Bomb Hunters: In Afghanistan With Britain's Elite Bomb Disposal Unit (37 page)

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FOB indicates Forward Operating Base

Abdul Washid Kalay (village) 102, 103

Afghan National Army (ANA) 29, 35, 44, 48, 91, 94, 98, 114, 120, 122, 123, 127, 137, 156, 180–1, 184–5, 190, 214, 218, 232, 260, 262, 269

Afghan National Police (ANP) 29–30, 35, 137, 156, 179–80, 181–203, 214, 217–18, 223, 225, 226, 227, 232, 236, 269

Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) 35, 64, 124, 180, 254

Afghan Task Force (ATF) 107, 110

Afghanistan: arriving in 1–3, 6, 9; civilian casualties of war 38, 62, 98, 103, 137, 186, 243, 245, 270; climate/conditions 3, 17, 25, 30–1, 32, 33, 38, 41, 44, 93, 111, 214–15, 232; corruption within 73, 180, 185, 186, 203; IEDs in
see
IED; narcotics trade 103, 223; nitrate-based fertiliser ban 221, 255; peace talks/truces, ISAF/Taliban 157–8, 254; Soviet war 61, 92, 156, 157, 205, 225; UK public support for war in 2, 90, 146, 253–4

Ainsworth, Bob 266

Allen, Rifleman Philip 74

al-Qaeda 13, 240

Amer, Sergeant John 104

Ammunition Technical Officer (ATO)
see
bomb hunters
and under individual
ATO
name

Ammunition Technician (AT) 7, 12, 31, 64, 155, 162, 166, 174, 277

Anders, Sapper Gary 117

Annis, Fusilier Simon xv–xvi

Apache helicopter 91–2, 97, 244, 247, 249

Aprea, Lance Corporal Sebastian 71, 72, 83, 84

Ashley, Guardsman Robert 234

asymmetric war 116–47

Babaji 98, 104, 105

Bailey, Sergeant Dean 228, 236, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242, 243, 244, 247

Baily, Lance Sergeant Peter 176, 179–80, 187–8, 190–1, 193–6, 198, 199, 200–1

Baines, Sergeant Paul 104

Bama, Operation 12

Bassett, Rifleman Samuel 74

battle casualty replacements (BCRs) 1, 23, 52, 71, 143

Bellringer, Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2) Ken 134, 135, 141–2, 163, 170, 174

Blenheim, Patrol Base 163

‘blinds’ 225–7

Blue 17 120–4, 147, 156

Blue 25 176, 179, 187–203, 228, 229, 230, 236, 240

bomb hunters: ‘bomb suit’ 15–16, 32, 67, 130; Cat A neutralization xviii, xix, xx, 65; exhaustion 17, 49, 50, 55–6, 57–8, 63–5, 117, 165, 168–9, 250, 267; divorce rate among 112, 173; fear xiv, xvi, 2, 3, 68, 134, 191, 208, 213, 228, 230, 240; fire-fights with Taliban 34–7, 39, 79, 102, 106–7, 242; illness xvii, 95, 165; isolation search 30, 126, 129, 134, 139, 152, 153, 156, 165, 170, 206, 207, 208, 209, 264; kit 113; lead searcher xvii, 131, 136, 139, 152, 210, 264; lonely walk/going down the road 16, 130, 148–75; morale 6, 41, 44, 52, 94, 164, 202, 229, 230, 236; operations
see under individual area and operation name
; pay 257; R&R xiii, xvii, 49, 53, 54, 111–12, 113, 142, 263; rations 148–9; recruitment/shortages of 8, 22, 49, 64–5, 165–8, 177–8; robots, use of 66–7, 156; route-clearance 65–6, 74, 175, 190, 221, 252, 254; routine 16, 25–7; search team xv, xvi, 7, 11, 15, 16, 18, 22, 23, 25–7, 28, 35, 38, 39, 43, 46, 54, 58, 64, 65, 70, 79, 80, 117, 119, 124, 126, 127, 129, 136, 139, 141, 150, 152, 168, 175, 177, 178, 203, 205, 206, 207, 210, 216, 219, 220, 264, 266–7; superstitions/luck 116, 135–7, 139–40, 150, 171, 173, 202, 265; ten-liner 14–15, 27, 123, 127, 133, 159; tour length 112, 168–9, 265–7; training 12, 28, 40–2, 65, 71, 72, 80, 143, 145, 149, 155–6, 163, 166–8, 213–14, 232, 254; units
see
British Army units

Boanas, Major Ed 102, 103

Bone, Guardsman Alexander 192, 195

Boon, Corporal Kevin ‘Boonie’ 116, 128–9, 137, 138, 146, 147, 209–10, 211–12, 213, 220, 224, 225, 226, 262

Boote, Corporal Steven 187, 191, 192, 195

British Army: casevac procedures. Taliban target xviii, 44, 69, 169, 170–1, 229–30, 234–5; casualty rates 4, 6, 7, 20, 50–2, 58, 71, 73, 104–5, 107, 143, 164, 167–8, 176–7, 178, 228, 230–1, 254, 256, 263; compensation for injuries 127; exhaustion within 49, 50, 55–6, 57–8, 63–5, 117, 165, 168–9, 250, 267; helicopters, shortage of 78, 85, 87–8, 89–93, 246; High Threat Course 28, 42, 65, 71, 143, 149, 163; kit 113; morale 6, 52, 94, 164, 229, 230, 236; operations
see under individual area and operation name
; pay 257; Reception, Staging and Onward Movement Integration (RSOI) programme 9, 27, 28, 41, 91, 158; tour lengths 112, 168–9, 265–7; vehicles 113–14

British Army units: 3 Commando Brigade 41; 4 Mechanized Brigade 40; 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment 29; 11 Light Brigade 40, 75; 16 Air Assault Brigade 157, 188, 236; 33 Engineer Regiment (EOD) 116, 117, 135; 40 Commando, Royal Marines 81; Brimstone 20 xv, xvi–xxi; Brimstone 31 70, 71, 72–87; Brimstone 32 27–33, 116–47, 150–5, 156–60, 261–5; Brimstone 42 144, 177, 204–25, 252; Brimstone 45 117–47, 150–5, 177, 178, 203; CIED (Counter IED Task Force) 7, 8, 12, 22, 23, 28–9, 33, 37–8, 41, 42, 50, 52, 58, 64, 65, 71, 133, 213, 253, 254, 261, 263, 265; Coldstream Guards 91, 104, 216; Combat Logistics Patrols (CLP) 24; Defence Human Intelligence Unit 254; Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment 106, 184, 225; Grenadier Guards 8, 11, 51, 73, 85, 87, 89, 95–115, 120, 121, 148, 150, 163–4, 179–203, 214, 225, 228–51, 252, 256, 270; Grenadier Guards, Inkerman Company 95, 102, 106, 150, 187; High Readiness Force (HRF) xvii, 15, 22, 27, 71, 147, 150, 158, 177; Household Cavalry 256; Irish Guards 200, 232–3; Joint Force Engineer Group 65; Joint Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (JFEOD) 7, 13–14, 15, 24, 27, 49, 55, 57, 58, 70, 71; King’s Own Scottish Borderers 131; London Regiment (TA) 71, 119; Operational Mentoring and Liasion Team (OMLT) 196, 198, 199; Parachute Regiment 3, 11, 19, 105, 106, 157, 126, 150; Rifles xiii–xxi, 42–3, 46, 47, 51, 73–87, 151, 152, 272; Royal Anglian Regiment 39, 54, 17, 150; Royal Army Veterinary Corps 11; Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) 155, 183; Royal Engineers xv, xvi, 7, 11, 14, 15, 22, 23, 28, 30, 31, 37, 38, 46, 58, 65, 79, 82, 116–18, 119, 121, 127, 135, 152, 156, 166, 171, 204, 205, 206, 207, 209–10, 213–14, 215, 216, 262, 265; Royal Engineer Search Team (REST) xv, 7, 11, 15, 22, 23, 46, 58, 65, 79, 119, 205, 207; Royal Horse Artillery 231; Royal Irish Regiment 91, 157; Royal Logistic Corps 24, 34, 64–5, 71, 72, 117, 148, 165, 270–2; Royal Military Police xix, 13, 28, 119, 187, 199, 200; Royal Military Police Weapons Intelligence Section – WIS ‘Whiz’ 119, 143, 172, 213; Royal Regiment of Fusiliers xiv–xxi; Royal Signals 117; SAS 52, 65, 111, 112, 113, 254; SBS 254; Scots Guards, Right Flank 82, 83–4, 206, 214, 215, 216, 219, 221; Special Reconnaissance Unit 254; Welsh Guards 231

Brown, Lance Corporal Joe 28

Brunt, Lance Corporal Michael 117, 135

Burnett, Lance Corporal Clayton 28

Butler, Corporal Adam 117, 135, 138–9, 140–2, 144, 145, 147

Cameron, David 259

Camp Bastion xvii, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14–15, 18, 21–2, 27, 37, 40, 49, 51, 56, 57, 69, 79, 87, 88, 89, 91, 92, 93, 94, 98, 106, 107, 113, 145, 147, 148–9, 157, 158, 177, 196, 198, 216, 234, 252, 255, 256, 257, 258, 265

Camp Leatherneck 21

Campbell, Kingsman Andrew 106

Canadian troops 52, 90, 98, 254

Carter, Fusilier Louis xv–xvi

Cat A neutralization xviii, xix, xx, 65

Chah-e-Anjir 95, 100–1, 106, 107, 115

Chant, Regimental Sergeant Major Darren ‘Daz’ 179, 187, 188–9, 190, 191, 192, 194, 195, 196, 199, 200, 232

Chinook 15, 21, 28, 90, 93

Chiswell, Guardsman Robert 245

Clark, Guardsman David 233

Clark, Ranger Charlie 71

Claxton, Sergeant Dave 239

claymore mine, improvised 75, 153, 223

Coburn, Phil 4, 5, 97

Cowan, Brigadier James 75

Crossing Point One, Battle of 228–51

Culverhouse, Lance Corporal Liam 188, 191, 192–3, 198

Cumberland, Lance Sergeant Nathan 106, 127

Dalzell, Lieutenant Douglas 104–5

Danish troops 7, 14, 21, 37, 170

Dannatt, General Sir Richard 93, 256–7

Daoud, Lieutenant 184, 185

Darville, Guardsman Shaun 243

Davidson, Major Wayne 15

Defence Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Munitions and Search School, Kineton 158, 166, 167, 266

Dobbin, Lieutenant Mike 181–4

Donaldson, Captain John 87

Dougerty, Sergeant Chris 232

Downes, Company Sergeant Major Pete 236

Driver, Captain Martin 176

Drops (Demountable Rack Offload and Pickup System) 76, 77

electronic counter-measures (ECM) 15, 28, 61, 116, 118, 119, 129, 132, 135, 156, 210, 262

embedded reporting 8–9, 51, 105, 150, 163–4, 228–9

Estonian troops 7, 250

Ezeray, Patrol Base 76

Farrell, Warrant Officer Class 1, Ian ‘Faz’ 96, 99

Five Tanks 95, 102

Forrest, Guardsman Warren 221–2

French, Sergeant Harry 174

front line 89–115, 102, 108

Fullarton, Lance Corporal James ‘Fully’ xiii–xvi, xix, xx–xxi

Fuller, Staff Sergeant Simon 204, 205, 206, 207, 209–10, 213–14, 215, 216, 262

Garmsir 157

Gereshk 14, 15, 37–9, 51, 109, 133, 143, 157, 170, 263

Gould, Major Tim 49, 51, 54, 57–64, 67, 69

Green Zone xiii, 14, 15, 43, 82, 90, 101, 107, 150, 206, 214, 215

Green, Major Richard 229, 234, 235, 236, 237, 240, 242, 245, 249, 250