Canadian Military History

Volume 19 Issue 3 Article 7

2010

The Mechs Operation Timus Preem, August 2008

Sean Maloney

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Recommended Citation Sean Maloney "The Mechs Operation Timus Preem, August 2008." Canadian Military History 19, 3 (2010)

This Feature is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Canadian Military History by an authorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact [email protected]. : The Mechs Operation Timus Preem, August 2008 The Mechs Operation Timus Preem, August 2008

Sean M. Maloney

anks were first used by the Operation Timus Preem, led by up area – right out of Canadian Cold TCanadian Army in Lieutenant-Colonel David Corbould War FIBUA3 doctrine. Armoured in the fall of 2006 during Operation and conducted by the 2 Princess columns were used to resupply Medusa. Simplistic criticism Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry isolated strongpoints like Mushan.4 (PPCLI) Battlegroup in August 2008 was in public venues focused on the a mechanized assault involving nearly Operation Timus Preem, led by argument that tanks were unsuited two battalion-sized units of Canadian Lieutenant-Colonel David Corbould to counterinsurgency operations and Afghan forces, with armour leading and conducted by the 2 Princess because of the amount of damage the main effort. Overall, Operation Timus Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry to the infrastructure they caused Preem was a successful operation. (PPCLI) Battlegroup in August was a It forced the enemy to re-organize moving around or through use of the their command structure and replace mechanized assault involving nearly vehicles’ weapons. Others viewed the leaders. It wiped out their “forward” IED two battalion-sized units of Canadian deployment of tanks as a sign that the production capacity and transit base to and Afghan forces, with armour coalition was “losing” the war because the Sangeray area and the operation leading the main effort. Operation the insurgents had “escalated” to also most likely took out some of the Timus Preem resembled Operation people involved in killing the three conventional operations and, in Canadian engineers on the eve of the Totalize, or Tractable, the Canadian the Maoist schema, victory for the operation. offensives in Normandy in 1944,on a insurgents had to be near because smaller scale: the terrain is extremely they supposedly transitioned from because of their armour’s modular restricted and similar to bocage guerilla to conventional operations. construction.1 What became evident in Normandy and the operation Deployment of “conventional” forces to Canadian battlegroup commanders involved the use of armoured like tanks to counter this “transition” very quickly once they got on the breaching columns.5 was therefore problematic. ground was the diversity of the Comments like “The Soviets used terrain in province. That The Origins of the Operation tanks and failed, is now diversity dictated that a variety of using tanks, thererfore Canada will forces be employed to meet coalition he 2008 iteration of Joint Task fail” made the rounds. The presence objectives. In this case, tanks would be TForce Afghanistan, led by of Canadian tanks in Afghanistan unsuited for operations in Kandahar Brigadier-General Denis Thompson, assumed political as well as practical City, or say, the mountainous Maruf planned to create a “stability box” in dimensions. or upper Shah Wali Kot districts. eastern Zharey District in Kandahar By 2008, these arguments had all In the open terrain in Maywand, province. The idea was to select a key but died away in the mediasphere however, there were advantages area and apply serious resources to and the punditocracy. Tanks were to using armour. Tanks could be it. Operations in the box would, in no longer a novelty in the Canadian used even in the built up green belts theory, dislocate insurgents, convince area of operations. The Leopard around the city. The Howz-e Madad the “fence sitters” to support the C-2s of 2006 were replaced by incursion of June 20072 was one government, deny the enemy the Leopard 2A6Ms by the summer of example. There was also Arghandab ability to influence the population 2007, though many Leo C2s stayed 1 in October-November 2007 during in the box, and prepare the area for on to push anti-mine and anti- which a troop of Leopard C-2s a high-profile development projects. IED implements that could not covered open high ground to screen Stability Box Juno was established be mounted on the new vehicles a battalion-sized assault into a built in June-July 2008. It encompassed

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Above: Brigadier-General Denis Thompson (left) was the commander of Joint Task Force Afghanistan. Right: Lieutenant- Colonel David Corbould was the commanding officer of the 2 Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Battlegroup.

Route Summit from Highway 1 down the ongoing problems between overshadowed Canadian operations to Bazaar-e Panjwayi in Panjwayi the Afghans as to who constituted in . district. Stability Box Juno was also legitimate governance in the two Over the course of the summer, supposed to give focus to Canadian districts. The Canadian interagency the battlegroup planning staff, led development efforts: CIDA, DFAIT, piece was still evolving. If Juno was by Major Jay Adair, developed a and other government departments supposed to be a showcase, there was series of plans designed to “protect now had a specific area in which to not much under the glass by the high and enable” Stability Box Juno. establish a joint interagency team to summer of 2008. That did not prevent ISTAR resources were focused on work together on a series of projects. continuing efforts to jump start the the area west of Juno, specifically The intention was that a second process, however, and consequent on a suspected enemy command stability box would be established enemy disruptive activities. node in a large compound complex in once Juno was Indeed, a series of operations dubbed Objective Weasel. This node up and running. Juno was limited to along Highway 1 near Sanjeray had some relationship to the IED part of Zharey district because there assumed priority status. The enemy cells operating along Highway 1 but were not enough resources to project had conducted a series of high- it also was connected to the rocket Afghan governance and security profile IED attacks on the highway attacks on Forward Operating Base throughout the whole district. which threatened to cut off this vital (FOB) Mas’um Ghar. Another cell Several factors militated against east-west commercial and logistic and command and control node from the effective operation of Juno. The route. Operation Asp-e-Janoubi, Nahlgam to the southwest operated primary reason was the Sarposa (aka “Ass Pain Janoubi” to the staff) against Afghan National Police in prison break and the subsequent was a complex operation involving western Zharey, while another cell diversion of forces to conduct the the transport of a huge turbine harrassed Strong Point Mushan over Arghandab 2 operation in June 2008. from Kandahar Air Field all the in western Panjwayi district. The secondary factor was the ongoing way to the Kajaki Dam in Helmand Objective Weasel was a physical demand for the 2 PPCLI Battlegroup’s province. The Kajaki Dam was the location but the pattern of activity infantry companies to occupy legacy key hydroelectric producer in the in that area varied. Enemy leaders tactical infrastructure positions along region and, after years of neglect, it came and went, including the Route Fosters. As usual, the dearth was failing. The logistics of moving notorious Jabber Agha,6 and there of Afghan police and the continuing such a piece of equipment over such were an estimated 40 to 50 enemy build-up of the Afghan National a distance and then protecting it from fighters in the vicinity. Zangabad Army (ANA) and its occasional enemy action were immense. Keep in boasted another 40 or 50 fighters, as diversion to Helmand province mind that the information operations did Nahlgam. A number of enemy were impediments to establishing effects of failure for Asp-e-Janoubi IED specialists, based in Sia Choy security in the stability box, as were were potentially catastrophic and and Nahlgam, used Weasel as a

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transit point when they moved to meant that 2 PPCLI battlegroup armoured soldiers. The CONOP was and from Sanjeray. Adair and his had less than 50 percent of its forces thus formally designated Operation staff discussed the possibility that available for planning purposes. The Timus Preem. Regional Command Objective Weasel also served as part planners had four infantry platoons (South), which consisted of older CFJIC LC2008-0018 CFJIC of the enemy’s early warning system. in LAV‑IIIs; two tank troops; a staff officers not au fait with popular If coalition forces started to move Coyote recce troop; two engineer culture, asked what Timus Preem west from Juno, the forces around platoons; and the M-777 artillery was – Lieutenant-Colonel Corbould Weasel would conduct some form of battery available. For command and told everybody it meant “lawn covering force fight until the “deep” control, there were two infantry mower” in Pashto. forces in western Zharey could be company headquarters, a tank On 16 August, Operation Timus mobilized and deployed. squadron headquarters and the recce Preem was formalized by Task The planners struggled to squadron headquarters. This was not Force Kandahar. Coincidentally, identify objectives. There were not going to be enough. The planners there was more and more ISTAR enough Afghan security forces to looked at Afghan National Security reports of enemy leadership in and establish an enduring presence in the Force availability. After consultation around Objective Weasel, including area cleared by coalition forces, so with the Canadian Operational Jabber Agha and two other senior extending Stability Box Juno was out. Mentor and Liaison Team (OMLT), commanders. Structurally, the plan However, a major operation against there was the possibility that an ANA remained the same: a main effort these enemy forward positions could company and an ANA platoon, with directed against three successive accomplish multiple objectives. First, their Canadian mentors, could be objective areas, with two disrupt it would probably interfere with cut loose for the operation. Perhaps operations in the flanks, and aerial enemy operations in Sanjeray and his more. Perhaps not. screens provided by US Army IED operations in Highway1. That Between 8 August and 16 August, OH‑58D helicopters and unmanned would draw off heat from the turbine the concept of operations (CONOP) aerial vehicles (UAV). The only move. Second, 3 Royal Canadian continued to evolve. In a general real debate at this point was how Regiment (RCR) Battlegroup was sense, there would be a main effort to hit Objective Weasel, with what, arriving in September to affect a in the centre against the western area and when. One planner wanted to relief in place (or RIP) with 2 PPCLI of Pashmul, with two supporting use a particular missile system, but Battlegroup. One lesson from 2006 attacks, one to the northwest down that was not available so the idea was that the enemy would use every from Highway 1, and the other of unloading a B-1B bomber onto means available to exploit the lack moving east to west south of Pashmul. Weasel at the start of the operation of acclimatization of the incoming In the CONOP plan, planners used emerged. Weasel’s elimination at forces. A major operation that put phase lines named after characters the start of the operation would, in the enemy back on his heels right from the movie “Transformers,” a theory, have a significant disruptive before the RIP would positively DVD that was popular among the effect. contribute to the process and protect the incoming forces. Finally, an operation like this would force the enemy away from Juno and give the interagency and governance process some breathing room. This was only a contingency operation as of 8 August and there was no inevitability about its execution. Were there enough forces available to mount it if Task Force Kandahar said “go”? This was a serious problem. A combination of the leave plan, the protection of tactical infrastructure, a quick reaction force task, and the Map drawn by Mike Bechthold ©2010 Mike by Map drawn siphoning off of infantry platoons to guard bridges in northeastern Kandahar province near Zabol

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Badger Armoured Engineering Vehicles carried improvised fascines that were deployed via the bucket boom during the operation.

theses routes were perfect for IED emplacement. The only way to avoid IED attack and subsequent canalization and delay was, in effect, to create unpredictably new roads as the operation progressed. This is where

Photo by author by Photo the armoured vehicles came in. The Badger Armoured Engineer Vehicle or AEV employed at this time was a hull with FOB Mas’um Ghar: several company-sized dismounted engineering modifications, including “B” Squadron, Lord incursions supported by tanks. a durable dozer blade. The armoured Strathcona’s Horse Operation Timus Preem would be the engineers were also experimenting first battlegroup-sized operation of with fascines carried not only on anadian operations in eastern the 2008 rotation where the tanks led. the AEV but by armoured trucks, CZharey district had evolved The three designated objective the Mercedes AHSVS, as the Beaver significantly over the course of three areas in Operation Timus Preem AVLB vehicle was too unwieldy to years. During the summer operations require some explanation. Each use in the Zharey environment. The in 2006, Task Force Orion relied on objective area was a collection of AEV boom or any vehicle crane could deception, night operations, and compound complexes, almost like lift facines off of the truck’s cargo area stealth to infiltrate the Pashmul islands. Each cluster of complexes and emplace it. Then there were the area with LAV-III-mounted was surrounded by grape growing older Leopard C-1s equipped with infantry. The mass deployment of trenches, drying huts, tree-covered dozer blades. improvised explosive devices altered irrigation systems, and because it was “B” Squadron, led by Major that approach and in 2007 2 RCR August, lush and dense vegetation Chris Adams and Squadron Sergeant Battlegroup conducted daytime (corn and marijuana, mostly). The Major Tony Batty, experimented with tank-led mechanized incursions only roads into and out of these areas these and other measures throughout into the district coupled with early were one-lane unpaved routes with their tour. They built on tactical morning dismounted infantry multiple irregular twists and turns ideas that their predecessors used in insertions. In 2008, 2 PPCLI mounted and innumerable culverts. That is, previous rotations, particularly the employment (and recovery) of tanks in mobility restricted environments. The vehicles themselves were fine- tuned as much as possible by Tango Maintenance at FOB Mas’um Ghar. “B” Squadron’s proficiency level author by Photo was at its peak in August 2008 and it would all contribute to the success of CFJIC IS2008-9163 CFJIC Operation Timus Preem. In terms of structure, “B” Squadron had three troops, each consisting of a mix of vehicles. As

A Canadian Forces Leopard 1C2 Main Battle Tank (left) sits side-by-side with its newly-acquired cousin, the Leopard 2A6M.

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a rule, there were four Leopard 2 team, the Police OMLT, and the armoured vehicle (TLAV) personnel A6Ms, plus one or two Leopard Afghan security and governance carriers, an armoured heavy support C-2s equipped with either anti-mine people. “B” Squadron staff referred vehicle wrecker (AHSVS), a heavy plows, rollers, or dozer blades in to themselves as the “Panjwayi logistics vehicle wheeled (HLVW) each troop. The make up of each East Combined Operations Centre” with a crane, and heavy equipment troop depended on the mission type or the home of the “Whole of (i.e., vehicle) transporters (HET). – River Run, incursion, or Quick Panjwayi Programme for Enhanced Importantly in this environment, Reaction Force. There was also a Reconstruction.” “B” Squadron also the detachment had the ability to mechanized infantry platoon on handled FOB MSG security, which deploy a fire control system repair rotation from one of the 2 PPCLI included counter-rocket operations. team, under armour, into the field. companies, an artillery FOO and Leopard 2s emplaced in overwatch Tango Maintenance was a separate his LAV-III, a troop of armoured positions regularly engaged organization and included the combat engineers with AEVs, an rocket teams at night in Operations Leopard 1 and -2 Armoured Recovery Explosive Ordinance Disposal team, Box Elton as they prepared to fire at Vehicles. plus armoured recovery vehicle the FOB.7 assets and armoured ambulances. FOB MSG was also home to the The Enemy Draws First Blood The Leopard 2 A6Ms with their Operational Mentor and Liaison 120 mm smoothbore guns were Team supporting 1st Kandak, 1/205 t 0730 hours on 19 August the capable of firing canister or HEAT Brigade of the Afghan National Ashock wave from an explosion rounds. The “M” on the designation Army. Led by Major Dave Proctor, rocked FOB MSG. The FOB’s stood for “mine resistant” as the the OMLT had its headquarters occupants initially thought a rocket Canadian vehicles had a variety of and support facilities co-located had hit the camp, but in time the modifications designed to mitigate but not under the command of “B” crews from the Quick Reaction the effects of IED and mine strikes. Squadron. There was also a Combat Force, consisting of Leopard 1 and At the same time “B” Squadron Service Support detachment led by Leopard 2s, plus an ARV and Bison was responsible for supporting Lieutenant Alison Lucas. The CSS ambulance, moved quickly to their development efforts in the Panjwayi detachment forward, consisting vehicles and started up. The Tactical and Zharey districts. This took many of vehicle techs, electro-optical Operations Centre staff was trying to forms but usually meant attempts equipment techs, weapons techs, ascertain what happened. It turned to coordinate efforts between the and supply techs were responsible out that an enemy suicide bomber Canadian government departments, for non-tank maintenance and attacked a Canadian-mentored the Provincial Reconstruction Team, supply distribution at the FOB. Afghan national police patrol on the the Operational Mentor and Liaison The detachment had tracked light Bazaar-e Panjwayi-Kandahar City

An example of the complex terrain encountered in Zharey District during Op Timus Preem. This is a collection of grape drying huts surrounded by vineyard trenches that are four to five feet deep and choked with vegetation. Photo by author by Photo

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road. One interpreter was killed and however, was not high and there SLAYER (2 X LAV-III with a Canadian Police-OMLT mentor was some internal debate between forward observation officer wounded. A local national child the Zahrey-based commanders as (FOO)/forward air controller was also wounded and a medical to the future direction of operations. (FAC)/JTAC) evacuation chopper was called in. In terms of leadership, Jabber Agha 1 Troop (4 X Leopard 2, 2 X

This did not stop planning for was estimated to be around Pashmul Leopard 1) author by Photo Operation Timus Preem. Captain planning more suicide bomber Badger Armoured Engineer Edgetar Manoucheri, the battle and IED attacks, while Khaliq and Vehicle captain and the “B” Squadron staff Razaq, two of the Zharey district Leopard 2 Armoured Recovery fine-tuned their part of the plan. A commanders, had been seen near Vehicle confirmatory drill held later that day Objective Weasel. Fuel truck (AHVSS) revealed that “C” Company, 2 PPCLI, Once Operation Timus Preem Ammo truck (AHVSS) plus “B” Squadron would handle was detected, the staff anticipated Fascine truck (AHVSS) the main effort. The northwestern that the enemy would use his early 1 X infantry platoon in LAV-III supporting effort would be done by warning system to determine what the OMLT with two ANA companies, axis of advance the coalition forces BT-2: while “B” Company and an ANA were using, and then lay multiple 3 Troop (4 X Leopard 2, 2 X company would handle the southern IEDs to delay the Canadians and Leopard 1) supporting effort. Knowing full well Afghans while reinforcements were Badger Armoured Engineer that the enemy kept close observation brought in from the west, married Vehicle on FOB MSG, Major Adams pre- up with their weapons caches, and Leopard 2 Armoured Recovery positioned his vehicles inside the FOB then deployed to fighting positions. Vehicle as he normally would for a River Run The dissenting opinion was that the 1 X Leo 2 detached from “B” down to Strong Point Mushan so that enemy would drop their weapons Squadron HQ for command and the enemy would think the upcoming and walk away to the west and not control operations was directed west, not engage. Lieutenant-Colonel Corbould 1 X infantry platoon in LAV-III north. Hopefully the enemy would believed that in either case there also re-position his forces which in would be a significant disruptive Four M-777 155mm guns and eight turn would be detected by ISTAR effect on enemy operations in eastern 81 mm mortars on call. resources – and then other coalition Zharey and this would meet the resources could be directed from operation’s objectives. The ANA, the OMLT mentors, higher headquarters to interfere with The main effort, consisting of “B” and ANP with Canadian Engineer the enemy’s activities. Squadron and “C” Company, was to Exploitation Teams would then Enemy forces in and around conduct a rapid breach and isolate sweep the compounds and exploit the objective areas were estimated each objective area with a “ring of any material or personnel found. to be around 325 fighters, of which steel.” The tanks and infantry were The force would then move to the 100 were assessed to be skilled. divided up into Breach Teams, BT-1 next objective and do the same They knew how to exploit cover and BT-2: thing. Any defensive works would to protect themselves from ISTAR be destroyed through demolition. assets and were well versed in how BT-1: Aerial overwatch would observe any to exploit the limitations on the “B” Squadron HQ (2 X Leopard 2) “squirters” and track them. There Canadian forces imposed by NATO “C” Company HQ (1 X LAV-III) were three objective areas for the rules of engagement. Enemy morale, operation, which was estimated to

A Leopard 2 A6M advances through a field on day one of Op Timus Preem. The decision to avoid existing roads by the advancing forces resulted in no IED strikes during the operation.

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Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry advance along a track during OP Timis Preem. Photo by author by Photo take three days. Of note, Operation Timus Preem would also have psychological operations (PSYOPS) and civil-military cooperation (CIMIC) detachments in support of the effort. While preparations for Operation Timus Preem continued, the Red Phone in the “B” Squadron tactical CFJIC AR2008-K073-98 CFJIC operations centre rang to the theme from the movie “In Like Flint.” A massive explosion occurred on inside. Then the vehicle started to There were an estimated four Highway 1 around 1040 hours on 20 burn. An armoured recovery vehicle casualties, but their status was in August. A Canadian engineer recce and a Bison ambulance approached some doubt. One Canadian was party supporting Operation Aspy the site to right the wreck and extract outside of the vehicle but three were Janoubi consisting of an engineer the crew, but there was no protected still inside. Then ammunition in the section and recce platoon from 2 fire-fighting capability to stop the fire. stricken LAV started to cook off, PPCLI were subjected to IED attack. Then ISTAR reports noted that six which slowed the recovery team’s As the quick reaction force rolled out to ten insurgents with a significant efforts. Back in the battlegroup the gate, ISTAR reports warned that enemy leader were nearing the blast tactical operations centre, the JTAC an enemy commander in western site. Medical evacuation helicopters and intelligence staff were trying to Zahrey was preparing to send forces were called in, but there were now track the inbound enemy commander to attack those responding to assist. concerns that the enemy might with the intent of using a MQ-1 The drama continued all have laid IEDs on the nearest open Predator or MQ-9 Reaper to kill morning. The stricken vehicle had space – the American task force him. Artillery could not be used flipped over, the turret wrenched off wanted engineers to clear a helicopter because of a rules of engagement and the surviving crew was trapped landing site before they would go in. issue. Fortunately for him, when the Map drawn by Mike Bechthold ©2010 Mike by Map drawn

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Operation Timus Preem was initiated by nine bombs dropped by a B-1B on Objective Weasel, an enemy command and control compound.

UAVs became available he could not point, M-777 guns were called in to Day 1 – 21 August be engaged because of another rules suppress the weapon. of engagement issue. Tragically, the quick reaction t 0415 the battlegroup’s TAC The staff discovered that there force reported in that there were three Aforward at FOB MSG was fully was in fact a firefighter vehicle Canadian dead and one wounded.8 manned and at 0426 hours, a pair of available but they had not been The belief at FOB Mas’um Ghar US Army AH-64 Apaches arrived told it existed – it was to suppress was that Commander Canadian on station and checked in. Inside aircraft fires at the landing zone and Expeditionary Force Command, FOB MSG, long lines of armoured “belonged” to another organization who was in theatre at this time, vehicles from the breach teams with at Kandahar Air Field. Major Steve might put a hold on Operation their engines off sat in the dark, Davies from the OMLT volunteered Timus Preem, anticipating domestic their crews cupping their cigarettes. to lead this virtually unarmoured political sensitivities. This proved Foot patrols swept suspected rocket recovery “package” through Zharey to be unfounded, however, and the launch locations sites outside the district to the strike site. This included enraged Canadians made their final camp. Operation Timus Preem was the firefighting vehicle, a dump preparations late into the night of 20 cocked and ready, awaiting clearence truck (to fill in the crater) and a low- August. The crew of T-23, a Leopard to engage Objective Weasel. ISTAR bed heavy equipment transporter, C-2, spray-painted the visage of a assets were now closely observing escorted by OMLT RG-31 patrol grim reaper and his scythe onto the the site, checking the pattern of life. vehicles. Another threat warning dozer blade of their vehicle. When a control link failed between from ISTAR reports came in – the an allied ground station and an enemy was deploying a mortar team allied UAV that was operating on to attack the IED strike site. Resources the flanks, a Canadian Sperwer was were deployed to look for it. The brought on station to check a “deep” flat screen television in the tactical target in western Zharey district. operations centre, set to a news Nothing. No movement. ISTAR channel, surreally announced that reports – enemy quiet. Christina Applegate was diagnosed The breach team columns roared

with breast cancer. It was quickly author by Photo to life at 0445 hours and headed out shut off. The mortar team, it turned the gate, down the road and into out, directed its efforts at Strong Point the Arghandab River wadi. Instead Mushan, not the strike site. After two of turning left and heading down mortar rounds landed near the strong the river to Mushan, the Badgers,

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Leopards, and LAVs proceded north on Route Summit. No contact. The sun was just starting to come up at 0515

Photo by author by Photo hours revealing dusty mountains in the distance. ISTAR resources still had observation on Objective Weasel, waiting for the enemy commanders to arrive. Breach Team 1 reported in – the first breach is in. Unfortunately a traffic jam developed on Route

Summit which slowed down the author by Photos second breach team’s movements. The ANA and the OMLT moved on to their objectives south of the breaches. At this point the enemy’s early warning network was not reporting anything using any means, nor was the enemy activating reinforcements. Lieutenant-Colonel Corbould believed that the presence of the AH‑64s was deterring enemy movement, so he ordered them to orbit elsewhere for the time being, hoping the enemy would come out and play. By 0605 hours, there was still no detected enemy movement. The Badgers, with their blades down, turned west off of Route Summit ploughing tracks across the grape trenches and smashing through high mud walls. Then a Leo 1 with a dozer blade followed behind, ploughing four or five small paths off the main track. The Leo 1 dozer then backed up and the paths were occupied by the Leopard 2s. This “herring bone” formation was repeated as necessary, with the infantry following in LAV-IIIs. The tracks allowed the columns to completely bypass the roads which were assumed to have pre-positioned IEDs on them. At 0634 hours, the enemy finally reacted and their whole communications system erupted in an aural blur. Lieutenant-Colonel Corbould could not wait any longer A cloud of smoke and dust billows from the target of a Canadian M-777 155 mm gun and decided to engage Objective which fired a mission to discourage enemy withdrawal from an objective compound. Weasel. The battlegroup tactical LAV-III and RG-31 with mounted infantry advance along a lane plowed through the headquarters chatted with a B-1B grape fields. that was orbiting high overhead. A dozer-equipped Leopard 1 moves up to plow run-ups for the LAV-IIIs. The lack of The staff filed out of the bunker air conditioning in the older vehicles resulted in the manufacture of heat reflective umbrellas which significantly reduced temperatures for the crews. with their binoculars to watch.

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It was now a dusty, hot dawn. Objective Weasel was barely perceptible from FOB MSG. A loud “CRUUUMMMMPPPP!”, the shock wave of nine guided bomb units smashing into Weasel, hit the FOB and a plume of black smoke could be seen several kilometers away. Photos by author by Photos “B” Squadron got the first contact at 0637 hours. A volly of rocket- propelled grenade and small arms fire was directed at the lead vehicles. Leopards from 2 Troop returned fire. Then a US police mentoring team triggered some form of anti- personnel device as the vehicle manoeuvred, wounding one of its crew. By 0654 hours there were several contacts underway – the OMLT and their Afghan troops were engaged in two locations on the two supporting efforts; “B” Squadron was shooting it out with insurgents on their axis of advance, and “C” Company, moving in behind “B” Squadron, was engaging enemy in a compound. ISTAR detected four, maybe more, enemy moving to a compound to engage “C” Company, but the FOO called in a fire mission and 155 mm rounds crashed onto the compound they occupied. A second fire misson was called in to take out a similar attempt by the enemy to move up and engage. The first objective was designated Mike. It consisted of numerous compound complexes and was separated into Mike 1 through Mike 3. Breach Team 1 ploughed its way to Mike, and then ploughed a “ring road” around Mike. The dozer tanks then ploughed run ups and paths off of the “ring road.” Leopard 2s and LAV-IIIs then moved in. The idea was to isolate Mike by having 360 degree observation and fire around the whole Top: Pre-positioned chambers for improvised explosive devices were discovered area – anything trying to get into along the roads. Combat engineers cleared the roads behind the advance forces Mike would be engaged, as would to permit resupply. anything trying to get out. Once the Middle: Soldiers from the Afghan National Army and their Canadian Army operational 360 degree cut off was established, mentors advance to search a compound complex. The ANA were responsible for all the Afghans, their OMLT mentors, compound searches, while the Canadians handled cut-off security. plus the Engineer Exploitation Team Bottom: A Leopard 2 in a cut-off position.

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moved in to sweep the Mike 1, 2, and the Afghan police in Objective Kilo a coordinated assault on the Timus 3 compound complexes. PSYOPS and struck an IED. It was a mobility kill Preem forces. CIMIC teams assisted as required if with no casualties. By 1215 hours, the ANA and there were civilians in the area. The Afghans and the OMLT OMLT were consolidating Objective Searching one compound continued to get contact, particularly Kilo, and then found two IEDs. complex, let alone three, was arduous. in and around Objective Kilo to Objective Mike was being swept, but Wearing body armour and carrying the west. An ANA platoon had a was not yet clear. The initial battle ammunition and water in the nearly short but sharp engagement with damage assessment of Objective 45 degree heat was taxing for all a small group of insurgents who Weasel was that 90 percent of the involved. Indeed, it took all day to appeared to be trying to infiltrate target was damaged. ISTAR reports sweep and clear Mike. into Objective Mike. Another small suggested but did not confirm that ISTAR detected enemy movement group was driven off by the cut-off there were 40 enemy killed in the near Kilo as the second wave of ANA force surrounding Mike. Even the strike, including some medium-value deployed. Over in Panjwayi, two battlegroup tactical air controller leadership targets. IEDs exploded on Route Fosters, got involved at 1115 hours, a 9’r Breach Team 2 moved south of but apparently not against coalition TAC LAV-III observed and engaged Mike and started clearing leaguer targets. As they had in the past, six enemy fighters with rocket- areas for the assault force in the fields. the enemy was trying to distract propelled grenade launchers trying The Badgers and dozers cleared three attention from the main effort over to skirt Mike to the south and get parallel lanes for each assault force. in Zharey. in behind the cut-off force from the While this was happening, 4 Platoon Around 0800 hours, an OMLT east. Heavy-calibre weapons were got a contact inside Mike: three vehicle observed and engaged enemy fired from the RG-31s and LAV-IIIs, insurgents were positively identified moving around Objective Echo. and an AH-64 came in to finish off and engaged in the late afternoon. The two AH-64s were called in and what was left with 25 mm cannon Lieutenant-Colonel Corbould’s unleashed their rocket pods on them. fire. The backpacks these insurgents assessment of the situation in the Another unit, 3 Platoon, identified were carrying went up in a series of waning hours of 21 August was enemy movement south of Mike secondary explosions. The AH-64s that the breaching operations were and started to engage. The JTAC were then diverted to drop a Hellfire much slower than anticipated, the accompanying Breach Team 1 cleared on a grape hut into which several operations on Objective Kilo were in a Harrier which dropped a guided insurgents were seen to flee. Another a successful block with positive bomb unit, obliterating the enemy in estimated four insurgents were taken effects, and the deep strikes were the open. The ANA and the OMLT out in that strike. By 1155 hours, successful at engaging reinforcing worked quickly in the Kilo complexes Breach Team 1 remained in position fighters. He now had a decision: – they declared the first three clear by around Objective Mike, while Breach should the force go after Objective 0950 hours. Team 2 passed through Mike heading Golf or Objective Whiskey? It was In an effort to speed up the south. unfortunate that the coalition did opening of resupply and casualty N o r m a l l y , t h e e n e m y not have the resources permanently extraction routes, combat engineers commanders in Zharey would to garrison Objectives Mike, Golf, using counter-IED equipment cleared be assembling and deploying and Whiskey. The battlegroup had the roads parallel to the breaches. reinforcements from communities temporarily expanded the “security They found numerous pre-positioned in the west. This was not happening bubble” west of Stability Box Juno. It IED components, including a massive to the extent that some hoped. Was was too bad that this situation could culvert bomb. They also discovered the enemy discombobulated by the not be exploited. multiple fighting positions with novelty of the operation? Or was the The CIMIC teams were now interlocking field of fire. These were enemy choosing not to react and then reporting that there were some destroyed with explosives. In a flow back in later? Were there other annoyed farmers. It could take disturbing development, an OH-58D reasons? Was this slow response an years, even decades in some cases, from the Banshees saw a suspected effect of the strike on Weasel? It was to grow the huge grape vines in these IED from the air on Route Summit. not clear. What was clear was that trenches. Chunks of these fields were Engineers were diverted to examine ISTAR reports indicated the enemy being obliterated by the dozer blades. the site and remove the device. Then commanders were having problems The message from the battlegroup a vehicle from the American Police activating a single suicide bomber was less than conciliatory: “If you Mentoring Team accompanying to infiltrate Mike, let alone mount told us where the IEDs were on the

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roads, we wouldn’t have to make our right to engage. It may have been a to be. They knew the force was own,” they were told. That is, you funeral. aligned south in its leaguers – but locals are “fence sitting.” You want It was a cool night as the crews that could mean it was headed to us to stop, come off the fence. bedded down behind their vehicles. the compound complexes in Golf At 1830 hours, 120 mm and Captain Tom Neil and his PSYOPS or Whiskey. Therefore, Lieutenant- 25 mm fire erupted west of Mike, crews in their RG-31s turned on their Colonel Corbould concluded, hit and artillery started to land on loudspeakers. Interpreters read out both objectives. Breach Team 1 would targets. There were contacts all over messages and letters to the Taliban move on Golf, while Breach Team the place and it appeared as though in Pashto, trying to convince them 2 would move on Whiskey. Then, small groups were trying to infiltrate to quit the fighting: “Taliban, if you depending on how things went, the at dusk. They were unsuccessful. By want to use the children for suicide forces would proceed onto Bravo. 1845 hours, both breach teams were attacks that is not good. They are Again it took the enemy several lined up in their lanes south of Mike innocents. If you are ready to fight hours to make any moves. ISTAR when cries of “Stand To!” were called grown-ups, we are here.” “Taliban, reports had an 82 mm mortar out. The lead tanks on the lanes then if you drank your mother’s milk, preparing to fire at coalition forces, engaged targets 300 to 400 metres to then come out to the fighting place while over in Objective Bravo 14 the south in the direction of Objective and fight us. If you don’t, then you insurgents with what looked like a Golf. Three groups of fighting age are a bastard.” A Scan Eagle MUAV heavy weapon were seen moving males pretending to be labourers buzzed the leaguer, and orbited the around but could not be engaged. during the day recovered cached perimeter. There was no movement around Kilo. weapons at night and advanced on There was now talk that JTF-A the leaguer. They were all taken out. Day 2 – 22 August or Canadian Expeditionary Force ISTAR resources reported that Command might order Operation the enemy was bringing in an “82” in he troops put away their Timus Preem terminated so that the a vehicle. Was it a mortar or a recoil- Tsleeping gear after they awoke engineers from 1 Combat Engineer less rifle? Nobody was sure. “Crash in the morning cool. Lieutenant- Regiment that were in the field on harbour” was not an option given Colonel Corbould decided to move the operation could go to Kandahar the restrictive terrain. Four civilian on objectives Whiskey and Golf Air Field to participate in the ramp vehicles and some 20 personnel were simultaneously. His decision was ceremony for their three dead spotted moving in from the south in part based on overnight ISTAR comrades. There was additional talk west, but weapons were not evident. reports. The enemy, apparently, that this was related to increased Various systems continued to track believed that this incursion was political pressure to avoid more them. Then coalition forces over in payback for the three Canadians casualties and that was also an Objective Kilo started tracking night killed on Highway 1. They also argument to finish the operation early. movements, up to 50 personnel. were surprised that the force did The idea that the combat engineers ISTAR picked up that a significant not pull out at noon and remained could extract seperately from the enemy commander from Zharey was in the field. They were confused as operation was also floated and present, but the conditions were not to what the next move was going rejected. Ultimately, the operation

RG-31’s, LAV-III’s, a Bison, and a fascine carrier establish themselves in the centre

of a night leaguer. author by Photo

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continued at the behest of Brigadier- rounds that were probably destined Around 1625 hours, the enemy was General Dennis Thompson, who to become IEDs. A small bunker able to get off a round or two of either rejected the notion that Operation was found adjacent to the strike mortar or rocket-propelled grenade Timus Preem should be prematurely site and the exploitation continued. airburst which exploded near the ended. A report came in that the stench of battalion TAC just as the Leopard 2 Breach Team 2 had eyes- rotting flesh was noticeable around Armoured Recovery Vehicle nick- on Objective Whiskey-2, where the Objective Weasel strike site. named “Calgary” hooked up a Objective Weasel was located. There Further explorations uncovered large Leopard 2 that was having power was no pattern of life. The breach was amounts of material to make IEDs. pack problems. The turret crews launched. To get at Weasel, the breach Another interesting discovery made could see spotting pop ups along team had to traverse complex terrain. by the engineers was that the enemy walls, but they could not tell if they The Badger AEV went first. Its blade, was re-using Canadian construction were enemy spotters or curious ploughed through a marijuana field, materials that had been used to build children, or both. Then an orbiting took down a hardened five-foot high Afghan National Police Sub Stations MQ-1 spotted a pair of men with mud wall, and cut a path through a in Zharey district to shore up their binoculars observing the leaguers square corn field, then took down bunkers and fighting positions. and started to track them. the next wall, which was nearly eight Objective Kilo then started to Major Chris Adams observed six feet high. This put the AEV into a take mortar fire; four rounds landed insurgents in a nearby compound, second square walled field, where near the OMLT and ANA leaguer. while the JTAC spotted two more the process was repeated. When These rounds bracketed the force, carrying what looked like a heavy the last wall was down, the AEV and indicated that an experienced weapon, possibly an 82 mm recoil- was in sight of Objective Whiskey. or at least trained enemy mortarman less rifle. The orbiting Predator was This route was selected because the was in play. The ANA and the OMLT cleared to engage. At the same time, ground was relatively flat. The walled engaged enemy spotters, while a the Afghans engaged a target with fields to the east were full of grape quick analysis determined the firing small arms fire, and then a Leopard 2 growing trenches, and the west there point for the mortar base plate. A fired a 120 mm cannister round at was a wooded stream with a wall distant explosion signalled the abrupt a group of insurgents who were paralleling it. end of enemy mortar team; it was probing the leaguer positions. The Leopard 2 troop followed engaged with a guided bomb unit Almost all Canadian groups in all the AEV, burst out of the last breach, from a Harrier, killing the whole of the objective areas reported people and moved in open ground to isolate team. ISTAR reports indicated that equipped with binoculars observing Objective Whiskey. The Leopard the enemy commanders kept trying the new positions. Orders were given C-2 with the dozer followed and to contact the team throughout the to engage anyone involved in this ploughed out the “herring bone” afternoon, to no avail. activity. An unknown vehicle crew run-ups in the first field, which was Breach Team 1 followed Breach commander whispered onto the occupied by the battalion tactical air Team 2 through its breach, and then net: “I seeeee you!” right before his controller.The tank then moved to the turned west south of Objective Golf. gunner fired. A total of three enemy second field and did the same for the The Badgers and Leopard 2s swung spotter teams were taken out using infantry LAV-IIIs north to isolate Golf from the west, 25 mm and 120 mm fire. By 0837 hours, Objective Whiskey while keeping an eye on Bravo to Objective Whiskey was now 100 was isolated by the cut-off forces the south. The shortage of Afghans percent clear. Additional searches and the exploitation started. Major meant that the Canadian infantry uncovered mortar, rocket-propelled Dave Proctor’s OMLT, with Warrant platoon with Breach Team 1 and the grenade and IED material caches (the

Photo by author by Photo Officer Chuck Côte accompanying Engineer Exploitation Team had their mortar rounds had Chinese markings the lead Afghan infantry company, hands full with Golf. on them). A number of radios were dismounted, marched through the Echelon elements carrying found, plus some cell phones and breaches, deployed, and prepared to fuel, ammunition, water and food a significant quantity of medical move on Whiskey. A pair of AH‑64s followed the Breach Team 2 Badger, supplies. A detainee was taken and orbited the proceedings, looking which scraped out leaguer rows in a whisked away to Kandahar Air Filed for targets. In the initial search the large open field south of Objective via UH-60 helicopter. Objective Golf, Afghans and the OMLT found a large Weasel. The battalion TAC and the however, was not cleared yet, so there mortar cache and a pile of artillery echelon moved into these positions. was no update on material found. At

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At dusk a Leopard 2 tracks suspected spotters from the night leaguer. After the sun went down, this vehicle engaged and destroyed an enemy anti-tank team.

1645 hours, the enemy ineffectively Lieutenant-Colonel Corbould north to throw off anybody still in engaged the leaguer with rocket- assessed the situation. The enemy their positions. The only issue was a propelled grenade and small arms was reacting in a more coordinated pair of small wadis, but the fascines fire from the west. fashion than the day before, but would be put to good use there. The Information from Afghan sources still not strongly. The options were Canadian and Afghan forces pulled indicated that the enemy had moved to move onto Bravo, continue to into their night leaguers, dismounted back in on the initial breach routes “muck out” Golf, both, or withdraw. and made supper. As the night from Summit to Objective Mike Lieutenant-Colonel Corbould was closed in the PSYOPS teams played and laid eight IEDs on them. They also prepared to use the leaguer as a Blue Oyster Cult’s “Don’t Fear the also determined that 15 wounded “hedgehog” and rack up the kills – if Reaper,” followed by a succession of enemy fighters were evacuated to one the enemy chose to take it on. The distorted tunes from Blink-182, Limp field hospital, and eight to another. enemy, on the other hand, seemed Bizkit, and Linkin Park. There was no For the most part, the bulk of the to be slowly reinforcing the area near contact that night. insurgents in the objectives areas Objective Bravo with small groups. retreated west, south west, and south Small groups of young men on Day 3 – 23 August to get out of the way of the armoured motorcycles were also seen entering onslaught. The results of the airstrike the now-abandoned Objective Mike; t 0630 hours, observers saw a on Objective Weasel were in some there was word that the two enemy Agroup of women and children dispute. The numbers of enemy commanders for western Zharey leaving Objective Bravo and heading killed were revised down. The best were on the scene. north. An enemy observer with a estimate at this point was 25 killed, 15 Lieutenant-Colonel Corbould cell phone was seen in the midst wounded, including a small number decided to clear Objective Bravo. The of the women and children, so the of Arabs, Pakistanis, and possibly night leaguer was oriented south, Leopard 2 tank crew that was tracking Chechyns. Further information came while Objective Bravo was to the him refrained from firing its 120 mm in that the enemy had 15 fighters west. It was probable that the enemy gun. Another group of insurgents placing mines on routes south of would think the axis of advance were, however, seen to be signalling the leaguer, trying to anticipate the would be south and not west, so their compatriots, and they had no force’s movement. Again, reports of some surprise might be achieved. human shield, so a 120 mm HEAT more inbound mortar teams came in. The move on Bravo would also round took them out. The Badger AEVs were tasked to dig avoid the mines the enemy placed At 0655 hours the Badger AEVs shell scrapes throughout the leaguer. to the south. Both breach teams with their fascines moved out of the The engineers used plastic explosives would isolate the rather elongated leaguer, heading west southwest. to take down large Ironwood trees Bravo objective area, then the ANA The two wadis were filled in with that blocked the tanks’ arcs of fire. and OMLT would clear south to the fascines and crossing points

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established for the follow-on forces. Almost 60 people remained in their police and threatened the principal. A motorcycle was seen to leave compounds when the sweep forces He was forced to hide the small Bravo heading west at high speed. came through and they were quite school library to prevent it from This was probably a “Paul Revere,” helpful in describing enemy activity in being burned. The PSYOPS team Photo by author by Photo a backup early warning fighter their area. The people were adamant was concerned that the enemy would headed off to alert his commanders that most of the enemy they saw portray the withdrawal as a victory that the coalition forces were not were Pakistanis from Balochistan, to the population. Discussions with moving as anticipated. Indeed, crew with some Arabs and, apparently, local people confirmed that they commanders and gunners started Chechyns. They forced local people understood that the coalition forces to see signalling mirrors blinking to store vehicles, but did not force could not stay indefinitely and would in the morning light. Lieutenant- them to store weapons. For the most be resistant to the Taliban’s claims of Colonel Corbould was informed part, the insurgents stayed overnight victory. They had seen the Taliban through ISTAR reports that the in the fields, not in the compounds. driven away by the coalition forces enemy was having serious problems They operated in groups no larger and knew they would be back by communicating with their early than eight, and usually carried a mix nightfall. warning networks, particularly after of small arms and rocket-propelled Continued sweeps in Bravo they had been targeted. grenade launchers. Special two- and turned up very little. There was Breach Teams 1 and 2 ploughed four-man teams carried the 82 mm confirmatory information from on through the rich soil of the tall recoilless rifles. Local nationals with other local nationals. By 1100 hours, cornfields. The Badgers put in the military background told the ANA Lieutenant-Colonel Corbould “ring road” and by 0725 hours the soldiers that the Taliban were low decided to extract the force and Leopard 2s and LAV-IIIs had isolated on ammunition this season and were head back to FOB Mas’um Ghar. The Objective Bravo. The Afghans and the probably incapable of sustained extraction plan was tricky. The enemy OMLT commenced their sweep in the actions as they had been in 2006. was alerted and no doubt would south. Many fighting age males were The CIMIC team decided to hold mine and IED the existing west-east seen but it was difficult to determine a formal shura. In that meeting they routes between Bravo and Route whether they were “moving with learned that the people in Bravo were Summit if they could. The enemy intent” or if they were conducting mostly pro-government, so much so could not be sure, however, that the “agriculturally-related activities.” that the Taliban hung a kidnapped Operation Timus Preem force might A CIMIC team working with the police officer from a tree earlier in not continue to move south or west, Afghan soldiers conducted a Key the year to intimidate the people. and they did not have an unlimited Leadership Engagement in one of More importantly, a local national number of devices. Lieutenant- the Bravo compounds, as engineers with military experience confirmed Colonel Corbould decided to take the found a locked trap door elsewhere. that Objective Weasel was in fact most direct option. The two breach The local nationals told the Afghan some form of forward headquarters teams would plough two parallel soldiers that the insurgents rounded and depot. The enemy commanders routes along the single west-east up everybody in the area and put apparently had two command road, and have the forces in Objective them under guard in a grape hut, and “nodes” and rotated them through Echo clear the junction of that road told them not to leave or look out. Weasel so both would not be killed at and Summit and from Summit to The enemy did not want them telling once – Bravo was a transit area for the FOB Mas’um Ghar so there were no coalition forces what direction they backup command node. The enemy surprises on the way home. Alertness went in. The engineers then found kept a small command team active in was a priority. It was a long and hot IED equipment, while an orbiting Weasel at all times and augmented operation, and thoughts of a shower UAV saw a man on a motorcycle when necessary from Bravo. If an and hot food could not be allowed to headed west stopping and talking to operation was undertaken east in override vigilance. small groups of fighting age males Sanjeray, the teams generally passed Breach Team 1 headed south, that were conducing “agriculturally- through Weasel on the way. while a Badger from Breach Team related activities.” Nobody seemed The insurgents interfered with 2 ploughed a track and a “parking to be in a hurry to go anywhere near education in the Bravo area. There lot” pointing west while the forces Bravo. was a school and a principal and the assembled in lanes pointing west. The local population in Bravo, it ANP had a checkpoint to protect it. ISTAR reports indicated there was turned out, was extremely friendly. The Taliban kidnapped and killed the enemy observation and they were

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trying to figure out where to set up By this time, Canadian and beforehand, that the populations an ambush. Once Breach Team 1 was Afghan forces cleared and secured in some of the objective areas were well on its way, Breach Team 2 peeled the junction as the Badgers and either pro-government or potentially back and headed south too. Leopards bashed through the rich pro-government and it is a tragedy By 1350 hours, the lead Badger earth of the fields. As soon as the for the Afghans and their Canadian AEV in Breach Team 1 started to vehicles hit the junction, they headed allies that adequate forces were not overheat as it tried to traverse a south to FOB Mas’um Ghar. There available to expand the security muddied wadi system and mechanics were no incidents in the extraction. “bubble” west from Stability Box were brought up to repair it. Another Operation Timus Preem was over, Juno. Badger was pushed forward to with no Canadian casualties. maintain the momentum. A Scan Eagle MUAV flew ahead along the Conclusions Notes planned routes to check the tree lines for possible enemy ambushes. peration Timus Preem had a 1. The Canadian Leopard 2s serving in Nothing so far. Onumber of effects on the enemy Afghanistan now have the capability to mount such implements. At 1407 hours a Leopard 2 crew in Zharey district. First, it forced 2. Sean M. Maloney, “Incursion at Howz-e spotted several insurgents in tall them to re-organize their command Madad: An Afghanistan Vignette,” grass south of the breaches. There structure and replace leaders. Second, Canadian Military History 17 no. 1 (Winter 2008), pp. was some debate as to who was going it wiped out their “forward” IED 3. FIBUA: Fighting in Built Up Areas. to engage, artillery, Predator, or the production capacity and transit base Facetiously called FART or Fighting tanks. The enemy dispersed and to the Sangeray area. The cumulative Around Town or FISH, Fighting in Somebody’s House by UK forces. withdrew as the tanks readied their effects contributed to the lack of IED 4. Sean M. Maoney, “Panjwayi Alamo: coaxial machine guns. Then Major activity directed at the Operation Asp- The Defence of Strongpoint Mushan,” Adams spotted three more insurgents e-Janoubi turbine transit operation Canadian Military History 18 no. 3 (Summer 2009), pp. 9 manoeuvring to the south-and let fly that took place days afterwards. The 5. The author observed the planning with a 120 mm canister round, killing operation also most likely took out process for Operation Timus Preem and all three. The orbiting Predator re- some of the people involved in killing accompanied the battlegroup for the duration of the operation in the field. acquired the first group, which was the three Canadian engineers on the 6. aka ‘Jabba the Hut.’ in the process of splitting into two eve of the operation. The operation 7. As in, “The Rocket Man.” teams. It was not clear whether they also bought time for Stability Box 8. These were Sergeant Shawn Eades, Corporal Dustin Wasden, and Sapper were running away or manoeuvring. Juno to consolidate. There may have Stephan Stock, all from 1 Combat Breach Team 2, however, hit a been longer term effects but they Engineer Regiment. 9. The enemy’s ”rear” or depth IED wet wadi system and then ploughed were not measureable in August production facilities were taken out the into a wet cornfield. The Badgers and 2008. By spring 2009, Construction night after Op Timus Preem by special Leopards had to back up and find a Management Team-2 was working operations forces. I was told that it was the most successful SOF strike against route around this impasse. Could the with local Afghans to address volatile Zharey IED cells in two years. This also vehicles now start using the road to water diversion and irrigation issues contributed to the success of Op ASP-E- speed things up? There was only 200 in the “box” – without noticeable or JANOUBI. metres of it left before it hit the paved significant enemy interference. Route Summit. The answer was no: O p eration Timus Preem, continue to avoid the road in case of however, continued to highlight the IEDs. Major Adams, quoting the film problem of not being able to install Dr. Sean M. Maloney is the historical “Back to the Future,” said over the an enduring Afghan government advisor to the Chief of the Land Staff. radio: “Roads? Where we’re going security and governance presence He has travelled annually to Afghanistan we don’t NEED roads!” It was just as in an area subjected to a clearance since 2003 to observe coalition operations. He is the author of several books well. When Breach Team 2 was forced operation. The enemy forces were including Enduring the Freedom: A Rogue closer to the road because of wet swept from the area, many were Historian in Afghanistan (Potomac Books, terrain, a sweep discovered an IED; it killed and wounded, but without 2005) and Confronting the Chaos: A Rogue Historian Returns to Afghanistan (Naval was blown in place by the engineers. adequate security in place they Institute Press, 2009). The third book The breach team swung north again returned the night after the Mechs left in the series, Fighting for Afghanistan: A into navigable terrain and continued for home. It was noted by all involved Rogue Historian at War will come out early next year from Naval Institute Press. east. in the operation, and understood

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