Battling the Taliban in the dark
Fight night ... Royal Marines use night vision goggles
and thermal imaging to battle in darkness
From TOM NEWTON DUNN
Defence Editor
NOVEMBER 13, 2006
THE evil Taliban regime was toppled from power in Afghanistan five years ago — but the fight against them goes on. Defence Editor Tom Newton Dunn sends his second special despatch from lawless Helmand province.
A BRILLIANT orange light exploded 100ft above our heads, turning the night sky to day for five agonising seconds.
It was an enemy flare. “Sh**,” seethed Marine Si “Doc” Holliday, clutching his machine gun closer in the moving Land Rover.
A Taliban observation post had heard our convoy’s approach and fired the flare to have a good look at us. Our Land Rover lurched forward as the six others also picked up pace.
The Royal Marines’ cover was blown and the charge was on.
We're gunner get you ... Royal Marines shell the Taliban
It was only a matter of time before the enemy mortar team up on the ridge started to rain shells down on us.
The Marines’ only hope was to get to them first.
Sgt Chris “Taff” Hunter, 31, from Swansea, then halted the convoy so the men could mount a silent watch.
I couldn’t see a thing. But top surveillance equipment, night vision goggles and thermal imaging allow the commandos to operate in pitch darkness just like it was high noon.
Taff relayed the Taliban’s coordinates over the radio to a colleague. “Two rounds, HE (high explosive) please.”
Fifteen seconds later, 105mm airburst shells exploded a few metres above the rock face with hundreds of little bits of flying red hot shrapnel.
Six shells pounded the Taliban position. The marines waited for ten minutes for any sign of life. There was none.
Two nights later, the gun team was at it again. Six more Taliban were spotted infiltrating another mountain ridge near our new camp.
A deafening total of 46 HE rounds carpeted the ridge line.
All that was found the next morning was one sandal, and a flock of contented goats. Afghan goats eat anything.
*************************************************
More troops call
Ambitious plans ... Brigadier Jerry Thomas
THE commander of British forces in Afghanistan may ask Tony Blair for more troops for a bold new strike on the Taliban.
Brigadier Jerry Thomas said he is drawing up “ambitious” plans.
If an infantry battalion of 600 men was sent it would push UK strength in the country to 5,500 — almost 2,000 more than intended ten months ago.
Brigadier Thomas told The Sun: “We have lines of operations that we are developing.”
thesun.co.uk
Fight night ... Royal Marines use night vision goggles
and thermal imaging to battle in darkness
From TOM NEWTON DUNN
Defence Editor
NOVEMBER 13, 2006
THE evil Taliban regime was toppled from power in Afghanistan five years ago — but the fight against them goes on. Defence Editor Tom Newton Dunn sends his second special despatch from lawless Helmand province.
A BRILLIANT orange light exploded 100ft above our heads, turning the night sky to day for five agonising seconds.
It was an enemy flare. “Sh**,” seethed Marine Si “Doc” Holliday, clutching his machine gun closer in the moving Land Rover.
A Taliban observation post had heard our convoy’s approach and fired the flare to have a good look at us. Our Land Rover lurched forward as the six others also picked up pace.
The Royal Marines’ cover was blown and the charge was on.
It was only a matter of time before the enemy mortar team up on the ridge started to rain shells down on us.
The Marines’ only hope was to get to them first.
Sgt Chris “Taff” Hunter, 31, from Swansea, then halted the convoy so the men could mount a silent watch.
I couldn’t see a thing. But top surveillance equipment, night vision goggles and thermal imaging allow the commandos to operate in pitch darkness just like it was high noon.
Taff relayed the Taliban’s coordinates over the radio to a colleague. “Two rounds, HE (high explosive) please.”
Fifteen seconds later, 105mm airburst shells exploded a few metres above the rock face with hundreds of little bits of flying red hot shrapnel.
Six shells pounded the Taliban position. The marines waited for ten minutes for any sign of life. There was none.
Two nights later, the gun team was at it again. Six more Taliban were spotted infiltrating another mountain ridge near our new camp.
A deafening total of 46 HE rounds carpeted the ridge line.
All that was found the next morning was one sandal, and a flock of contented goats. Afghan goats eat anything.
*************************************************
More troops call
THE commander of British forces in Afghanistan may ask Tony Blair for more troops for a bold new strike on the Taliban.
Brigadier Jerry Thomas said he is drawing up “ambitious” plans.
If an infantry battalion of 600 men was sent it would push UK strength in the country to 5,500 — almost 2,000 more than intended ten months ago.
Brigadier Thomas told The Sun: “We have lines of operations that we are developing.”
thesun.co.uk