Wednesday, August 18, 2010

British and Afghan troops keep Helmand highway open

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion Scots Guards (1 SG) and The Royal Dragoon Guards (RDG) have been working jointly with Afghan National Security Forces to keep traffic moving along a key road in central Helmand.

The key access road Route 601 is an important communications route that connects Lashkar Gah in Helmand with the city of Kandahar to the east. The metalled road is a key transport and commercial link for both local nationals and ISAF and Afghan forces.

A snap vehicle check point manned by members of the Scots guards and the Royal Dragoon Guards on route 601.

Based in a patrol base (PB) halfway along the road the British soldiers regularly patrol both on foot and in Mastiff and Jackal armoured vehicles to ensure that no improvised explosive devices or blockages are present on the road or in the surrounding area.

Daily checks include inspecting culverts along the route, setting up vehicle checkpoints to ensure that insurgents are not using the road as a supply route, and working with the Afghan National Police (ANP) to deal with breakdowns or the occasional road traffic accident.

A soldier keeping watch on route 601 with his General Purpose Machine Gun.

The PB commander, Captain Neil Gow, 1 SG, explained:

“We do two things – foot patrols are for the immediate security of the vicinity of where we are around the PB and for the local population.

“It also allows us to build up as much information as we can from the ground about what is going on… When we first moved here we had a lot of information about where the problems were, where the hot spots were.

“By going out on the ground firstly you can see what is going on, and secondly it gives you a chance to see if things are improving, or if things have changed for the better.

“We also do deliberate patrols up the road where we take our wagons, do culvert checks and speak to the ANP who are at different checkpoints along the road.

“By being here and having to do administration runs and just being around the area makes a difference… it acts as a deterrent.”

To read the full article, click here

To hear interviews with soldiers from 1st Battalion The Scots Guards then why not subscribe to the new UKForcesAfghanistan podcast at www.audioboo.fm/ukforcesafghanistan

Photos: Cpl Barry Lloyd RLC/MOD 2010

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