Our fallen heroes avenged
By TOM NEWTON-DUNN
Defence Editor
TROOPS avenged the killing of two British comrades yesterday with a ferocious counter-attack that left up to THIRTY Afghan rebels dead.
Warplanes, attack helicopters and artillery spearheaded the blitz after the bloodthirsty fanatics ambushed a special forces patrol.
Dozens of Taliban were wounded during the huge 90-minute night battle — in which one of their senior commanders was killed.
Others were wiped out as they fled — pursued by British troops, Apache gunships and RAF Harrier jets.
One of the two Britons who died in the ambush was a member of the Special Boat Service. The other was from the newly-formed Special Forces Support Group.
Insignia ... Special Forces Support Group
They were in a 30-strong patrol taking four captured Taliban bombers to base in southern Afghanistan when all hell broke loose.
Up to 75 heavily-armed fanatics were lying in wait as the convoy approached a valley in rebel-held mountains. One of the dead soldiers is feared to have been shot by a sniper.
The troops called for back-up as the rebels pinned them down with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades.
A platoon of 30 Gurkhas raced to their rescue — but one of their Land Rovers was immediately hit by an RPG. That left no option but to call in the heavy mob. Paras shelled the enemy with artillery as warplanes screamed overhead.
A huge US B1 bomber was also scrambled. The battle was one of the most intense so far in a mission by 3,500 troops launched six weeks ago to bring security to lawless Helmand province.
30 British Army Gurkhas took part in the attack, along with RAF Apache gunships and Harrier jets.
A commando injured in the ambush near the hotspot town of Sangin was evacuated to a field hospital at the British desert HQ Camp Bastion. Claims that the convoy was vulnerable because it was using open-topped vehicles were rubbished last night.
Senior military sources said Special Forces preferred their speed and manoeuvrability to slower armoured vehicles.
Last night the names of the troops killed were being withheld until their families had been informed. Defence Secretary Des Browne offered his “deepest sympathy” to the men’s loved ones as he attended a Veterans’ Day event in London.
AN SAS hero forced to quit after suffering terrible head injuries from a mortar explosion during an exercise launched a court battle with the MoD for £4million compensation yesterday.
thesun.co.uk
By TOM NEWTON-DUNN
Defence Editor
TROOPS avenged the killing of two British comrades yesterday with a ferocious counter-attack that left up to THIRTY Afghan rebels dead.
Warplanes, attack helicopters and artillery spearheaded the blitz after the bloodthirsty fanatics ambushed a special forces patrol.
Dozens of Taliban were wounded during the huge 90-minute night battle — in which one of their senior commanders was killed.
Others were wiped out as they fled — pursued by British troops, Apache gunships and RAF Harrier jets.
One of the two Britons who died in the ambush was a member of the Special Boat Service. The other was from the newly-formed Special Forces Support Group.
Insignia ... Special Forces Support Group
They were in a 30-strong patrol taking four captured Taliban bombers to base in southern Afghanistan when all hell broke loose.
Up to 75 heavily-armed fanatics were lying in wait as the convoy approached a valley in rebel-held mountains. One of the dead soldiers is feared to have been shot by a sniper.
The troops called for back-up as the rebels pinned them down with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades.
A platoon of 30 Gurkhas raced to their rescue — but one of their Land Rovers was immediately hit by an RPG. That left no option but to call in the heavy mob. Paras shelled the enemy with artillery as warplanes screamed overhead.
A huge US B1 bomber was also scrambled. The battle was one of the most intense so far in a mission by 3,500 troops launched six weeks ago to bring security to lawless Helmand province.
30 British Army Gurkhas took part in the attack, along with RAF Apache gunships and Harrier jets.
A commando injured in the ambush near the hotspot town of Sangin was evacuated to a field hospital at the British desert HQ Camp Bastion. Claims that the convoy was vulnerable because it was using open-topped vehicles were rubbished last night.
Senior military sources said Special Forces preferred their speed and manoeuvrability to slower armoured vehicles.
Last night the names of the troops killed were being withheld until their families had been informed. Defence Secretary Des Browne offered his “deepest sympathy” to the men’s loved ones as he attended a Veterans’ Day event in London.
AN SAS hero forced to quit after suffering terrible head injuries from a mortar explosion during an exercise launched a court battle with the MoD for £4million compensation yesterday.
thesun.co.uk
