VIDEO: Marines catch Taliban off guard

Operation GHARTSE PALANG, which means 'Lion', involved around 120 Royal Marines from 45 Commando Group and other attached ranks, along with around 30 Afghan National Army (ANA) troops.

The Marines launched the operation in the early morning of 19 January 2009. They began by moving silently under the cover of darkness and through wet and cold conditions, reaching their line of departure on the banks of the River Helmand as the sun began to rise.

They then moved forward on foot through treacherous conditions, over land riddled with canals and irrigation ditches, to begin their raid on compounds in the area of Mazak, around 2km north of Forward Operating Base Inkerman in the Upper Sangin Valley.

Together with their ANA colleagues they searched the compounds and spoke to local people to gauge the level of enemy movement and influence in the area. The ANA proved vital, leading compound searches and explaining to the local people the need for the operation.

Sergeant David 'Tommo' Thompson, 8 Troop, Y Company, 45 Commando Group RM, explained the difficulty presented when ensuring that inhabited compounds are clear of enemy forces:

"Before entering any compounds we are always aware of the threat of booby traps, IEDs and the enemy within. Unless we are confident that the enemy are inside then the entry will always be what we call a 'soft knock' - minimal force and maximum care is adopted.

"Special care is taken to respect those housed within, initially making sure they do not pose any threat, whilst also taking into account the cultural and tribal sensitivities.

"This undoubtedly puts a lot of stress on younger lads throughout the patrol. For the members of the Troop [some straight from training aged as young as 18], this is a part of a daily routine that has to become the norm."

The Marines and ANA troops systematically cleared the compounds using dogs and metal detectors to search for hidden weapons while all the time ensuring minimal disturbance of the local people.

As the troops went deeper into their objective area they began to uncover caches of weapons which included yielding rifles, handguns, magazines, ammunition, grenades, RPGs (Rocket Propelled Grenades), shells and fuses.

Major Richard Parvin, Company Commander Y Company, 45 Commando Group RM, said:

"The Taliban were clearly caught off guard and were slow to react as the men of 4 Troop [attached from X Company] and 8 Troop began to uncover significant finds. As the company advanced deeper into enemy territory more and more weapons and explosives were uncovered. When the Taliban woke up and began to realise the extent of the operation they rapidly began to muster weapons and organise an ambush against us as we continued to uncover what they had hidden to utilise against us and the Afghan people."

8 Troop pushed to the northern flank following information that the enemy were preparing to mount an attack. Using a compound as cover, the Marines prepared to respond to the advancing Taliban, setting up firing positions to lay down fields of fire.

As the Taliban moved in and opened fire with AK assault rifles and RPGs, the Marines responded with a heavy weight of fire from the full range of their weapons, firing machine guns and grenades from their under-slung launchers before calling in mortars and 105mm artillery to suppress the enemy and neutralise the threat.

The speed of their assault and the continuing searches led to the surprise capture of what is believed to have been a Taliban command post and, in a nearby compound, an IED workshop. A quantity of homemade explosives was found filled with metal fragments to maximise the deadly effect of its shrapnel, along with further components used to make the lethal devices. Two complete IEDs, ready to deploy potentially against British Forces, were seized and, along with the other finds, were destroyed.

Lieutenant Colonel Jim Morris, Commanding Officer, 45 Commando Group RM, said:

"Yankee Company performed superbly. They displayed all the trade mark qualities of the Royal Marines, executing this dangerous operation with cunning, determination and bravery. It was a great success with a significant haul of weapons, ammunition and explosives removed from Taliban hands, and Sangin is more stable as a result."

Task Force Helmand Commander, Brigadier Gordon Messenger, 3 Commando Brigade, stressed that, whilst a success, this operation was just an example of the normal day-to-day routine of British Forces:

"The successes today are not unusual and are a result of our highly effective, routine patrol pattern. Day in, day out, our troops are on the ground, working with the local population and focused on getting inside the enemy's mind, disrupting him where he least expects it and denying him the freedom of movement that he seeks."

In addition to Royal Marines from X and Y Company 45 Commando Group RM, personnel from 59 Commando Squadron Royal Engineers, 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, search dog teams and Military Police took part in the operation.

Also accompanying the patrol were members of the Military Stabilisation and Support Teams, military personnel who gather information and assess the needs of the local population in order to inform the Civil-Military Co-operation Group and the Provincial Reconstruction Team – assisting with the reconstruction and development of the area.