Tour of Duty
Suggestions that British forces are being out-gunned or facing a Rorke’s Drift scenario are incorrect
Lieutenant-Colonel David Reynolds
Observation post, Sangin
Once established British forces moved out to support Afghan security forces occupying strategically vital district centres like Sangin and Now Zad, in northern Helmand.
Forward Operating Bases (FOB) Price and Robinson were established at Gareshk and Sangin respectively. Platoon Houses were set up in Now Zad, Sangin, Musa Qala and Kajaki. Hotbeds of resistance like Sangin and Musa Qala would occupy the Brigade for most of their tour.
From these fortified compounds British forces, working with the Afghan National Army, undertook reconstruction work where they could and mounted patrols, meeting with locals and attempting to instil confidence as well as establish security. The Taleban took up the challenge and began an increasingly aggressive campaign against these outposts and patrols operating on their home ground.
Walled compound in Sangin
Mounting Threat
RPG strike on sandbag wall
We came over the brow of a hill, and as we crested it we saw a group of Taleban with RPG’s and AK47 rifles. Someone said that our engagement sounded like something from Star Wars
Cpl 'M', Anti-Tank Platoon, Support Company,
3 PARA
The summer of 2006 saw the UK Task Force sorely tested with a growing number of contacts with the Taleban. These included rocket attacks, increasingly sophisticated Improvised Explosive Device detonations (IED), ambushes and ground assaults on outposts. On any single day several units could be engaged in combat in widespread locations.
