42 Cdo Helmand

Taking on the Taliban and Insurgents

The previous page was: "42 Commando Confrontation"

42 Cdo Helmand; The Royal Marines Commandos like to keep one step ahead of their enemy. They do this by attacking them, where and when they least expect to be attacked.

The conventional tactic is to move into a location from secured flanking areas,and painstakingly clear the way to rapidly gain control of an area that the Taliban sought to hang on to.

The Commandos will continue to strike at the very heart of the Taliban, and re-draw the boundaries of the International Security Assistance Force.

Striking swiftly at the areas the Taliban regard as their safe lands. The green berets suddenly appear on the scene at a time and place of their choosing, that gives the Taliban the choice to either to take up the fight or move out.

Using intelligence to pick out specific compounds (the Talibans ideal site) in rural settlements, the Commandos start the process by moving in amongst the local population, searching for insurgents' weapons and bomb making equipment.

42 Commando Confrontation

Taliban attempted to hang on to territory

This initiative also demonstrates the group's ability to suddenly appear on the scene unanounced and unexpectedly. These tactics immediately yield results. A sensitive approach to the locals can provide strong leads.

When known enemy positions are assured; then the bash the door down approach is applied, with all of the power that is required.

A number of robust engagements with the enemy ensued as the Taleban attempted to hang on to territory and materials of war, but the Commandos rapidly gained control. Vast amounts of explosives were seized, as well as valuable intelligence, relating to the whole of Afghanistan. A rapid helicopter assault by 42-cdo-Helmad, on a suspect Taleban base, once more caught the enemy completely by surprise. The green berets discovered a weapons cache of more than 600kg of home made explosives and 3.8km of wire used for detonation was recovered, along with numerous mines, small arms and ammunition.

All was either removed from the area or destroyed.

The rapid helicopter hops

The rapid helicopter hops and night infiltration meant the Commandos were constantly keeping that all important step ahead of the fundamentalists.

The rapid movement of troops and the well-planned thorough searches prevented the insurgents from mounting a coherent response-testimony to the efficiency of the training carried out by the Royal Marines.

Having secured one area the Commandos then move on to tackle the next; the International Security Assistance Force then takes over, in the wake of the warriors follow the teachers, medics, engineers-Military Stabilisation Support Teams- all determined to restore public services, notably health centres and schools, which had been non-existent under the Taleban.

By suddenly turning up in to an area ready to tackle the fundermentalists the Commandos immediately win the confidence of the local villagers, giving the Commandos themselves, the unprecedented freedom of movement, to confront the Taliban and seize their arsenals.

Each deployment may only last a week or so, but by breaking the grip of the insurgents in a specific area, ISAF troops can follow up with their reconstruction and development teams.

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Lieutenant-Colonel Charlie Strickland RM

The Commanding Officer of 42 Cdo Group, Lieutenant-Colonel Charlie Strickland RM, said: "We sought to use true Commando tactics on this operation using a helicopter assault and light, agile forces to land into the heart of the insurgents' safe haven. I wanted to completely change the dynamics in the key area, and through a rapid monouevre and the robust but culturally-sensitive approach of the Marines, we achieved our aim."

"Each time he took us on he lost; we detained some significant players and removed a huge quantity of ammunition from the battlefield. Importantly, we also left the area having placed constant doubt in the insurgents' mind and assured the locals that the ISAF forces are fair, honest and targeted in what we do. It was an outstanding operation by the 'smiley boys' of 42 Commando."

The green berets carry out their duties amid arid landscapes, tramping through the dust in the dry season and a quagmire of mud in the monsoon season. Thoroughly they work their way through compound after compound.

The ground that they have operated on varies from arid farm land criss crossed by irrigation ditches and dotted with mud-walled compounds to green jungle. The temperatures varied from -5 to 50 degrees centigrade.

Although it is an alien environment, the patrols are very active and enthusiastic. 42 Commando's operations have all taken place in areas where International Security Assistance Force troops have never previously operated. Following briefings, rehearsals, and because of the terrain, an operation is usually launched with an aviation assault.

The next Link below will be: "42 Cdo Kandahar"

42 Cdo Helmand 42 Cdo Kandahar

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