And Still The Rockets Kept Coming!
The end of 2006 saw the Sqn remain committed to operations in its role as 63 Sqn RAF Regt on Op TELIC in Iraq. As the Resident Field Sqn (RFS), we remained busy securing the Basrah Contingency Operating Base (COB) and its associated AO by endeavoring to deny the enemy freedom of movement. The Sqn continued to patrol the area around the Base, concentrating on the high-threat areas to the East, particularly the Qarmat Ali area of Basrah. Although Dec 06 and Jan 07 saw no let up in the amount of rockets being fired at the COB, very few were coming from within our AO. It was clear that the enemy felt more confident firing rockets at us from distance particularly from the urban areas of Basrah, where they knew we were unable to dominate.
Photo: 63 Squadron RAF Regiment deployed on Operation Telic
Although the New Year heralded the drawdown of Army personnel from the Basrah City and increased hope for a reduction in violence against the Multi-National Forces (MNF), we were quickly reminded of the serious threats that we faced, when a Contact-Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) again hit one of our patrols. The IED hit the patrol in the early evening of 19 Jan 07; fortunately for the multiple, commanded by FS Brain Mannion who had only arrived in-theatre the week before, we suffered no casualties. The IED detonated just 300m from an Iraqi Police Service (IPS) checkpoint and the officers within the post offered no help to the patrol, increasing the distrust between the RFS and IPS. On investigation following the incident, the IED was found to be a hastily laid command wire (CW) IED on the fringes of the Qarmat Ali under the watchful eyes of the IPS. The second C-IED led quickly to a change in Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs) for the RFS, with a greater reliance on helicopter inserted flt and multiple level foot patrols in and around our high threat areas.
Lessons in Controlled Explosions
The end of Jan was an extremely busy and occasionally comical period for the RFS in Basrah! A stolen sewage truck was brought to the main entrance of the COB, where the momentous decision was made by the RAF Police Incident Cdr to allow a controlled explosion to take place. As can be imagined, when a sewage truck containing 20,000 litres of raw sewage is detonated, the result is quite a large environmental hazard! Six RFS personnel were hospitalized after inhaling the fumes and the stench remained for many weeks afterwards, resulting in the RFS’ most mundane task becoming more of a test of the gunner’s ability to keep their food down than maintaining their concentration. Also during Jan 07, Cpl Willie Potter on his one-man quest to find the ‘missing’ weapons of mass destruction (WMD), found two Anti Aircraft Heavy Machine Gun Mounts (AA HMG) whilst conducting a TESSERAL (anti-SAM) patrol. The mounts appeared to be in good order, were well dug in and capable of mounting a 14.5mm caliber machine gun. The EOD team was called to destroy the mounts in-situ and concurrently destroy a 107mm rocket that had been found by one of our other patrols. On behalf of the Division, the RFS hosted the UK mini Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) trial for the Desert Hawk III, which was a great success and the UAV will provide a greater capability than the existing US-provided RAVEN. At the time of writing this article, the RFS should have received its first Desert Hawks flown by a team from the Royal Artillery.
Improving Local Inhabitants’ Lives
We also received our first sets of Bowman VHF radios provided by Bde, which greatly improved our communications with Bde and neighbouring Battle Groups (BGs). In addition to a more concentrated and targeted patrolling plan, the increase in threat saw a greater reliance on non-kinetic effects, provided by the Bde Psychological Operations (PsyOps) Team and by our own Civilian Military Cooperation (CIMIC) Team (namely WO Barry Matthews and FS Chris Mears). The two teams conducted a systematic campaign to improve the lives of the local populace by providing drinking water and improved roads for the local villages, and distributing footballs and t-shirts to the local children. We also increased the rate of joint patrolling with 1 Bde Iraqi Army, which proved very successful and garnered the attention of the Bde Commander and the General. SAC Hushan Khan was instrumental in improving relations between the RFS and the Iraqi Army and making the joint patrols more effective with his rapidly improving Arabic and his understanding of Arab culture.
Photo: Joint patrol – B Flt, 63 Sqn RAF Regt with members of 1 Bde Iraqi Army.
Helicopter Sniping
During the early period of 2007, the RFS continued to develop a helicopter sniping capability from scratch. The Lynx Detachment from the Army Air Corps (AAC) helped promote this new capability with Bde and provided many hours of training opportunities for our snipers on the Diamond Back Ranges. They also assisted the Ops Offr, Flt Lt ‘Dan’ Quayle, in losing his breakfast every time he flew with them! TTPs were worked through by Sgt Simon Ricklesford, the rest of the snipers and the AAC aircrew which resulted in the RFS snipers being able to hit a figure 11 target at 500m flying at over 50 kts! For the rest of the tour, the snipers were extensively used to provide a close precision attack capability, while the Lynx Helicopters were involved in Counter-Indirect Fire (C-IDF) patrols and providing top-cover for Bde Strike Operations.
The main effort in Feb 07 continued to be denying enemy IDF teams the freedom of movement to attack the COB from within our AO and on its fringes. A number of RFS operations were carried out combining the use of foot multiples, mortar illumination and sniper operations within the Basra City North Battle Group Area of Operations. In addition the Joint Helicopter Command Iraq (JHF-I) increased their support to the RFS providing Merlin and Sea King helicopters regularly in order for us to carry out extensive Eagle VCPs. It seemed we had been largely successful in denying ground to the enemy rocket teams but, unfortunately, as some of the MNF bases were handed over to the Iraqi Army within the City, there remained fewer targets for the enemy to engage and we saw a small spike in attacks against the COB. On 4 Mar 07, the COB came under C-IDF from seven rounds of 120mm mortar, the first mortar attack against the COB since Oct 04. Regrettably, we were unable to respond in our usual aggressive manner as it was conducted from the Northern part of the Qarmat Ali, an area that could only be patrolled in armour. The Sqn’s Support Weapons continued to regularly provide mortar illumination for Bde-level C-IDF operations and assisted in the calibration of the COB’s early warning radars.
Photo: Heli Snipers – Cpl Rob Pugh (Sniper Sect Comd) spotting for SAC Iain Graham on a Lynx Heli Patrol
During the period of Arba’een, a religious festival, the number of attacks decreased which may have had something to do with the festival but more likely was due to the more robust response from MNF forces to IDF attacks and the increase in Bde Strike Operations. The general lull in attacks allowed the Sqn to start its preparation for the arrival of 1 Sqn RAF Regt and an intensive Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration (RSOI) package prior to the Transfer of Authority in Apr 07. Unfortunately, owing to the disengagement between the MNF and the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) following a Bde Strike Operation, the RFS had to cease joint patrolling with the Iraqi Army, resulting in a loss of an important joint capability.
The Gregory Trophy
During Feb 07 the Sqn was awarded the RAF’s Gregory Trophy for its support to RAF Rowing, mainly due to Sgt Simon Ricklesford’s drive to develop a Sqn Rowing Team that could compete with - and beat - most other teams in the RAF and the other Services. Even in the extreme heat encountered by all in Iraq, the Sqn proved its rowing credentials by taking on all comers from the other Services and Nations to be crowned TELIC Rowing Champions in every discipline that they entered.
Photo: Sqn TELIC Rowers – Sgt Simon Ricklesford (Team Captain), Flt Lt Duncan McGregor, Cpl George Austen and Fg Off John Hall compete in the TELIC Rowing Competition A Job Well Done
All in all, the Sqn proved its unique dual-capability and that it was not only able to carry out the duties of a field sqn, but carry them out well. Despite a hectic ceremonial programme shoe-horned within an extensive pre-deployment training programme, the Sqn proved that it was well prepared to meet the challenges faced in a high threat environment. Despite the COB coming under more enemy bombardment than any other RAF base since the Second World War during the period we were there, it was acknowledged that we contributed significantly to the small number of casualties experienced. This was due to the patrols’ efforts in combining overt and covert patrolling, which denied the enemy freedom of movement within our AO and ensured that their only option was to fire from much greater distances with resulting poor accuracy.
Return to Uxbridge
After the handover to 1 Sqn RAF Regt on 2 Apr 07, we commenced with the redeployment to RAF Uxbridge and a press-covered welcoming party back at the Sqn HQ. After servicing all of the equipment and ensuring that the Sqn’s ceremonial kit was prepared for the return to ceremonial tasks, the Sqn went on well-deserved Post Operational Leave. On 8 May, the Sqn returned to work in blues to commence ceremonial training. The LACs that had deployed on operations with the Sqn fell back down to earth with a bump when they had to commence their four-week Trg Flt. The remainder of the Sqn, including the officers, commenced Public Duties Training. Of particular note was Flt Lt Jim Rowe, the Sqn’s Bowman Officer, who despite suffering from a lack of physical coordination, little rhythm and under constant ‘gentle’ harassment from the Sqn WO, managed to assume a new role as OC Buckingham Palace!
Dining-In Night
As arguably one of the more sociable sqns within the RAF Regt, it would have been remiss not to celebrate the safe return of the Sqn in a suitable manner. The Sgts’ Mess at RAF Uxbridge kindly offered to host a Sqn Dining-In Night and FS Andy Franklin-Brown organized an excellent evening, which saw the whole Sqn enjoy a superb meal provided by the Sqn Chefs, surrounded by RAF Regt silverware.
Photo: Dining In Night At the time of writing the Sqn is well and truly back into the swing of ceremonial duties, we now have 23 new QCS gnrs, following their completion of the Sqn Trg Flt and are currently in the middle of another set of Public Duties at the London Palaces. So far, the Mounting of the Queen’s Guard has gone well and it has given the OC, Sqn Ldr Andy Calame ample opportunity to do some high-level, 11th hour mincing in preparation for him becoming the next Equerry to HM The Queen in Aug of this year. He will be replaced by Sqn Ldr Phil Hateley, who will move from being the Executive Officer at the GBAD Wg HQ at RAF Honington.
Photo: Public Duties– Sqn Ldr Andy Calame leading the Queen’s Guard to St James’ Palace