UK and Afghan artillery teams help keep the Taliban at bay (VIDEO)

Artillery gunners from the Afghan National Army are providing vital support to Afghan and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) soldiers from their desert operating base near Garmsir, Helmand Province.

The 4th Combat Support Artillery Kandak plays a key role in helping the troops manning the bases in and around Garmsir to defeat the regular attacks mounted on them by the Taliban.

Living and working in the hot, windswept and dusty conditions, the Afghan National Army soldiers are mentored by British soldiers, from 19th Regiment Royal Artillery, working as part of ISAF.

The UK soldiers, based at Larkhill in Wiltshire, are serving a six-month deployment in Helmand Province supporting ISAF as it seeks to bring security and stability to the region.

See Related Links>>> to watch a video of UK troops mentoring the Afghan Army artillery teams

The Afghan soldiers have recently completed their training and are now on the front line firing their artillery for real. Commanding Officer of the 4th Combat Support Kandak, Lieutenant Colonel Abdul Hadood, said:

"The aim of the Afghan National Army is to finish the Taliban and pave the way for reconstruction in Afghanistan."

Colonel Hadood's troops are equipped with their own guns, observer parties and command posts all of which provide them with the ability to respond robustly to attacks from the Taliban.

They are currently armed with Russian-made artillery pieces. The D70 is a robust and proven weapon, the design dating back to the Second World War. The weapon operates well in the heat and dust of the desert and considering its age, is suprisingly accurate.

This artillery capability provides the Afghan National Army with the ability to support Afghan and coalition forces while the continued training and development ensures the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has an army that will continue to contribute to the stability and security of the country and the democratically elected government.

Major Tim Law, Officer Commanding the British Mentoring Team, said:

"All of the work is being done by the Afghans, which is something we have really majored on with this deployment.

"Prior to that there was a lot more involvement from the British, clearly that is not going to produce a long term solution, so we are making sure Afghans are running the show now."

British mentoring teams have previously operated the guns alongside the Afghan soldiers. Today the British team only provides specialist advice and training, ensuring where they can that the Afghan gunners are as accurate as their equipment will allow.

Training, and a steady increase in the Afghan soldiers' confidence and ability, means the mentoring team have now been able to take a step back. Battery Sergeant Major Jim Martin said:

"The Afghan soldiers don't enjoy training - they only really perform when they know they are firing at the enemy."

The British Army gunners are using the firepower from their 105mm light guns daily as their front line base comes under attack from Taliban forces.

127 Battery are normally used to operating the self-propelled AS90 heavy gun but have been specially trained to use the light gun for this tour. The 105mm light gun is a versatile weapon that has seen service in the Falklands, Bosnia and Iraq.

It is durable, accurate and reliable and copes well with desert conditions. Because it is light it can be towed by a medium-weight vehicle or slung underneath a Puma or Chinook helicopter. Six crew operate each gun that can be brought into action very quickly.

Base Commander Captain Owen Candy said:

"The light gun has been tried and tested in the desert and is a very robust piece of equipment and really fulfilling all expectations."