bobdina
08-26-2009, 09:15 AM
British soldiers clear Helmand roads of IEDs
A Military Operations news article
26 Aug 09
British infantry soldiers working with explosives experts in Afghanistan have cleared one of the most dangerous stretches of road in the world of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Soldiers from 2 RIFLES on Pharmacy Road
Over the course of a week they cleared the notorious 'Pharmacy Road' and a pathway known as 'Route Sparta', both near Sangin, uncovering 37 IEDs in total.
Operation FLINT 2 swung into action in the early hours of 11 August 2009 with almost 200 soldiers from 2nd Battalion The Rifles (2 RIFLES) taking advantage of the cover of darkness and cooler temperatures to move along the Pharmacy Road in an area of Sangin known as Wishtan.
They carefully picked their way along the road which had previously claimed the lives of five of their colleagues in one day.
Lieutenant Will Hignett from 2 RIFLES said:
"The ground in Wishtan is made up of a maze of high compound walls and narrow alleyways. It is ideal for insurgents placing IEDs in cover and a real challenge for patrols trying not to get channelled or set predictable patterns for patrolling."
As day broke and temperatures hit a searing 50 degrees, the soldiers carried on, patrolling for 40 hours to ensure the ground was cleared and secured meticulously.
Fusiliers begin clearing Route Sparta under cover of darkness
Just metres down the road A Company identified the first IED dug into the ground. The device was marked and the patrol moved around it to allow the experts from the Joint Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group to move in and make it safe.
Troops from The Rifles then surrounded the one-kilometre stretch of road to provide cover for the specialist search and bomb disposal teams.
Working their way up the route carrying heavy protective equipment in the blazing heat of the midday sun provided its own challenges, as IED after IED was uncovered.
Further down the road, teams discovered the wreckage of two vehicles, clearly decimated by an earlier blast.
The commander of the bomb disposal teams made his way towards the vehicles, knowing that they may be a Taliban trap. Large metal cables were attached to the twisted remains and a large military recovery vehicle dragged the carcasses off the road, with the soldiers breathing a sigh of relief when there were no further explosions.
Once the vehicles were cleared the search team retook their positions on the road. Reports of find after find came into the operations room. Eventually, 22 hours after deploying, the road was declared clear as the soldiers reached the operating base at Wishtan. The rest of the night convoy resupplied Wishtan with everything from fridges to missiles.
Just two days later in the same area, a company from 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers began a similar operation to clear a roadway known as Route Sparta.
The troops left Forward Operating Base Nolay intent on securing a pathway that they knew had hosted eight hidden IEDs on an 800-metre stretch in a previous operation.
Moving through chest-high crops and negotiating a maze of ditches and water courses, they covered ground step by step.
Carrying on throughout the day, the search teams and explosives experts found and made safe a staggering 21 devices in just 700 metres.
An IED-making factory was also discovered and yielded all the components needed to make some of the most devastating devices currently in Helmand; pressure pads, batteries and mortar casings.
Throughout both operations Afghan soldiers played an integral part, reassuring the locals and explaining to them why troops were there and what they were doing.
The patrol also gave the Afghan National Army the opportunity to set up a new patrol base, extending the reach of the security in this area of the Green Zone.
Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion The Rifles, Lieutenant Colonel Rob Thomson, said:
"Clearing Pharmacy Road was a hugely important operation for Sangin. It opens up a route to C Company and brings them properly into the Sangin fight.
"But it also opens up a road for the local Afghans who can now move with more assurance and go about their business, less fearful that they will be blown up.
"We strained every sinew in the planning to get the plan spot on but the credit really lies with the Ammunition Technical Officer, Staff Sergeant Schmid, and my two Search Advisers, Sergeant Powell and Sergeant Ward, and their gang of courageous Sappers who did most of the heavy lifting.
"They worked through the searing heat and cleared what was in effect a lethal and devious minefield.
"Hot on the heels of this success we have cleared Route Sparta and found a small IED factory close by. These operations make significant improvements for local people, helping us to deliver security and open up the way for reconstruction projects.
"The battle against IEDs will take time but as a Task Force we are tackling the source of the problem.
"A few weeks ago a large IED facility which was thought to supply insurgents in Sangin was discovered and destroyed. Within it were 50 pressure plate IEDs, almost as many detonators, and a significant amount of homemade explosives.
"But it is destroying the facility itself that is most important. We need to stem the supply of devices to this area and slowly but surely that is happening."
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/BritishSoldiersClearHelmandRoadsOfIeds.htm
A Military Operations news article
26 Aug 09
British infantry soldiers working with explosives experts in Afghanistan have cleared one of the most dangerous stretches of road in the world of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Soldiers from 2 RIFLES on Pharmacy Road
Over the course of a week they cleared the notorious 'Pharmacy Road' and a pathway known as 'Route Sparta', both near Sangin, uncovering 37 IEDs in total.
Operation FLINT 2 swung into action in the early hours of 11 August 2009 with almost 200 soldiers from 2nd Battalion The Rifles (2 RIFLES) taking advantage of the cover of darkness and cooler temperatures to move along the Pharmacy Road in an area of Sangin known as Wishtan.
They carefully picked their way along the road which had previously claimed the lives of five of their colleagues in one day.
Lieutenant Will Hignett from 2 RIFLES said:
"The ground in Wishtan is made up of a maze of high compound walls and narrow alleyways. It is ideal for insurgents placing IEDs in cover and a real challenge for patrols trying not to get channelled or set predictable patterns for patrolling."
As day broke and temperatures hit a searing 50 degrees, the soldiers carried on, patrolling for 40 hours to ensure the ground was cleared and secured meticulously.
Fusiliers begin clearing Route Sparta under cover of darkness
Just metres down the road A Company identified the first IED dug into the ground. The device was marked and the patrol moved around it to allow the experts from the Joint Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group to move in and make it safe.
Troops from The Rifles then surrounded the one-kilometre stretch of road to provide cover for the specialist search and bomb disposal teams.
Working their way up the route carrying heavy protective equipment in the blazing heat of the midday sun provided its own challenges, as IED after IED was uncovered.
Further down the road, teams discovered the wreckage of two vehicles, clearly decimated by an earlier blast.
The commander of the bomb disposal teams made his way towards the vehicles, knowing that they may be a Taliban trap. Large metal cables were attached to the twisted remains and a large military recovery vehicle dragged the carcasses off the road, with the soldiers breathing a sigh of relief when there were no further explosions.
Once the vehicles were cleared the search team retook their positions on the road. Reports of find after find came into the operations room. Eventually, 22 hours after deploying, the road was declared clear as the soldiers reached the operating base at Wishtan. The rest of the night convoy resupplied Wishtan with everything from fridges to missiles.
Just two days later in the same area, a company from 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers began a similar operation to clear a roadway known as Route Sparta.
The troops left Forward Operating Base Nolay intent on securing a pathway that they knew had hosted eight hidden IEDs on an 800-metre stretch in a previous operation.
Moving through chest-high crops and negotiating a maze of ditches and water courses, they covered ground step by step.
Carrying on throughout the day, the search teams and explosives experts found and made safe a staggering 21 devices in just 700 metres.
An IED-making factory was also discovered and yielded all the components needed to make some of the most devastating devices currently in Helmand; pressure pads, batteries and mortar casings.
Throughout both operations Afghan soldiers played an integral part, reassuring the locals and explaining to them why troops were there and what they were doing.
The patrol also gave the Afghan National Army the opportunity to set up a new patrol base, extending the reach of the security in this area of the Green Zone.
Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion The Rifles, Lieutenant Colonel Rob Thomson, said:
"Clearing Pharmacy Road was a hugely important operation for Sangin. It opens up a route to C Company and brings them properly into the Sangin fight.
"But it also opens up a road for the local Afghans who can now move with more assurance and go about their business, less fearful that they will be blown up.
"We strained every sinew in the planning to get the plan spot on but the credit really lies with the Ammunition Technical Officer, Staff Sergeant Schmid, and my two Search Advisers, Sergeant Powell and Sergeant Ward, and their gang of courageous Sappers who did most of the heavy lifting.
"They worked through the searing heat and cleared what was in effect a lethal and devious minefield.
"Hot on the heels of this success we have cleared Route Sparta and found a small IED factory close by. These operations make significant improvements for local people, helping us to deliver security and open up the way for reconstruction projects.
"The battle against IEDs will take time but as a Task Force we are tackling the source of the problem.
"A few weeks ago a large IED facility which was thought to supply insurgents in Sangin was discovered and destroyed. Within it were 50 pressure plate IEDs, almost as many detonators, and a significant amount of homemade explosives.
"But it is destroying the facility itself that is most important. We need to stem the supply of devices to this area and slowly but surely that is happening."
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/BritishSoldiersClearHelmandRoadsOfIeds.htm