Royal Blue

Disgraceful Marine Pay 'Blunder'

Marines furious at front-line 'pay cut'

The morale of Royal Marines serving on the front line in Afghanistan has plummeted after a £3,000 allowance was deducted from their wages following a "dreadful blunder" by Royal Navy administrators.

The revelation will come as an acute embarrassment for Tony Blair, who only last week was photographed among Royal Marines as he promoted Britain's strategy in the Taliban-ravaged country.

Politicians and Navy chiefs were so concerned over the impact of the wage cut that they sent extra human resources staff to Afghanistan to inform more than 1,000 commandos affected by the error.

The Marines had been told they could receive up to £17 extra a day as a special allowance for being on overseas operations during the six-month operation.

But they were misled and the Ministry of Defence has now refused to pay the extra £3,000 the men had been promised.

Some commandos in Afghanistan yesterday said they would consider resigning when they returned home because they were so disgusted with the MoD.

One troop commander said: "How is morale? It's absolutely dreadful out here. Some people, particularly senior NCOs, are going to lose out on a significant amount of money."

A senior NCO said: "This is another kick in the teeth just as we have deployed out here. We will do what we do job-wise, but this just shows the value the MoD places on our service."

The Daily Telegraph has obtained a letter from the Navy's second-in-command instructing senior officers on how to cope with the expected drop in morale.

Vice Admiral Adrian Johns, the Second Sea Lord, wrote that with 1,030 Marines in the lawless Helmand province being affected by the blunder, "this unfortunate error could not have materialised at a worse time".

He added: "The impact on our people will be acute and this issue has been considered at the highest level before deciding the way ahead."

"This issue will of course only affect those already serving in the front line units, but I have copied my letter to a wider audience in the knowledge that there will be some who are about to be drafted to sea and other operational areas and might already have an expectation of receiving more [money]."

"It is deeply regrettable that such an issue has arisen at a time when we have so many deployed on operations and careful management action will help to ensure that the inevitable disappointment for some is addressed in a considered manner."

Due to the complexity of new pay regulations and a "misinterpretation" of the rules, some personnel had been under an "erroneous expectation" they would receive extra daily allowances of between £1.04 and £16.74 a day depending on length of service.

The issue had been discussed with the Defence Secretary Des Browne and military chiefs but it was decided the Marines would not be given the promised money as a one-off payment.

This was "not what they may have been expecting" and commanders were instructed to tell their men "in as sensitive a manner as possible", the letter said.

"It is deeply regrettable that such an issue has arisen at a time when we have so many deployed on operations," the admiral concluded. "Careful management action will help to ensure that the inevitable disappointment for some is addressed in a considered manner."

Opposition politicians have accused the MoD of a "monumental cock-up" after it "effectively misled" more than 4,000 Marines and a smaller number of sailors.

Mark Harper, the shadow defence minister, said: "This will have a huge effect on morale for troops engaged in some of the most dangerous war-fighting for years, especially in the run up to Christmas. "The Defence Secretary really needs to get a grip and ensure it is the last time this type of thing happens. Our fighting troops deserve rather better than this."

The allowances were previously based on the number of days served in two areas called Qualifying Service and Paid Service. The troops were told these would both continue to be used to calculate the new Longer Separation Allowance.

This was incorrect as Qualifying Service days had never been counted under the new scheme. It was not until a few weeks ago that the Navy's Resources and Planning department noticed its mistake, but not before some marines had estimated their LSA bonuses at as much as 11 times beyond the level to which they were entitled.

The money is separate from the £2,240 tax free bonus being given to troops on operations announced by the Defence Secretary last month.

A senior Royal Navy officer said the error had been "absolutely devastating to morale".

"They are not being paid enough for what they do as it is so then to take £500 a month out of their pay is going to cause morale to plummet even further. Yes, they are incredibly dedicated people and love doing what they do out there, but this has made them incredibly unimpressed."

A Navy spokesman said it was "regrettable" that an error had been made when pay chiefs had incorrectly made briefings on pay allowances two years ago.

The new system was designed to simplify allowances and ensured Navy personnel were treated in the same way as RAF and Army.

Pay Screw Up!

Marines 'lose' payment in blunder

Royal Marines serving in Afghanistan have been left disappointed after being told they will not receive an expected increase in their allowance.

Because of a blunder by Royal Navy administrators the marines had been led to believe they would receive a bonus of up to £3,000.

The Ministry of Defence has since realised the error and said the marines will not be paid the money.

An MoD spokesman said the internal mistake had been "regrettable".

Under new pay regulations Royal Marines had been led to believe they would receive up to £17 extra a day over a six-month period overseas, it was reported.

Morale 'affected'

The error was included in an internal Royal Navy instruction outlining a new pay scheme.

Mark Harper, the shadow defence minister, told the Daily Telegraph: "This will have a huge effect on morale for troops engaged in some of the most dangerous fighting for years, especially in the run-up to Christmas."

An MoD spokeswoman said: "The Royal Navy and Royal Marine personnel will be paid under joint personnel agency arrangements from this month.

"Regrettably the internal Royal Navy instruction was wrong and some personnel are disappointed that they will not receive this substantial uplift.

"However, it is important to note that they are not taking a cut."

BBC News about J Company in Gereshk!

Afghan battle turns to hearts and minds

UK troops in Afghanistan are continuing to work on building relationships with local townspeople in the hope of capturing hearts and minds.

British troops aim to help stabilise the country

The large arched tent was crowded. At the front, Captain Chris Burr was giving a briefing for the following day.

A few hours earlier, the men of Juliette Company 42 Commando Royal Marines had come back to their base after a fight with the Taleban.

Some were laughing and joking, others were quiet.

One or two seemed weighed down by more than just the huge amount of kit they were carrying.

But showered, fed and briefly rested they were ready to go again - they had been going into the nearby town of Gereshk.

There was ice on the seats of those vehicles, which were open as the convoy set off across a bleak, brown landscape under a clear morning sky.

The approach to Gereshk was past mud walls. Recently, heavy rains had left small lakes in deep hollows in the roads.

As the marines got out of their vehicles and walked towards the town, they were met with half-smiles and wary glances from the Afghans watching.

A single shot fired in warning at a car whose driver was reluctant to stop, did nothing to lift the mood.

It was the children who did that.

They stood in doorways or on street corners, sometimes singly but more often in groups.

The bolder ones grinned and shouted "Salaam". When the marines paused, they would cluster around.

Working with children

A Danish soldier with the patrol, Sergeant-Major Klaus Augustinus, who is working on civilian projects, chatted to them and let them peer through the sight of his rifle.

"I've put a lot of effort into working with the kids," he said, as he walked away.

"They're going to be the future of Afghanistan and hopefully they'll continue to wave at us.

"I adore kids. They smile at you, wave at you - make me happy."

In the town centre, the traffic ranged from donkeys ladened with sacks to a truck with an internet address on its side.

There was the noise, bustle and colour that the outskirts had lacked.

And, as the patrol pushed on, so did a growing escort of children.

At halts they gathered around hoping for handouts especially, pens. But the marines do not give away free gifts.

There have been instances in the past where children have raced across roads enthusiastically and been hit by vehicles or have clustered around a truck and been hurt when it moved.

Only a few of the marines wore helmets. In the town, soft hats or bare heads would do.

Chris Burr believes there has been a distinct improvement in the attitude of the townspeople towards the marines and he and the men of the patrol want that to continue.

Not that he is complacent.

He thought some of a crowd of men his patrol had passed might have been Taleban and the marines were quick to act when someone seemed to be using a mobile phone to report their progress.

Corporal Mick Cowe said the town centre is now "fairly benign" but the men are always on their guard. However, it was not long before another halt saw him mobbed by children.

Suicide bombers

A short time before he had been speaking about how the marines think "the combat side of the job is great".

But he dealt happily with the children - talking to them and smiling as they talked back even though neither could understand the other.

After four hours it was time to return to the vehicles. There was a final moment of tension as a white saloon car sped towards the marines.

Always vigilant for suicide bombers, they raised their weapons and it screeched to a halt. The children were hanging around until the marines left.

"It's nice to do the other half of our job" said Mick Cowe.

"A little bit of hearts and minds. If we don't do this work as well, we won't make any progress"

Guy from Oasis even more of a moron than I thought

Oasis star branded 'ignorant'

Oasis star Noel Gallagher has been branded "ignorant" after he told soldiers wounded in Iraq to stop moaning.

The Britpop frontman said in an interview with a tabloid that he was against the Iraq war and also said about the troops who had been injured in action: "If you're bothered about getting shot - here's a thing - don't join the Army."

Veterans' representative Ray Bristow said the guitarist only had the freedom to make such comments thanks to the sacrifice of the thousands who gave their lives.

Former soldier, Mr Bristow, said that Gallagher was only able to make such comments "on the back of thousands of soldiers' lives" laid down for their country.

He said: "He is in a privileged position in society where he is able to have free speech and make comments like he has made."

Gallagher has since come out to say he was misquoted but that he maintains his stance against the war in Iraq.

Private Lionel O'Connor, 22, of 2 Royal Anglian, who had his leg amputated after being caught up in a roadside bomb attack in Basra, suggested Gallagher should go to Iraq to see what conditions are like for soldiers.

Pte O'Connor, who is recovering at a military rehabilitation centre in Surrey following the attack in May, said: "If he has got a comment like that, send him out there."

Noel Gallagher ridicules British soldiers, Blair

London -- Noel Gallagher of the British rock band Oasis yesterday told soldiers fighting in Iraq to stop complaining when they get wounded.

In a wide-ranging rant, the fired-up 39-year-old also turned his guns on British Prime Minister Tony Blair, environmentalists, Elton John and his brother Liam -- the lead singer in the band.

"Blair made an almighty cock-up going to war in Iraq," Gallagher told The Sun newspaper.

"You get a million people walking through Hyde Park -- 'don't send the troops' and all that. The troops want to go, all they want to do is fight! They're soldiers. They're loving it, until they get shot -- then they're claiming compensation.

"If you're bothered about getting shot -- here's a thing -- don't join the army."

I cannot believe that someone can be so idiotic and have such an obvious lack of intelligence as is the case here. The fact that this guy would even make these comments in public is ridiculous! saying that injured troops should shut up moaning and "If you're bothered about getting shot - here's a thing - don't join the Army." is unbelievable and so misinformed I just want to drop this idiot into a firefight and see how long he lasts before crying like a baby and wetting himself. These men and women go out there knowing full well that they may get hurt or even killed but it's their job and they feel like they are doing something worthwhile and I have never heard of any injured troops who have come back and 'moaned' about the fact that they have been hurt!

The only thing I have EVER heard being complained about is the inadequate care and support given to them after they have been  injured - inadequate, disgraceful treatment such as being placed in beds next to elderly or mentally ill people and in open wards where they are attacked by ignorant people like this who don't understand the fact they are out in these dangerous places fighting for their country so that cowards like these do not have to. Moaning about being mistreated and abandoned after being injured in the line of duty is a valid point and is not the same as moaning about the fact they have been injured in the first place. They accept this as one of the risks of their job but these injured soldiers deserve so much better after all they have given for their country! More than 600 soldiers have been flown back to Britain after being injured on operations abroad since March 2003 and the majority have been put in normal civillian wards rather than dedicated military specialist ones.

"One soldier recovering from a gunshot wound has described how he spent three weeks in a bed next to a mentally handicapped man who was unable to care for or clean himself."

"Another soldier at the hospital recalled one of his comrades who had lost a leg screaming in agony because the morphine had worn off. The pain was so intense that the soldier fainted twice during the 45 minutes he had to wait before a doctor could be found to administer more morphine."

These people who have been injured should be treated with the utmost respect, care and support and shouldn't be dismissed and left to get on with their lives as they are deemed no longer useful to the British military. If this gallagher fool had any sense he would be out there using his 'celebrity' status campaigning to help these forgotten soldiers to get better care, better support and ensuring that such disgraceful circumstances such as these are not repeated for future troops wounded in action.

If idiotic people like Gallagher haven't got the intelligence to differentiate or understand the difference between politicians who decide where and when are troops will get involved in conflict and the actual troops themselves who do as they are told to the best of their ability - putting their faith in their leaders as to the validity and worthiness of whatever particular cause they are fighting for at the time, then he should at least have the respect and deference towards these people who are on a whole different level to him and are making a difference in this world to shut his mouth about things he knows nothing about.

He should be so ashamed of himself right now that he should use the money and status he has been lucky enough to earn that he really does not deserve to make up to the soldiers who will have a fraction of his wealth and recognition in their whole lives. He should publicly recognise the service that they are doing to ensure that he will always have the freedom to shout his mouth about like the idiot he so obviously is.

'YOU'RE HERE FIGHTING TO SAVE THE WORLD'

BLAIR: 'YOU'RE HERE FIGHTING TO SAVE THE WORLD'

TONY Blair made an extraordinary frontline speech to soldiers in Afghanistan yesterday telling them they were fighting for the future of the world

On a secret trip to Camp Bastion in the war-torn Helmand province, he said: "Here, in this extraordinary piece of desert, is where the world's security in the early part of the 21st century will be played out."

He added victory over the Taliban would mean a Britain free from suicide bombers and terrorists. Standing on a flat-bed truck and spoke without notes, urging troops to keep fighting after he leaves office.

He said: "Sometimes you may not know this, but the people back home are very proud of the work that you do.

"Whatever they think of the politicians there is only one thing they think about you - a real sense of pride and admiration for the work that you do."

An emotional Mr Blair used his address to spell out to 800 soldiers fresh from fighting just a few miles away why he had sent them to Afghanistan five years ago.

He said: "The reason we came here and got rid of the Taliban was to stop this country being a training ground for terrorists and that struggle is continuing.

Surrounded by armoured cars, Apache helicopters and heavy weapons, Mr Blair added: "The people we are fighting want to fight us back.

"The only way to beat them is with courage and determination and with absolute will to make sure that, however much they fight us, we are prepared to stand up, fight them back and defeat them.

WHEN you do defeat them you will be defeating them not just on behalf of Afghanistan, but also our country and the wider world as well."

Wearing an open-necked shirt and with shoes covered in mud, Mr Blair thanked the soldiers for enduring some the heaviest fighting since the Second World War, adding the struggle was like no other seen before by the British Army.

Senior Downing Street sources said the trip to the windswept home of thousands of British troops would probably be the PM's last frontline visit. The speech was widely seen as Mr Blair's final attempt to justify the War on Terror which was launched in Afghanistan.

Aides said it was designed to show why winning the battle was important to every town and street in the UK.

Just hours later, after talks with Afghan president Hamid Karzai in the capital Kabul, Mr Blair recommitted himself to the fight for the foreseeable future.

He said: "It's the nub of the issue. Have we got the will? We came to Afghanistan because the problems in Afghanistan had become a problem for the world.

"We have got to stay committed for as long as it takes - for our own security, not just for the sake of the Afghan people.

"I don't believe we have any alternative but to fight this and fight it for as long as it takes." President Karzai said: "The international community will surely stay with us until we are on our own feet. When we are, no evil force can return."

But there was a more pessimistic view from the military. In talks with Mr Blair, generals demanded more than two dozen tanks and armoured cars and at least 600 extra troops to cope with the fighting which is expected to worsen in the spring.

Senior military commanders also warned the PM the threat was changing.

Lt Col Andy Price of the Royal Marines said there were fewer and fewer full-frontal attacks on remote platoon houses.

Instead, he warned, the Taliban were using more snipers, suicide bombs and roadside booby traps. In the last six weeks two suicide bombers have launched attacks against British troops with more expected. Other commanders warned the alliance only had six months to win the war before most of the rural population decided to side with the Taliban

One said: "If we do not achieve our strategic objectives by next summer they will probably prefer the security of the Taliban to the insecurity of the continued fighting."

IN Helmand, the Royal Marines are being shot at and mortared daily with rocket propelled grenades. There are numerous violent fire-fights, often culminating in Marines launching ground and air assaults to defeat the insurgents.

Military intelligence officers in the province talk about a three-tier Taliban: the old school hard-core' the rural community which is hedging its bets' and the "two-buck Talibs" who will fight the Brits for a few dollars.

And while the fighting goes on, commando engineers try to rebuild the region.

Commanding officer Lt Col Matt Holmes said: "The idea is to make the Taliban irrelevant to the people of Afghanistan. Whether it works remains to be seen."

Governor Daoud, head of Helmand province, believes the alliance slipped up by allowing the Taliban, ousted after 9/11, to return to the country.

He said: "The people of Afghanistan have become the first victims of terrorism. But the Taliban is being beaten. Many of them have been killed after much fighting. This is a real opportunity for Afghanistan."

Meanwhile, Mr Blair is due to travel to a Nato conference in Latvia next week when he is expected to demand other countries supply more troops for the conflict.

Yesterday Home Secretary John Reid admitted for the first time the War on Terror had fuelled Islamic extremism - in contrast to Mr Blair's view.

Dr Reid said: "I do believe foreign policy is sometimes a motivating factor in radicalisation of young Muslims and the potential recruitment to terror."

His remarks will be seen as another step towards a future leadership bid and Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: "It's a measure of Mr Blair's waning authority that senior colleagues are now carving out their position."

PM warns of long fight against Taliban

So Proud Of You, PM tells UK troops

Tony Blair has flown into Afghanistan to meet British troops fighting the Taliban.

The Prime Minister arrived at Camp Bastion the main UK base in the southern province of Helmand in an RAF Hercules transport aircraft.

Dressed in an open-necked blue shirt and navy blue blazer, the Prime Minister was introduced to members of the 4,500-strong Helmand task force including 42 Commando Royal Marines. Mr Blair told the troops of the "pride and respect" the country had for the work they were doing.

"Here in this extraordinary piece of desert is where the future of the world's security is going to be played out," he told them.

"We know that the only way to secure peace sometimes is to be prepared to fight for it."

Mr Blair's visit was billed as a show of support for the UK force which has seen some of the heaviest fighting by British troops since the Second World War.

Sergeant Chris Hunter, 31, from Swansea, told the Prime Minister: "The lads, we all want to be here."

He added: "It is a point that is often missed back home that the lads are proud to be here and proud to be doing our job."

In total, Britain has around 6,000 troops in the country as part of the 31,500-strong Nato International Security and Assistance Force.

Following the visit, the Prime Minister flew on to the capital Kabul for talks with President Hamid Karzai and General David Richards, the British officer commanding the Nato force.

It is Mr Blair's second visit to the country. On the previous occasion in 2002 - shortly after the fall of the Taliban government - he was restricted to the Bagram air base.

PM warns of long fight against Taliban

Tony Blair today described the battle against the Taliban in Afghanistan as a "generation-long struggle", as he met the country's president, Hamid Karzai, in Kabul.

The prime minister said he did not expect British troops to remain in the war-torn state that long, but added that al-Qaida had "deep roots" in the country.

And he admitted that the British army had been through "a very difficult past two or three months" in Helmand province, where 36 soldiers have been killed since June. Only five troops had been killed between 2001 and 2006.

The two men held a 30-minute press conference in the Afghan capital under extremely tight security.

Pressed on whether the Taliban had "time on their side" and could simply wait for western troops to leave, Mr Blair conceded: "Yes, the Taliban have got time, but the Afghan people have also got time. They are not going anywhere, they are not going to be intimidated out of a better future."

"Their game of waiting is a game that will not succeed."

In an apparent admission that public support for the continuing conflict in Afghanistan is waning, Mr Blair added that as well as making progress, "it is important we show that progress has been made".

"There is challenging news and there is good news," he insisted.

President Karzai added: "Perhaps we have failed in our PR in London if we have not communicated our achievements in Afghanistan."

Mr Blair admitted that opium production was up in areas of Afghanistan, but insisted it was down in others.

"For the Taliban to be ousted was a major defeat for them. They will try to get back in and they will use their links with the drug trade to do that."

"The Taliban thought they could retake Helmand this year - and they haven't."

"If your enemy is fighting you - and they are our enemy - then you fight back with more energy and determination."

Earlier Mr Blair addressed troops in Camp Bastion, Helmand province, telling them the future security of the world would be decided on the battlefields of Afghanistan.

"Here, in this extraordinary desert, is where the future of world security in the early 21st century is going to be played out," he said.

"You may not know this, but people back home are very proud of what you do, regardless what they think of political leaders."

Mr Blair's long-planned visit has been kept in strict hour-by-hour secrecy due to security fears.

Dressed in an open-necked blue shirt and navy blue blazer, Mr Blair spoke to around 800 members of the 4,500-strong Helmand taskforce, which includes 42 Commando Royal Marines. Today, Mr Blair heard that there was support for the mission in Afghanistan among the troops. Sergeant Chris Hunter, 31, from Swansea, told Mr Blair: "The lads, we all want to be here. It is a point that is often missed back home that the lads are proud to be here and proud to be doing our job."

In total, Britain has around 6,000 service personnel in the country as part of the 31,500-strong Nato international security and assistance force.

The visit was Mr Blair's second to the country. On the previous occasion, in 2002, shortly after the fall of the Taliban government, he was restricted to the Bagram airbase because of security fears.

The Liberal Democrat defence spokesman, Nick Harvey, said: "Yet again the prime minister has failed to address the root problems of overstretch and equipment shortages facing our troops.

"For as long as we aim to tackle the conflicts in both Iraq and Afghanistan without dealing with the fundamental operational difficulties this presents, it will be impossible to bring peace to either country.

"It is time the prime minister addressed the true scale of the challenges and dangers facing our armed forces."

Yesterday, Mr Blair met Pervez Musharraf, the Pakistan president.

Gen Musharraf, the west's leading Muslim ally, who urged Nato to change course in Afghanistan, arguing that the alliance could not rely solely on military might but also had to make political settlements and pump billions into the Afghans' neglected economy.

Gen Musharraf likened the scale of the effort needed to the US Marshall Plan for the reconstruction of Europe after the second world war.

Mr Blair's official spokesman insisted that there was no shortage of aid money for the country.

The UK has given £500m in development aid while $10.5bn was pledged at an international donors conference in London in January.

The spokesman said: "The problem at the moment is not the lack of financial aid available. The problem is getting the physical infrastructure and government infrastructure in place to spend that money."

Gen Musharraf angrily rejected claims that Pakistan was failing to prevent militants crossing the border into Afghanistan to join the uprising. He said that 600 Pakistani troops had been killed in fighting with the insurgents.

Heroic Marine

Supermarine to the rescue

A MARINE lifted a two-ton truck to save a drowning comrade — while under mortar fire.

The Pinzgauer vehicle tipped over in a drainage ditch, trapping Mark Farr.

Colour Sgt Carl Tatton, nicknamed Tatts, dodged exploding shells to race to the scene.

Using superhuman strength, he hoisted the truck’s roll bar high enough for his pal to get free. Fellow commando Mark, 29, had trapped his leg under the vehicle. He said last night: “Without Tatts I’d have drowned. I owe him my life.”

But modest Carl, 37, a physical training instructor, insisted he was only doing his job.

The men were supplying comrades from 42 Commando with ammo, food and water when they came under fire from the Taliban in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

Colleagues have since dubbed Carl The Incredible Bulk for his amazing strength.

Lt Col Andy Price of 3 Commando said: “CSgt Tatton gave no thoughts to his own safety.

“This is typical of the man. He embodies the very highest standards of the Royal Marines.”

Marines praised in Taleban action

Marines praised in Taleban action

Royal Marines serving in Afghanistan have been praised for their professionalism, as they embark on their latest operation.

Troops from Arbroath-based 45 Commando are supporting moves to block-off the town of Gereshk from the Taleban.

The unit are mourning the loss of Corporal Ben Nowak, who died in a boat patrol attack in Iraq at the weekend.

Last month it also lost Marine Gary Wright in an attack on a military convoy in Helmand province.

The marines from the unit's Whiskey company have been providing the security to allow Royal Engineers to construct "enhanced outposts" and "permanent vehicle checkpoints" near the strategically-important town.

Small arms fire

Earlier this week they entered an enemy stronghold under the cover of darkness east of Gereshk.

The company came under attack from mortars, rockets and small arms fire and the fighting continued for most of the day.

A number of members of the Taleban were killed along with one Afghan National Police officer.

A military spokesman said the next day the positions were handed over to the Afghan authorities.

Major Jim Gray, who commands Whiskey Company, praised the marines.

He said: "The marines fought hard in the face of constant attack and were a credit to 45 Commando.

"Their bravery and professionalism are exactly what we expect of our Corps.

"The end result allows the Afghan authorities to protect their own town and will have a lasting impact on the Taleban who seek to bring misery to the people of this ancient country."

The company are part of Task Force Helmand based in southern Afghanistan.

They are one month in to a six month tour of duty.

Remembrance Day

J Company in Gereshk

Op Slate: The Construction Of Police Check Points In Gereshk

Operation Slate was the codeword for the construction of vital Police Check Points on the outskirts of one of the major towns in Helmand province.  As the Operation progressed the Taliban attack increased in intensity as they attempted and failed to prevent the construction task.

Over recent months the Taliban have infiltrated and attacked the Afghan National Police and Government buildings in and around Gereshk.  At the specific request of the local community and regional government, a pre-planned operation has been put into effect over the last few days in order to build 5 permanent check points on the main routes into town.  Once complete the check points will provide improved security and protection to the local Afghan National Police and Army which in turn will provide additional security and safety for the local population.

The operation, which involved over 500 UK Task Force troops, commenced at dawn on 5 November as J Company, 42 Commando RM and W Company 45 Commando RM, deployed by vehicle into their area of operations to provide a security cordon for 42 Field Squadron Royal Engineers to construct the check points.

Within hours the Taliban began their concerted attacks on the security cordon as they sought to disrupt the construction.  A combination of Chinese 107 rockets and 82mm mortars were fired around the area of operations. Initially extremely random and inaccurate they soon began to land within 50m of the troops on the ground.

The Royal Engineers, under almost constant fire throughout, continued with their work, only stopping when they had to replace a tyre on a mechanical digger that had been shredded by incoming mortar fire.

As the bombardment continued the Royal Marines Commandos hit back. Unable to use some of the weapon systems at their disposal for fear of hitting innocent civilians, 81mm mortars, fired by Mortar troop, 42 Commando Royal Marines were extremely effective in destroying enemy mortars.  Royal Marines sniper teams were deployed killing a number of Taliban insurgents attempting to disrupt the Operation.

As night fell the engineers put the finishing touches to the new build and the Royal Marines Commandos dug in to prevent any infiltration. 

During the early hours of 6 November Maj Ewen Mercherson, Officer Commanding J Company 42 Commando Royal Marines, met with Commander Daudkhan of the Afghan National Police to officially hand over the position 42 Field Squadron had spent the last 14 hours, under fire, constructing. Having been shown around the 3 separate buildings which made up the new check points, Commander Daudkhan was extremely happy with what the Royal Engineers had produced and said it would contribute to the effectiveness of the Afghan National Police within Gereshk:

The initial Operation was extremely successful, although one Royal Marine VIKING Armoured vehicle had to be destroyed by air power.  Having survived a number of RPG attacks one lucky shot caused the vehicle to be disabled.  Despite a direct hit by a RPG, all crew men and Royal Marines Commandos were able to extract without injury from the immediate vicinity.  It was decided to destroy the vehicle in place rather than have it potentially fall into Taliban hands.

Two days later the Royal Marines and Engineers were back to complete the last check point this time on Highway 1, Afghanistan’s major road that circumnavigates the country.

Lieutenant Colonel Phil Sherwood, Commanding Officer of 28 Engineer Regiment said:
“This was a demanding and complex combat engineer task, conducted in almost continuous contact with enemy forces, the purpose of which was to strengthen the Afghan Security Forces’ infrastructure and enhance the security of the people of Gereshk.”

Lieutenant Colonel Andy Price Royal Marines, the UK Task Force spokesman said:
“We are delighted to be able to assist the Afghan Government with the building of the new check points.  This demonstrates the real development that is going on in the province and the strong partnership between the UK Task Force and the Provincial Government.  I would also like to express my sympathy and condolences to the families of the Afghan policemen who lost their lives this week defending Gereshk against the Taliban insurgents”

During the whole operation two Afghan National Policemen were killed and one seriously injured.  UK Task force troops suffered no causalities.