Troops from 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (1 SCOTS) have supported the Afghan National Army (ANA) as they planned and led a large operation to clear an area of Afghanistan of insurgents.
Codenamed Operation TUUFAN or ‘Storm’, it involved many hundreds of troops from 3/215 Brigade of the ANA and was supported by soldiers from 1 SCOTS as part of 4th Mechanized Brigade.
Soldiers from 3/215 Brigade of the Afghan National Army preparing for Operation TUUFAN. (Picture: Corporal Jamie Peters RLC, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012) Soldiers from 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland patrolling with support from Warthog armoured vehicles.(Picture: Corporal Jamie Peters RLC, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012)
With an objective to secure an area of central Helmand province, both sets of troops moved quickly into and through the desert or ‘dashte’ areas, getting ahead of schedule immediately on day one. Although coming under sporadic fire from the insurgency their progress was impressive.
A 1 SCOTS soldier looks on as an Afghan soldier pauses during a patrol. (Picture: Corporal Jamie Peters RLC, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012)The operation ended with six insurgents killed, one ANA soldier killed, and a weapons find including some significant pieces. The operation also involved Afghan engineers, logistics personnel, police, artillery units and IED experts.
An Afghan National Army soldier patrolling with a rocket-propelled grenade launcher.(Picture: Corporal Jamie Peters RLC, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012)
1 SCOTS are operating as the Brigade Advisory Group (BAG) in the region, providing advice and support to the ANA as part of Operation HERRICK 17. The BAG’s role is to increase the confidence of the ANA and reduce the reliance on ISAF troops, ready for the end of combat operations by British forces in 2014.
Soldiers from 3/215 Brigade of the Afghan National Army march past a Warthog armoured vehicle from the Royal Dragoon Guards. (Picture: Corporal Jamie Peters RLC, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012)———————
Source: MoD News
