|
MORTARS Sitrep as at 01 Nov 07
(Archive)
Current Deployment - Coldstreamers att
to HCR - Mortars
1st November 2007
Let me thank you on behalf of us all for your continued support.
All of the letters and packages being sent to the men is great
for morale. Please be aware that all mail is roughly handled out
here and we struggle to get it forward on a regular basis.
Therefore please tape all boxes and pack them out with newspaper
as the royal mail boxes are not deigned to withstand being
thrown around tanks, helicopters etc!!
I will now hand over to Gdsm Ben Close..............
Captain Clive
1 Section, Mortar Platoon – FOB ARNHEM,
Helmand, Afghanistan 10/10/07 – 26/10/07
On the first of October, after a last night out on the drink, 1
Section deploy out to Helmand Province .
After 1 section had completed our in-country training package we
deployed to FOB PRICE to prep our kit ready for the move to FOB
ARNHEM. We finally arrived at Arnhem on the 10th Oct to take
over from the Welsh Guards Mortar Platoon.
26th Oct
After 3 weeks at FOB ARNHEM morale is still high. We lost our
section Commander, Sgt Tony “the chin” Bolton because he went to
FOB Keenan to command 2 Section there. He was replaced by a
geezer from the chippies, also known as 2 Yorks - never mind, HA
HA!..
In the last three weeks we have been quite busy supporting Rifle
Companies and firing through the day and night. In our spare
time, when we are not killing Taliban, we make use of our
home-made gym made up from 6 foot pickets, jerry cans full of
water and ammo tins filled with sand. We call this OP MASSIVE.
Gdsm Makings AKA “Granddad” has just come to terms with the loss
of his friend Fred. Fred was a toy Guardsman he had been bought
for comfort by his Grandmother. Fred was burned on a stake in
the early hours of Wednesday morning 22nd Oct 07 by myself, and
Bez (Gdsm Bradley)…never mind!
Since being at Arnhem we have come under effective enemy fire on
a number of occasions. Due to the fast reaction of “Super” 1
section we have not sustained any casualties. During the last
TIC (Troops In Contact) the incoming rounds were landing within
the perimeter of the FOB. We returned with effective fire
killing the enemy at the scene. There was then FAST AIR – AKA
“TOP GUN” – called in to finish off the enemy position…..Good
old Maverick!!
I could go on all day about how it is out here, but I would
probably bore you, so I will leave it there. Everyone here sends
their love to all the families and are looking forward to
returning home safely.
Gdsm Ben Close AKA “Two Pints”.
|
