NAVY NEWS, FEBRUARY 2009 23
line nature of the mission – patrols need to go. Christmas Day, accompanied as many farmers in a bid to to support 2,000 farmers and “This can sometimes be made
across 3,000 miles of terrain, “I have young marines, by roast veg, sausage and usurp the poppy as the region’s 20,000 Helmand inhabitants for even more difficult by language
devouring 680,000 litres (150,000 soldiers, sailors in the convoy bacon rolls, Yorkshire pud, principal crop. seven or eight years. and cultural difficulties.”
gallons) of fuel in the process. ranging from 18 up to very sprouts (the Devil’s vegetable – Helmand is responsible for The medics are not confined
Demanding as these patrols experienced NCOs. Assistant Ed), carrots, cabbage, around two fifths of Afghanistan’s TWO dozen miles north of to their first aid post, however.
are for the drivers, gunners, “They had little more than finished off with Christmas cake, drugs trade – a trade which is Sangin, up the Musa Qaleh Much of the time they accompany
medics, passengers, they four hours’ sleep in every 24. Christmas pudding, mince pies, believed to fund the Taleban valley lies the namesake the soldiers on patrols.
place enormous stress on the Everyone was pretty tired by the cheesecake, peach schnapps and other terrorist organisations town, scene of bitter fighting “It’s a steep learning curve,
mechanics who ‘prep’ every end and running on adrenaline.” gateaux, shortbread, custard to the tune of around $500m between the Taleban and but you have to take it in your
vehicle before it sets off. The regiment is not Royal and whipped (£330m) every year. Allied troops over the past stride,” said 20-year-old MA Will
These engineers – the Light Marine through-and-through; cream (all The wheat is three years. Randall on his first deployment.
Aid Detachment – are never there’s a sizeable tranche of on the same being distributed Today it’s the Gurkhas who “You have to – no matter how
more than 22 strong, yet in two sailors (they comprise one in plate knowing to 21,000 farmers are in charge of the battlegroup old you are.
months’ work they put in more every nine personnel in the CLR) Royal – Ed). around Lashkar HQ in the town, bolstered “I didn’t think I’d be so
than 16,500 man hours of work. who have adapted well to the And if there Gah, 5,000 in by commando gunners, the busy – we’re treating a lot of
No two patrols are the same. landlocked, dusty surroundings was any room
– the millions of
Gereshk 20 Queen’s Dragoon Guards, civilians and really feel like we’re
Not only does the make-up of of Helmand. left in the
the column change depending “It was one of our able stomachs,
pounds generated
miles to the Royal Engineers, Princess of achieving a lot.”
northeast, Wales’ Royal Regiment... and Home to the young rating and
on what needs delivering to the seamen who was first to contact a wafer-thin
by Afghanistan’s
3,600 in half a dozen RN medics. his medical comrades is not,
various Allied forward bases the enemy in anger with his After Eight
scattered around Helmand, machine gun,” said Maj Taylor. mint was the
drugs trade to
Garmsir, The sailors make up the core as he expected, a tent, but it is
2,000 in of the regimental aid post – basic: a converted old garage.
but so too does the support “Naturally, this is a fact which very last item
support insurgents
Sangin and the forward treatment centre Although Senior Service
provided by the Allies, notably Jack is not inclined to let Royal on the menu. around for Allied and Afghan troops numbers at Musa Qaleh
the Americans, Danes and forget in a hurry.” It’s not just half that wounded in action, plus local are relatively small, the RN
Estonians so far – and the threat The patrols bring not food for the here and now, but number in Musa Qaleh. civilians. comprises roughly one third of
from the enemy. merely the necessities – fuel, food for tomorrow which has In return for the wheat, the And while many casualties of Task Force Helmand, a figure
“The threat is quite significant ammunition, water, food – but been delivered courtesy of the farmers must sign a commitment enemy action pass through the – and a commitment – perhaps
– the battlefield in Afghanistan also those ‘creature comforts’ Commando Logistic Regiment agreeing not to grow poppy small ‘clinic’, so too does a large rarely appreciated beyond naval
is 360˚,” said Maj Marcus Taylor which keep up morale: letters, and the new Army battalion this year; if they break the number of youngsters. circles.
RM who took part in four of the parcels, presents. permanently attached to the contract, they face action from “For many of the medics, this “It’s important to remember
first 11 convoys. No expense was spared to Royal Marines, 1 Rifles. Afghanistan’s anti-drugs police. is the first time that they’ve that the Royal Navy works out
“There is no front line and the ensure most troops could tuck The soldiers have been at the The Riflemen safeguarded the have been involved in dealing here alongside the infantry,”
Taleban fighters are everywhere, into turkey (or gammon, pork hub of efforts to distribute 3,200 delivery of the first 200 tonnes with children,” said Capt Emily said MA Randall.
particularly in areas where our or beef if they so desired) on tonnes of wheat to ten times of wheat to Sangin – enough Peers, 2nd Royal Gurkha Rifles. “I’m proud to be part of it.”
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