NAVY NEWS, MARCH 2008 15
peacemakers
● An empty shell casing spirals away from a .50 calibre heavy
machine gun as the Fire Support Troop of Charlie Company, 40
Commando, pound Taleban positions near Kajaki
Helmand is in greater demand “The Viking’s a shell’ has saved lives. on his second tour of duty with After the warriors have gone, The pioneers begin repairing
than the Armoured Support phenomenal vehicle – L/Cpl Dean Walker the Vikings in Helmand. the Royal Marines’ ‘outreach walls, culverts, drains, the
Company – the Viking warriors. its greatest asset is its points to a scar of “I’m loving being back. I’d patrols’ move into a town or irrigation system; winter clothes,
We have trumpeted the success all-terrain mobility. battle on one vehicle much rather be back here than village, accompanied by engineers, blankets and farming implements
of the green berets’ armoured The Taleban tend to where an enemy sitting back at home.” medics, nurses, dentists. are distributed; refreshed by his
vehicle in Helmand in these pages mine known routes, round was stopped; If there’s an Achilles’ heel, it’s shower, Rich Russell fixes cars and
before. but Vikings can it never reached its Viking’s love of fuel. “Apart from motorbikes; and the medical teams
The Viking is the transport manoeuvre around intended target, the that, I can’t fault them at all,” offer check-ups and treatment for
de rigueur for British troops in them and go off road. driver’s head. said Mne Tom Aylett. minor ailments.
Afghanistan – but there are only “The flip side is the “You see that and “They provide us with a lot “Once news got out that a
a finite number of the tracked high demand across think: Thank f*** we’ve more protection and allow us medical team were in the area,
beasts, and only a finite number of the task force. The got this kit,” he says to get closer to the enemy. the local population were more
Royals to look after them. guys are in constant rather bluntly. “You’d “I am actually in love with than happy to receive treatment,
To alleviate the strain on the work and the tempo still s*** yourself if this vehicle – you couldn’t ask including pain relief and dental
two units from the Armoured of activity is high.” you’d been sitting there, for a better one.” aid,” explained Surg Lt Mike
Support Company, the British The Vikings are used chiefly but it’s a great example of how Of course meeting and Hesketh, 40 Cdo’s dentist.
Army has also been trained to use as armoured taxis: they ferry troops Viking’s doing its job.” defeating the Taleban head-to- “The key to all our outreach
Viking in the form of the Queen’s into inaccessible areas, drop them The most exposed part of head in battle is only half the work is ensuring security first,
Royal Lancers. off for a patrol, then return to pick the Viking is its upper gun, but struggle in Helmand. then following it with positive
For the green berets, re-learning the lads up. They also double up the turret has been redesigned To prevent the fundamentalists activity, helping local people to
the art of armoured warfare after a as ambulances should there be any to afford the gunner greater taking hold again, the Allied develop their communities – and
50-year hiatus, having the Lancers casualties. protection. forces in Afghanistan must show alienating the insurgents.
on board is useful. Viking offers some, though not And when the GPMG is the indigenous population there ■ Whitehall has just announced
“Although Viking is different total protection, to the men it pounding away, the insurgents can be a better future. that 3 Commando Brigade will
from what they have used before, carries. It is not a tank, and mines tend to keep their heads down. Key to a better future is better be heading Britain’s efforts in
their experience of armoured are a big fear. “The battlefield’s a fast-moving facilities, facilities we take for Afghanistan from October.
vehicles won’t go to waste,” But the Royals driving Viking place and Viking is capable of granted.
explained Maj Jez Stemp, Officer are in no doubt that the ‘armoured keeping the enemy on the back
Commanding the Armoured foot,” enthused Cpl Simon Whitby,
Support Company.
● Delta Company, 40 Commando, conduct an ‘outreach’ patrol in the Upper Gereshk Valley accompanied
by medics and a dentist and (left) a novel approach to ablutions... a Royal catches up on his reading in
the heads at FOB Gibraltar
0014-015_NN_Mar.indd 214-015_NN_Mar.indd 2 119/2/08 13:17:509/2/08 13:17:50
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