the Admiral's Regiment. The Regiment was paid by the Admiralty, it and its successors being the only long service troops in the 17th and 18th century navy.
They were therefore not only soldiers but also seamen, who were part of the complement of all warships. In 1704, during the war with France and Spain, the British attacked the Rock of Gibraltar: 1,900 British and 400 Dutch marines prevented Spanish reinforcements reaching the fortress. Later, British ships bombarded the city while marines and seamen stormed the defences. These later withstood nine months of siege. Today the Royal Marines display only the battle honour "Gibraltar", and their close relationship with the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps continues.
Throughout the 18th and 19th century the Corps played a major part in fighting to win Britain the largest empire ever created. Marines were aboard the first ships to arrive in Australia in 1788. The policy of "Imperial Policing" took the Marines to the bombardment of Algiers in 1816, to the Ashantee Wars, and to the destruction of the Turkish Fleet at Navarino in 1827. In 1805 some 2700 Royal Marines took part in the great victory at Trafalgar. Closer to home, they maintained civil order in Northern Ireland and in Newcastle during the coal dispute of 1831. By the outbreak of war in 1914, Britain had the largest fleet in commission in the world, with all ships above that of destroyer size having Royal Marines detachments. Onboard ship, marines were required to operate one of the main gun turrets, as well as secondary armament. Royal Marines also fought on land, notably in the amphibious assault at Gallipoli in 1915, together with ANZAC forces, and led the famous assault on the harbour at Zeebrugge in 1918.
During World War Two some 80,000 men served in the Royal Marines, and they continued to operate at sea and in land formations, but 1942 saw the formation of the first Royal Marines Commandos. 5 RM Commandos were amongst the first to land on D Day, and two thirds of all the landing craft involved were crewed by Royal Marines. 16,000 members of the Corps took part in Operation "Overlord" in many roles, some even manning tanks. After the war the Royal Marines spent much time in action in the Far East, including involvement in the Malayan emergency and in Borneo, and also in Korea, Suez, Aden, and Cyprus. In 1982, the Royal Marines played a major part in recapturing the Falkland Islands from the Argentinians, and in 1991 they participated in the Gulf War, mounting a sizeable humanitarian task force - Operation Haven, in support of the Kurdish people of Northern Iraq. This was the start of a particularly busy decade for the Royal Marines. In 1994 a commando unit flew to Kuwait following threats by Iraq. The next year the Royal Marines provided the commander and staff for the Rapid Reaction Force in Bosnia, and in 1997and 1998 a Commando Unit flew to the Congo Republic to protect British interests. In the same period help was provided to the local populations of Montserrat in the West Indies following a volcano eruption, and in Central America following a hurricane. The last two years have seen elements of the Royal Marines on operations in Northern Ireland (where they have completed some 39 tours of duty since 1969), Kosovo, and Sierra Leone. In addition, while few ships now have the traditional RM detachment aboard, Royal Marines Protection Parties join ships as necessary, and have served in such diverse places as Albania, and East Timor, where they worked closely with Australian forces.
With the introduction and successful operational deployment of the Landing Platform (Helicopter), HMS Ocean, and the launch of HMS Bulwark and HMS Albion, as successors to the in-service Landing Platform (Dock) the amphibious capability of the Royal Marines is greatly increased, and becomes a key element in the country's capacity to intervene in areas of conflict overseas. This was proven by the ability of 40 Commando RM to remain in the Gulf area following exercises in Oman during October 2001, available to participate in the war in Afghanistan when needed. With further additions to the amphibious fleet, and a wide range of new equipment coming into service, the Royal Marines are as ready as ever to meet the nation's need for a flexible force that can poise at sea, and intervene in areas of trouble at an early stage.
Because they're where you'd put the bread you just bought from the bread shop, and bread is "pain" in French, pronounced "pan," hence "pannier."
Ping
Good for him, but a head shot would have accomplished the same, without incurring all those nasty internment costs, and with no chance whatsoever of him trying again at a later date.
I love that poster.
At first, I read "'interrment' costs" and thought, huh? :-)
In any case, note that the reason they got very suspicious was the warning that there was a bomber on a motorbike in the area. That might have come from intelligence gained from another detainee. So perhaps this guy could give them some info.
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