VBC Correspondents embedded with Coalition troops (26)
Filed by VBC Correspondent Alfred Lennard
VBC Security Contributor William Parker and I participated in a presence patrol when a Coalition force vehicle struck an improvised explosive device, or IED. The casualties were evacuated to the Role 3 Hospital and all survived.
After a brief stay at the Role 3 Hospital, I was told that I would be able to rejoin with my colleague William Parker at Forward Operating Base Spade. I was given permission to ride with an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) section from 5 Combat Engineer Regiment, Royal Victorian Engineers that has been ordered to provide support to India Company at FOB Spade.
I traveled with Master Corporal Henry, Corporal Manda, and Corporal Felix in the Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle, or MRAP. We chatted about their experience so far.
“It’s been a surprising slow tour so far,” said Corporal Manda, “On my previous tour here in this region, our EOD team would be going out regularly. But this is actually the first time we have been send out during this tour.”
“I think the operation last fall really made a difference,” said Master Corporal Henry, “That operation really cut off the insurgent’s weapons supply.”
“Can you tell me a bit more about the operation?” I asked.
“[Laugh] I don’t know how much I can tell you,” said Master Corporal Henry. “There was a major operation last September where they halted the flow of weapons and munitions into the region. And you can really see the difference since then as we are seeing far less IEDs on the roads. The insurgents also resort to hit-and-run tactics, where they take a shot at our convoy and immediately hide.”
“So, there are no large-scale attacks then?” I asked.
“Not since last September,” Corporal Felix. “We still have regular contact with insurgents but not large-scale attacks.”
After a day-long drive, we arrived at FOB Spade where I rejoined with my colleague William Parker. Our reunion was brief, however, as India Company and the engineers got ready for a route clearance operation on the next day.
The next morning, we departed the FOB and headed back to the same route where our convoy was struck with an IED.
The convoy inched slowly along the route. Just shortly after noon, the vehicle-mounted mine detection (VMMD) vehicle detected a device. The Combat Engineers immediately got to work to disarm it. They initially sent out the remote-control vehicle, however, one of the vehicle’s wheels was caught with a rock and was disabled. Without hesitation, Master Corporal Henry dawn the bomb suit, walked down and diffused the device.
After the explosive device was diffused, we continued on with the route clearance operation. The engineers did not find anything further along the route and we returned back to FOB Spade as the sun began to set.
As we got back to FOB Spade, our time with India Company, Royal Victorian Infantry has come to an end. The next morning, we returned back to Camp Oasis through a resupply flight where we prepared for our travel to the Middle East and embedded with another unit from the 5 (Armoured Infantry) Brigade.
VBC will continue to bring you our stories.
Note: The story, all names, characters, and incidents are fictitious.
VBC Correspondents embedded with Coalition troops (26)
Filed by VBC Correspondent Alfred Lennard
VBC Security Contributor William Parker and I participated in a presence patrol when a Coalition force vehicle struck an improvised explosive device, or IED. The casualties were evacuated to the Role 3 Hospital and all survived.
After a brief stay at the Role 3 Hospital, I was told that I would be able to rejoin with my colleague William Parker at Forward Operating Base Spade. I was given permission to ride with an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) section from 5 Combat Engineer Regiment, Royal Victorian Engineers that has been ordered to provide support to India Company at FOB Spade.
I traveled with Master Corporal Henry, Corporal Manda, and Corporal Felix in the Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle, or MRAP. We chatted about their experience so far.
“It’s been a surprising slow tour so far,” said Corporal Manda, “On my previous tour here in this region, our EOD team would be going out regularly. But this is actually the first time we have been send out during this tour.”
“I think the operation last fall really made a difference,” said Master Corporal Henry, “That operation really cut off the insurgent’s weapons supply.”
“Can you tell me a bit more about the operation?” I asked.
“[Laugh] I don’t know how much I can tell you,” said Master Corporal Henry. “There was a major operation last September where they halted the flow of weapons and munitions into the region. And you can really see the difference since then as we are seeing far less IEDs on the roads. The insurgents also resort to hit-and-run tactics, where they take a shot at our convoy and immediately hide.”
“So, there are no large-scale attacks then?” I asked.
“Not since last September,” Corporal Felix. “We still have regular contact with insurgents but not large-scale attacks.”
After a day-long drive, we arrived at FOB Spade where I rejoined with my colleague William Parker. Our reunion was brief, however, as India Company and the engineers got ready for a route clearance operation on the next day.
The next morning, we departed the FOB and headed back to the same route where our convoy was struck with an IED.
The convoy inched slowly along the route. Just shortly after noon, the vehicle-mounted mine detection (VMMD) vehicle detected a device. The Combat Engineers immediately got to work to disarm it. They initially sent out the remote-control vehicle, however, one of the vehicle’s wheels was caught with a rock and was disabled. Without hesitation, Master Corporal Henry dawn the bomb suit, walked down and diffused the device.
After the explosive device was diffused, we continued on with the route clearance operation. The engineers did not find anything further along the route and we returned back to FOB Spade as the sun began to set.
As we got back to FOB Spade, our time with India Company, Royal Victorian Infantry has come to an end. The next morning, we returned back to Camp Oasis through a resupply flight where we prepared for our travel to the Middle East and embedded with another unit from the 5 (Armoured Infantry) Brigade.
VBC will continue to bring you our stories.
Note: The story, all names, characters, and incidents are fictitious.