On Patrol Afganistan

[Tiger-pie]

Afghan National Army First Lieutenant Ghulam Rasool thanks Commanding Officer of the RTF Lieutenant Colonel Harry Jarvie for coming to view the new guard tower that Afghan Nation Army Engineers built.

[bigjarofwasps]

Pardon my ignorance, but I didn`t even know the Aussies were in Afganistan? I know the Canadians are certainly taking looses on par with the UK. How many have the Aussies lost, just out of interest?

Are there any serving in Iraq?

[Tiger-pie]

Pardon my ignorance, but I didn`t even know the Aussies were in Afganistan? I know the Canadians are certainly taking looses on par with the UK. How many have the Aussies lost, just out of interest?

Are there any serving in Iraq?

One SAS NCO was killed when his "Pink Panther" run over a mine. There are about 500 Australian troops in Afganistan, on the main they are there for reconstruction duties. Our Special Forces Task Group has been there since the war started.

With regards to Iraq, the RAN has maintained maritime patrols there since 1990 up until the present. All three arm are represented, many RAAF specialists are working on military airfields, and the army are mainly involved in security patrols around the Green Zone, but we also have a cadre of SF based there too. About 1500 personnel are serving in Iraq.

There has been grumbles from the US that we should be contributing more, but we are spread thin with commitments in our own part of the world (Timor-Leste, Solomons Islands etc.), and we only agreed to supply troops for the initial period of combat, not for the period following "victory".

I can post a photo expose on Iraq if you are interested.

Regards;

Johnsy

Edited August 10, 2007 by Tiger-pie

[Tiger-pie]

News report from yesterdays Sydney Morning Herald.

Australian soldiers in Afghanistan have fought off a coordinated attack by Taliban extremists, calling in helicopter gunships and inflicting an unknown number of casualties on attackers.

No Australians were hurt in the "close and intense" fighting on Wednesday.

The soldiers, providing security to a Reconstruction Task Force (RTF) work site in Oruzgan Province, encountered coordinated fire from small arms and rocket-propelled grenades.

The fighting continued for about two hours and involved several distinct engagements within the same general vicinity.

Defence spokesman Brigadier Andrew Nikolic said the troops involved in the initial incident quickly responded to the extremist fire, returning fire with personal and vehicle-mounted weapons.

A nearby patrol in Australian Light Armoured Vehicles (ASLAVs) moving to reinforce the soldiers met a volley of rocket propelled grenades fired from an adjoining extremist position.

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) helicopters supported the Australians, providing accurate fire support and increased situational awareness for the troops on the ground, he said.

Brigadier Nikolic said the Taliban attack was unsuccessful with no Australian troops wounded, no RTF vehicles damaged and no disruption to the engineer task.

"The RTF security element successfully defended the engineers, preventing extremists from directly attacking the work site," he said.

"The fighting in these attacks was particularly close and intense."

Brigadier Nikolic said the incident again highlighted the good coordination between Australian and ISAF elements, as well as the strong security presence the RTF maintained whilst working among the local population.

On this occasion the Australian engineers were working on what they call a "backyard blitz" in a community near their base at Tarin Kowt in south-central Afghanistan.

Such a quick impact development project is usually started and finished in a day.

Half an hour before the attack, the Australian troops had noticed something amiss in the Afghanistan town and were on their guard.

"Our troops, through weeks of battle preparation and cultural awareness have become attuned to the Afghan way of life and several things seemed out of place in what could be considered normal activities," he said.

"Australian soldiers identified several indicators of potential change to the local security situation."

That significantly blunted the impact of the extremist attack.

"The Taliban extremist force is known to have suffered causalities during the engagement. The ADF does not routinely release the specific details of casualties suffered by its adversaries," he said.

Brigadier Nikolic said this showed the Taliban remained active and Afghanistan remained a dangerous place.

"The Taliban extremists clearly see RTF work as a threat to their continued existence," he said.

[Tiger-pie]

In the area of the above mentioned fire-fight, an ASLAV moves into position to provide a security cordon.

[Tiger-pie]

The crew seeks shelter in the shade as another crew member keeps lookout (love that cam umbrella!).

[Tiger-pie]

Despite the modern perception that mechanised infantry don't dig in, they seek shelter in gun pits to protect themselves from mortar and rocket attack.

[Tiger-pie]

In one of the pits two troopers keep an eye out for any movement in front of their position. Note that in absense of a cloth helmet cover, the soldier at left has painted his helmet.

[Tiger-pie]

A LMG crew in a gunpit provide an inner cordon of security, behind them is a police outpost being constructed by engineers.

[Tiger-pie]

Within that cordon work is carried out. A specially-designed armoured excavator working at the police out-post work site. These machines provide soldiers with the same balistic protection as their armoured vehicles.

[Tiger-pie]

As above.

[Tiger-pie]

As above.

[Tiger-pie]

Two bomb jockys from the Australian Explosive Ordnance Disposal display an IED found near the police outpost being built in the above shots. The device is on the left, and the black object on the right is the pressure plate. Crude but effective.

[Tiger-pie]

Bushmaster in Tarin Kowt, note the red "stand off" sign at the back.

[Tiger-pie]

An observer from a sniper team watches for any suspisious activity.

[Tiger-pie]

An illum round floods the valley below the observation post with light.

Edited August 24, 2007 by Tiger-pie

[Tiger-pie]

Reconstruction equipment on the move.

[Tiger-pie]

Combat engineers lay wire to harden a position.

[Tiger-pie]

One of the many EOD dogs used by the RTF in Afghanistan.

[Tiger-pie]

The ARA has taken a "season or region" approach to camouflage. The standard Austcam is more appropriate for some areas.

Edited September 9, 2007 by Tiger-pie

[Tiger-pie]

Trooper sitting near a police checkpoint.

[Tiger-pie]

Taking a breather between contacts. (see link below).

http://www.defence.gov.au/opslipper/images...NTACT%20WEB.wmv

[Tiger-pie]

From the same area as above. LMG crew stand to.

[Tiger-pie]

Soldier takes up position near some abandoned weaponry.

[Tiger-pie]

Taking aim near a grove of trees.

Edited September 9, 2007 by Tiger-pie