Marine operation brings hope of electricity to millions in southern Afghanistan
Royal Marines began their New Year by clearing villages in the area around Kajaki, Afghanistan, of Taliban, enabling work to begin on a major hydroelectric dam.
The Operation, codename Operation CLAY, began in the early hours of New Year's Day and ran for four days. Around 110 troops carried out a variety of operations around Kajaki in northern Helmand province to bring stability and security to the area, whose dam is capable of providing much needed electricity to southern Afghanistan.
The troops established a new observation point in the mountains around the town; cleared a cave complex and a village known as a Taliban training ground; and built a Permanent Vehicle Check Point (PVCP).
And during the course of the operation British Forces believe they killed a local Taliban commander.
The Royal Marines involved in the operation are from M Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines, part of 3 Commando Brigade. They were supported by Royal Engineers and members of the Territorial Army.
Major Oliver Lee, 3 Commando Brigade's Operations Officer, said:
"The operation was designed to dominate the immediate environs of Kajaki so that security could be established. 42 Commando carried out a focussed, targeted military operation intended to gain ownership of the key high ground around Kajaki. In the process of that operation we understand that their commander was killed."
Major Lee said the number of Taliban forces killed was in the "tens". British Forces sustained one minor casualty, a gunshot wound to the hand.
However, the operation was deemed a success because by securing the area around Kajaki, contractors will be able to carry out repairs to the dam, subject of the largest USAID programme in Afghanistan, which will bring electricity to 1.8 million Afghans across southern Afghanistan who currently have none.
In assessing the success of the operation Major Lee said:
"A programme that will switch on 1.8 million homes will start and without the operation it wouldn't have done. It will treble the area of irrigated land, significantly increasing the swathe of land that can be exploited by crops other than poppy."
The operation began with the Marines securing a third Observation Point in the mountains above Kajaki, providing the Royal Marines with greater fields of view and fire across the Kajaki area.
M Company then conducted search operations through a series of caves to the North East of Kajaki which were believed to be used by Taliban forces. Having conducted all but the final stage of the clearance, M Company received a heavy weight of fire from enemy forces and they withdrew, regrouped and switched their attention to clearing the neighbouring village of Khalawak.
2nd Lieutenant Burty Kerr commanded 11 Troop, M Company, as they patrolled towards the objective of a known Taliban compound deep within Kajaki Olya. As the troop approached the form up point to begin the assault, known as the start line, they came under enemy fire. Instantly the Royal Marines identified the firing point and returned fire as Corporal 'Jacko' Jackson led his section into the first compound, which they quickly cleared.
The Royal Marines were being targeted with accurate small arms and Rocket Propelled Grenades, but they responded with pin point 81mm mortars, heavy weights of machine gun fire and ILAWs, a hand-held missile launcher, as they continued their push through the open ground.
Once the foothold within the compounds had been gained, 10 Troop were called forward to assist with the systematic clearing of the buildings. Still under fire, the Marines gradually made their way towards the Taliban training compound.
Having finally cleared the objective the Royal Marines regrouped and patrolled out of Kajaki Olya and back to Forward Operating Base Kajaki to await further tasking.
2nd Lieutenant Burty Kerr described the day's events:
"We received incoming (fire from the enemy) as we approached the start line. Initially we were pinned down but managed to suppress the enemy before gaining entry to the compounds. Once in, we cleared the area pushing the enemy back as we swept through. The lads worked extremely well throughout the operation with intelligence suggesting that Taliban forces took a hard blow and were overwhelmed by the capabilities of the troops on the ground."
Major Martin Colin described with pride how his men have conducted themselves during recent operations in and around Kajaki:
"From Troop level downwards, the mission command was excellent and the young guys in particular all performed their jobs very, very well with an immense amount of enthusiasm and professionalism; I couldn't ask any more of them."
M Company deployed to Kajaki in December 2006. The first few weeks were spent learning the area and the dynamics of the Afghan friendly forces (Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police and the Helmand Security Force (Militia/ANAP)) that M Company was to work alongside for the foreseeable future.
Members of 42 Commando Mortar troop and I Star (Reconnaissance Troop) are currently manning the Operation Post positions which provide fire support to troops on the ground.
Further south, 59 Independent Commando Royal Engineers and 131 Independent Commando Squadron (Volunteers) Royal Engineers began the construction of the PVCP. They worked through the night to complete the build within 36 hours as contacts with Taliban forces continued around them.
Staff Sergeant Andy Walton explained how the PVCP will improve the security of the local area:
"Once the PVCP has been finished it will provide additional security for the local Afghans, and eventually the Afghan National Police will man the position independently. The position will provide additional arcs (fields of fire and view) around its immediate area and enable coalition forces to disrupt the Taliban which, until now, have conducted their operations with relative freedom."
Meanwhile, M Company, led by Major Martin Colin, cleared Taliban forces from the village of Kajaki Olya, to the south of Kajaki, where Taliban have been observed conducting training within specific compounds in the heart of the village.
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