Reply With QuoteHerrick 12 doesn't start 'til April.Originally Posted by Red_Fern
Interesting piece-thanks for posting. Looks like a very tough environment to work in. The ANA seemed eccentric to say the least.
I liked the 'he's been shot in the head!..Who's been shot?....calm down he's still firing' exchange.
Herrick 12 doesn't start 'til April.
That was what I had read, I didn't know specifics. I could only go on what the article said.
Thanks for clarifying, though.
those are LUCIE or LUCY NVGS i think they are german 2 eye NVGS usually given to vehicle drivers as you have depth perception with them.
On the Royal Marines pics, 5 and 6 are Dutch soldiers. And of course the very last one, unless woman are allowed in the Royal Marines now.
I don't think so
the royal netherlands marine corps uses dark blue berets instead of green ones
4,5 and 6 are small arms school corps.the chick at the end is royal military police maybe attached to a marine commando that isnt working with 3 commando brigade.
The gunner is an RM, not RNLMC. The others are SASC.
Is RMP
St Davids day on the front line with the 1 R WELSH
B Company Mascot
Sgt Garathy (front), Fus Handley (carrying the goat) and Fus Williams91. The leek ceremony.
St Davids day on the front line with the 1 R WELSH
Welsh 7s team take on French Foreign Legion troops on St Davids Day.
5 Platoon, B Company, winners of the Rugby tournament.
B Coy, 1RW
B Coy, 1RW wait to link up with another callsign.
Fusilier Smith heading out with the British troops to join the ANA and ANP on their patrol
Fusilier Davis waiting for the call.
Patrol Base Shaheed (2.5 Km North East of Showal). Home for B Company the 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh (1 R WELSH).
The patrol base was set up after the launch of Op Moshtarak when the soldiers flew into the area in the largest heli assault in Helmand since the campaign began in 2001.
An RAF Merlin comes in to patrol Base Shaheed with supplies
Corporal Williams out with the Afghan National Armt and French soldiers
Lt Adam Libby talks to the ANA commander while under fire.
Fusilier Smith waits until it is time to move off
Fusilier Smith and the rest of the patrol provide force protection while the ANA and ANP speak to locals
Lt Adam Libby scanning the fields
Passing the time as the Quick Reaction Force. If the call comes in they team will be good to go in minutes. They just need to grab helmet, body amour, weapons and day sacks.
Lt Adam Libby calls in surveillance aircraft as well as a 'show of force' from a low flying fast jet.
The patrol pulls back leaving the aircraft to track the insurgents
Reorganising after the firefight
Heading back to the patrol base now that the insurgents are being tracked
Meeting up with the Quick Reaction Force on the edge of the village.
An Apache flies overhead to monitor the situation
Job done, and heading back to base
Charging batteries. Fusiliers take the opportunity to relax while all is calm.
Lance Corporal Leo Tuliva making chocolate pancakes
Cpl William keeping the fire going for brews and heating the boil in the bag rations.
The French HQ area inside the patrol base
Sgt Andrew Garrathy with a fresh water crab found inside the patrol base.
Living on a diet of 24 hour ration packs is the norm out in the patrol bases. But when the guys can get hold of different ingredients the ‘Jamie Oliver’ comes out in a handful of the lads and the results can be amazing.
Patrol Base Shaheed (2.5 Km North East of Showal). Home for B Company the 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh (1 R WELSH).
When in Rome… traditional afghan bread or possibly a Fijian roti. Either way they are fantastic.
Without the usual gym facilities of the main bases it’s time to improvise. Weights made from scaffolding and ammo tins as well as pull up bars and if the exercise you get out on patrol isn’t enough there is plenty of room to run around the inside of the compound. The scenery isn’t great but it does get the heart going.
The evening conference is a daily gathering of all the key staff in the patrol base. Plans for the following day are discussed and everyone provides an update of their activities. Information is power and out here we share it.
Laying out the poles for a new sun screen.
Another type of bread, a little experimental but very exciting all the same.
If you are one of the lucky ones to live inside the bed spaces come in a range of comfort. Top of the luxury stakes is a cot bed with a mosquito net. Next comes a mosi net and roll mat on the floor and the most basic is simply a roll matt and sleeping bag on the floor. For those outside there are two options the first being a tent and the other the traditional soldiers’ favorite, a bivi.
The ablutions are basic but better than some I have seen out here.
Hygiene is everything out here when living in these basic conditions. They might not be power showers but out here showers like these are amazing and greatly appreciated.
The Joint Helicopter Force made up of the Royal Navy, Army and RAF provides a fleet of helicopters that support the troops on the ground.
Coming in to land in a dusty patrol base
They don't hang around so getting on as quick as possible is important. Being quick with a full bergen, weapon and other kit is easier said than done.
Rear gunner
Banking hard looking for trouble as we fly towards Sangin low level.
Take off - in a few more moments we'll be hit with a wave of hot air, dust and small stones from the rotor wash.
Looking down the side of the Chinook as we head north up the Helmand valley
Flying low level over the desert passing nomadic settlements.
Major Ed Hill arrives at the Shura which the Afghan National Police commander is hosting
Shura in Shaheed
In the wake of Operation Moshtarak the soldiers of B Company, 1 Royal Welsh together with the Afghan National Army and Police have been working with the elders of Shaheed to bring stability to the area.
Gathering weekly the elders talk to the soldiers and police to voice their concerns and work out what needs to be done to build a more secure and brighter future for the village of Shaheed.
Royal Welsh soldiers waiting for the elders to arrive
Major Ed Hill listening to his interpreter
Halmand Blog - Maj Paul SmythFlt Sgt Paul Groombridge at the Shura.
5 platoon winning the rugby.......nothing to do with having a Fijian in the team, of course not
Some recent RN pics:
Harrier GR9s of the Naval Strike Wing operating from HMS Ark Royal in the North Sea.
I could hardly believe it myself, but this is the first time since the Invasion of Iraq that the Ark has flown harriers in her true role, the first time a Naval strike squadron has been embarked (the NSW didn't exist in 2003).
Since Telic I, she's been for refit, come out as the lead commando carrier, handed the strike carrier reigns to Illustrious, then Invicible went into 'extended readiness'and now the roles have switched again (Lusty is in Rosyth being reincarnated for the commando support role).
An AB Gunner from the RNR, embarked on RFA Cardigan Bay for ops east of Suez.
HMS Lancaster changing a gas turbine, alongside in Dubai. (not such a brilliant run ashore for the engineering team then...!)
Royal Marines during Cold Response 2010
Stingray torpedo and Merlin helicopter for a sortie from HMS Richmond during training off the Devon coast.
HMS Somerset conduting defence dimplomacy in the Cornish town of Fowey. She will shortly deploy to the Middle East.
Finally....
Cpatain Martin Driver, 1 Royal Anglians, who died on tuesday in Sellyoak from wounds sustained in Afghanistan.
(the Irish Guards left behind here in Windsor had Shamrocks on their berets yesterday)
I see I see. Thanks for the clarification.
"The Experts who Teach the experts" I was told in SASC Museum in Warminster Garrison by one of the lecturers.
These could so easily be photos of 20 years from now...
Dauntless and Astute both on trials in the Firth of Clyde. Amazing to see.
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