30 MAY 11 - 1 RIFLES MOUNT AIR ASSAULT ON OP OMID HAFT In the early hours of 26 May, nearly 300 ANA soldiers and Riflemen from 1st Battalion The Rifles (1 RIFLES) took part in one of the largest partnered air assaults in Afghanistan since operations began. Describing the operation a Task force spokesman said: “This was a complex operation involving large numbers of Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force personnel as well as US Marine Corps troops. Between them, they coordinated 22 aircraft which inserted hundreds
of troops and tonnes of stores into a high threat area, in poor weather, at night. Days of detailed planning paid off as the mission was a resounding success and a textbook example of multinational cooperation.” Once on the ground, the soldiers and riflemen moved towards Malgir, and by 9am, had secured several Check Points (CPs) and a number of crossings over the Nahr-e Burgha canal. At the same time, a further 200 troops, including 130 ANA, moved into position on foot to
conduct a clearance operation along the canal. The ANA led clearance was met with little resistance. Afghan and British engineer troops supporting the 1 RIFLES Battlegroup were able to quickly clear Route Trident to enable essential supplies to be delivered to the CPs. By the end of day one, five new checkpoints had been established and a cordon put in place around Malgir.
“This was a complex operation involving large numbers of Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force personnel as well as US Marine Corps troops........”
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13 MAY 11- ON PATROL IN HELMAND - By Rifleman Matt Mortimer For the last 5 days, our Multiple has been on patrols. Each patrol varies in duration, route and purpose. On an average day we get up at 0700 to wash and shave before breakfast - we get a good choice, sausages, bacon (or Spam!), black pudding, beans, fried bread, pancakes and porridge. The patrol will then set off at a specified time, which some days could be as early as 0500. One of our patrols lasted for 4 hours, and the aim was to investigate a water well and meet the people who live nearby. When we got back to the patrol base (PB) we had lunch and spent the afternoon playing volleyball, going to the gym and reading after our kit had been cleaned and checked.
On our second patrol we set off at 1000. The purpose of this patrol was to investigate a compound which insurgents had used in the past. The Afghan National Army went in to the compound first and detained the owner for being an insurgent sympathiser. On the way back we stopped at one of the checkpoints for a debrief with the other multiple which was involved in the patrol, and then headed back to the PB in the late afternoon. The cookhouse put on some sandwiches for us and the rest of the day was ours to relax in. The next day we went on a ground dominating patrol to show the locals community that we are providing them with security. We got back to
the PB at lunchtime and that afternoon we had orders for a patrol the following day. We got up at 0230 for this patrol and set off at 0400, patrolling to one of the checkpoints. We then occupied a compound as part of a cordon while the Counter-IED team cleared the area around where a school is being built for local children. The clearance took a long time, so we were out for 15 hours. Thankfully the next day of patrols was easier, setting off at about midday - which was really hot. We headed out to speak to a local elder regarding some IEDs which may have been planted by the insurgents. We cleared the area without finding any IEDs before returning to base.
We got up at 0230 for this patrol and set off at 0400, patrolling to one of the checkpoints. We then occupied a compound as part of a cordon while the CounterIED team cleared the area around where a school is being built for local children.
Patrols show the local community that they are being protected
Hero hound back on front line following grenade attack He is trained to sniff out deadly IEDs and lead patrols to safety but on a recent patrol in Nahr-e Saraj roles were reversed and it was up to the patrol to save Hobo’s life. Hobo was deployed on an operation in Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand Province when the patrol came under sustained small arms fire and rocket propelled grenade attack. Led by Hobo, the soldiers took cover to wait for back up but within minutes a grenade had been thrown over a compound wall. Insurgents had crept through dense vegetation to the rear of the compound unseen by the patrol’s sentries. Hobo was resting flat on the ground and the fragmentation
flew over his head missing him completely but then a second, third and fourth attack came and Hobo was hit. Captain George Shipman (28), serving with 29 Commando Royal Artillery, attached to A Company, 2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, remembers the scene: “There were four loud explosions, the dust was kicked up and it was difficult to see what was happening. “We realised quickly that Hobo had been hit. He was bleeding heavily from the base of his neck. I administered a blood clotting agent and applied pressure and a field dressing to stem the bleeding and protect from infection.
“Hobo remained really calm throughout and just stood there while we treated him.” With shrapnel wounds to his neck, abdomen and rear, the patrol began giving life-saving first aid. The heat of the shrapnel had cauterised two of the injuries but Hobo was bleeding from the cut to his neck. “I found it hard, harder than treating a human casualty, because I couldn’t explain what was going on. Hobo’s become one of us, bounding around the PB [patrol base] all the time. “Hobo has now recovered fantastically well and is bounding around as if nothing had hap pened. The prognosis is very positive. He’s in great shape.” Hobo has now rejoined A Coy,
2nd Battalion the Royal Ghurka Rifles. Corporal Arjun Limb said: “It’s great to have him back with us – it’s a real morale boost and he’s running around just like before”. Hobo is due to return to the UK in November to begin his next role as a demonstration dog. **************
Hero hound `Hobo`
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