Black Watch seize Taliban weapons
15 Apr 09
The Scottish troops who have taken over the reins of Regional Battle Group (South), based in Kandahar, Afghanistan, have hit the Taliban within the first days of their arrival.
Soldiers of 3 SCOTS following the successful seizure of Taliban weapons during one of their first operations of their current deployment in Helmand province
[Picture: Major Gillian Shaw]
The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS) took the helm from 42 Commando Royal Marines last Friday, 10 April 2009, and have hit the ground running by seizing a Taliban weapons haul including mines and grenades.
The operation saw Alpha (Grenadier) Company set off at dawn on 11 April 2009 to conduct a 36-hour operation where they were dropped by helicopter onto a well-known Taliban supply route and netted Taliban anti-personnel mines and mortar and rocket-propelled grenades which were destroyed in a controlled explosion by the Royal Engineer troop.
Commanding Officer of 3 SCOTS, Lieutenant Colonel Cartwright, said:
"The fact that Alpha Company deployed on operations so soon after their arrival in theatre demonstrates their flexibility and high level of preparation. It's pleasing to have had such a positive result."
Royal Marines of 42 Commando hand over command to 3 SCOTS with a traditional flag-changing ceremony
[Picture: Sgt Chris Halton RLC]
Major Matt Munro, Officer Commanding Alpha Company, said:
"There is no doubt that our first deployment proved the excellent training that we have been through together. The use of helicopters gave us the initiative which we maintained throughout. It was also good to start building up a relationship with the Afghan National Army and Canadian forces at this early stage."
3 SCOTSÂ took over from 42 Commando Royal Marines as the battalion responsible for supporting a variety of operations across the whole of southern Afghanistan, not just those of the main UK Task Force in Helmand province.
The flag of 42 Commando was lowered at Kandahar Airfield, 3 SCOTS's home for the next six months, before being replaced by the Saltire of the Inverness-based battalion, which was raised by Regimental Sergeant Major (Warrant Officer Class 1) Lawrie McDougall, to the sound of a lone piper, Corporal Rab Lindsay.
Servicemen from 42 Commando Royal Marines and 3 SCOTS salute the flag during the handover ceremony at Camp Roberts
[Picture: Sgt Chris Halton RLC]
Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Cartwright said:
"42 Commando have had an enormously successful tour here using imaginative and daring tactics to outmanoeuvre the Taliban and win the confidence of the Afghan people. We will seek to build on their achievements and hope to work closely with the Afghan National Army and the multi-national forces across Helmand, Kandahar, and the other provinces of southern Afghanistan."
The battalion will be based within Camp Roberts on the airfield and will work directly to the Dutch-led divisional headquarters known as Regional Command (South), part of the NATO International Security Assistance Force.