"Gortex 'til EndEX" - Brits Take Fight to Taliban

Posted By Blackfive

Drenched in rain and mud, Royal Marine Commandos muster at an abandoned village in Helmand province [Picture: Sergeant James Elmer ABIPP RLC]

...With the southern half of Nad E'Ali secure, British troops were tasked to clear the remainder, where intelligence reports suggested the enemy would be concentrated. Joined by an Estonian Infantry Company, 42 Commando Group, also reinforced now by L Company 42 Commando, linked up to the north west of Nad E'Ali. On the morning of 17 December, in terrible weather, they fought a gritty battle for the town of Zarghun Kalay. This saw the fiercest and most sustained fighting of the operation, taking two days to break into the town.

Enemy forces were reported to be well dug-in and later that day, as the assault began, heavy enemy resistance was encountered, aided by the poor weather and rough terrain. Throughout the afternoon, 105mm light guns were fired in support of the forward elements, also supported by Apache attack helicopters and US Cobra helicopters.

The defeat of enemy forces continued at first light on the morning of 18 December with support from Apache helicopters and artillery. The intensity of the fighting was such that the enemy fled to the north in the face of this overwhelming firepower.

At 0330 that morning, the Gunners from 29 Commando Royal Artillery attached to the Battle Group, stepped off on foot and headed to the Form Up Position (FUP). Following several hours of heavy rain, the ground had turned into a quagmire. As one Gunner described the scene:

"We were up to our ankles in muddy water. As we waited for "H Hour", with rain bouncing off our faces, one of the guys turned to me and whispered, "are we in Sennybridge?" The rain did not let up for three days and it was a definite case of 'Gortex 'til Endex'."...

More and full story at the MOD UK.

Update:  More at A Battlefield Tourist...

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"Gortex 'til EndEX" - Brits Take Fight to Taliban

Drenched in rain and mud, Royal Marine Commandos muster at an abandoned village in Helmand province [Picture: Sergeant James Elmer ABIPP RLC]

...With the southern half of Nad E'Ali secure, British troops were tasked to clear the remainder, where intelligence reports suggested the enemy would be concentrated. Joined by an Estonian Infantry Company, 42 Commando Group, also reinforced now by L Company 42 Commando, linked up to the north west of Nad E'Ali. On the morning of 17 December, in terrible weather, they fought a gritty battle for the town of Zarghun Kalay. This saw the fiercest and most sustained fighting of the operation, taking two days to break into the town.

Enemy forces were reported to be well dug-in and later that day, as the assault began, heavy enemy resistance was encountered, aided by the poor weather and rough terrain. Throughout the afternoon, 105mm light guns were fired in support of the forward elements, also supported by Apache attack helicopters and US Cobra helicopters.

The defeat of enemy forces continued at first light on the morning of 18 December with support from Apache helicopters and artillery. The intensity of the fighting was such that the enemy fled to the north in the face of this overwhelming firepower.

At 0330 that morning, the Gunners from 29 Commando Royal Artillery attached to the Battle Group, stepped off on foot and headed to the Form Up Position (FUP). Following several hours of heavy rain, the ground had turned into a quagmire. As one Gunner described the scene:

"We were up to our ankles in muddy water. As we waited for "H Hour", with rain bouncing off our faces, one of the guys turned to me and whispered, "are we in Sennybridge?" The rain did not let up for three days and it was a definite case of 'Gortex 'til Endex'."...

More and full story at the MOD UK.

Update:  More at A Battlefield Tourist...

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