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Operation Red Dagger strikes killer blow in heart of enemy territory
HEROIC Royal Marine Commandos have smashed the Taliban in the BIGGEST offensive since the 2003 invasion of Iraq . . . on a bloody battlefield resembling the sodden trenches of the Somme.
More than 1,500 soldiers fought in Operation Red Dagger-a massive winter assault on insurgent strongholds.
Click here to read how heroin floods into UK from Afghanistan
It was fought in hellhole ditches and dugouts in muddy, waterlogged terrain eerily reminiscent of the First World War.
Wave after wave of British troops fought for every inch of battleground in Afghanistan's notorious Helmand Province, soaked by days of heavy rain.
Squads carried scaling ladders with their rifles to assault Taliban hiding places scattered across a battlefield the size of Sheffield.
In close-quarters combat-mainly with grenades and rifles rather than hi-tech weapons- five of our boys died valiantly and 80 were wounded.
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Almost 100 Taliban fighters, among them a senior commander, were wiped out. One hero, Artillery Capt Dave Glendenning, told us how troops lived and slept in the mud for THREE WEEKS as they carried out the vital assault in the Taliban's heartland.
His job was calling down artillery, mortars and guided missile attacks to support the frontline soldiers of J Company 42 Commando.
"Almost every day we were involved in intense firefights ranging from small arms shoot and scoots to four-hour battles with the enemy as close as 30 metres," said Capt Glendenning.
"The ground turned to a quagmire and we were up to our ankles in muddy water."
And Signaller L Cpl Steve Gordon added: "Sleeping in the mud was a nightmare. We were constantly exposed and moving ahead of our infantry protection. It was pretty scary."
The 18-day operation by 42 Commando Group Royal Marines culminated over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with the capture of the enemy winter stronghold of Nad-e-Ali.
Named Red Dagger after 3 Commando Brigade's shoulder patch insignia, the assault was launched on December 7 to quash Taliban forces who had tried to overrun Helmand capital Lashkar Gah in October.
TARGET TALIBAN: 42 Commando on the move as they drive the insurgents out of strongholds in Operation Red Dagger
The four-pronged mission was to capture and secure four major targets-Nad e Ali and other insurgent bases at Shin Kalay, Zarghun Kalay and Nawa.
Capt Glendenning described how British forces-backed by Estonian troops and Danish tanks-attacked enemy positions with a combination of 81mm mortars and Apache and Cobra attack helicopters.
As all hell broke loose 42 Commando troops weighed in with grenades, machine-guns, Javelin missiles and anti-tank 'Bunker Busters' missiles.
"There was little time to draw breath," said Capt Glendenning.
Squads used scaling ladders to climb enemy compound walls and fire over the top into Taliban hiding places as the insurgents were gradually pushed back.
Cunning
They also had to be driven out of hideouts in waterlogged dugouts and ditches as deep as First World War trenches.
There was always the risk of our boys being outflanked by the cunning Taliban who know every inch of the landscape.
At one point the 'Black Knights' of 42 Commando's Kilo Company were surrounded during a two-day battle to break into the town Zarghun Kalay just before the Christmas offensive.
Top brass praised their "Commando Spirit" as they fought a 360 degree battle for victory against a "canny and determined" enemy.
As the offensive drove deep into Helmand's badlands a major Taliban headquarters was captured near Nad e Ali and weapons including a cache of 107mm Chinese rockets each armed with a 1kg explosive warhead were seized.
OVER THE TOP: Commandos get ready to take a compound
Troops also discovered a TONNE of narcotics including 400kg of opium with a value on Britain's streets of at least £2 million.
A spokesman for Task Force Helmand said: "This assault significantly disrupted the enemy in a strategically key area." But victory came at a heavy price.
The first of our boys to fall were Marines GEORGIE SPARKS, 19, from Epping, Essex and TONY EVANS, 20, from Sunderland, who were killed on an intelligence gathering foot patrol to plan the operation.
The men from Juliet Company 42 Commando were hit by an RPG-7 rocket propelled grenade in the area around Nad e Ali on November 27.
Rifleman STUART NASH of 1 Rifles from Sydney, Australia, died giving covering fire to his comrades from a rooftop during the most intense battle at Zarghun Kalay, north west of Nad-e-Ali on December 17.
Cpl ROBERT DEERING, 33, from Sheldon, Birmingham was killed by a booby trap as he attempted to repair a stricken Viking armoured vehicle that hit a landmine while supplying frontline troops on December 21.
Lance Cpl BENJAMIN WHATELY, 20, from King's Lynn, Norfolk, died on Christmas Eve in the opening attack of Red Dagger's final offensive.
Worry
He was shot dead leading his men into battle just north of Nad e Ali. His mother Teresa, 52, movingly told how his family had planned to put Christmas on hold until her son returned from his tour.
"There was no way we could have had a proper family Christmas while he was away," she said.
"You never stop worrying when your son is on a tour. You are on edge for seven months because you never know if you're going to get a phone call or a visit to say something has happened.
"Now we have had that visit we were dreading."
OVER THE TOP: Soldiers in the trenches during WW1
Last night Taliban fighters were in full retreat from the Nad e Ali district, heading for remote mountain hideouts in a bid to escape further onslaught.
The Afghan National Army was in hot pursuit, harrying them as they sought respite from the punishing assault.
Marines constructed three 'patrol base' fortresses under fire during the battle to dominate the towns and villages around Nad-e-Ali providing 'bubbles' of security for locals.
The bases were packed with troops to ensure Taliban fighters could not return to the district, allowing schools and businesses to open.
Since the end of the successful operation 10 days ago, two more British soldiers have died in Afghanistan-bringing the total killed so far to 138 since October 2001.
Marine Cpl Liam Elms, 26, from Wigan died on New Year's Eve and Territorial Army Sgt Chris Reed, 25, of 6 Rifles from Plymouth was killed on New Year's Day.
Both died in explosions near Garmsir in southern Helmand Province.
Lt Col Charlie Stickland, 42 Commando's commanding officer, said of Operation Red Dagger: "Thankfully all the insertions went very swiftly and we unhinged the insurgents.
"The next step we need to make is to find out who the elders are in this area and start our influence in terms of what we're seeking to do in the whole Nad-e-Ali area over the coming months.
"So this has been a good start but we remain balanced and ready should anything unfold."
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This article has 18 comments
Ithink the lads out in helmand are very brave fighting for there country ,risking there lives for us and for what knowone cares,people should read the papers and watch the news and fet involved in it.I am proud to know that my brother is fighting there in the royal marines and will hopefully see the lads in helmand in the fore coming years.
CHEERS LADS
By Ryan. Posted February 13 2009 at 10:38 PM.
you know who you are
we're all really proud of you
im related to you, but you've only met me a few times.
i dont want to write names, to protect identities, but i just want you to know that the majority of the british public (those who care enough about life to take an interest) are glad that your out there fighting for justice and peace.
and the rest of britain, (the ones who care to much about their appearance to even notice) should wake up and realise exactly how brave you are, how brave all of the young men in afghanistan are, and if it wasnt for you risking your own lives, who knows what might have happened
By a proud relative. Posted January 29 2009 at 9:38 PM.
that guy on the picture at the top of the page is my cousin
he's out there putting his own life at risk every day, and yet what appreciation does the british public show of that.
god bless you ( i wont put your name to protect identity ), my thoughts will be with you always
By anonymous. Posted January 25 2009 at 12:34 PM.
I also have a brother fighting with the "Black Knights" - looking forward to R&R as are other family members I imagine. I can't say I particularly want to get into the politics of it on here but I would like to say get involved with charities who help our lads and girls (and their families). Theres a brilliant group I just heard about on facebook called "Troop Aid" and they're going great guns but need more help. Help for Heroes could always do with a few more fundraisers too I imagine!!
By zisky. Posted January 14 2009 at 2:41 AM.
It is a hot topic to hate, it is, never nice seeing loved ones go to war but our boys Trained for 9 months and they work harder every day to become stronger so we as a whole are strong, our RMC’s are more than prepared to do this job. Bringing the troops home would be doing nothing when you see an innocent being mugged in the street, they’ll get away with it and do it again to someone else. There are so many years of mistakes in these countries that will likewise take years to rectify, and that’s why the lads are there to cut each finger off terrorism from choking the lives of innocents.
Doing nothing now in a fight that isn’t ours will have consequences , in the current economic climate the world (Especially us in the UK currently lol) cannot afford to have another 100 Terrorists being trained by the ones we chose to do nothing about and wound up killing our families for reasons only they believe to be just, personally I am done suffering these murdering fools who seem to believe they have the right to take ANOTHER life so THEY can have redemption.
A Losing battle must be fought to hold a chance of Victory.
If our boys can crack jokes on the frontline, we can at least support the families of the Men Fighting whether we agree or not.
Condolences to those who have sustained such a tragic loss.
By James W S R. Posted January 9 2009 at 11:34 AM.
my bro sent me this link n told me to read it he is in k company 42 commando and says he loves it out there but it is scarey at times and ben who died on christmas eve was 1 of his close friends within the marines. my respects go to his family.
By MATT PEACOCK. Posted January 7 2009 at 10:57 PM.
susan shaw, enjoy your son when he gets back on his R&R, it goes in so quick,
T.
By A MUM. Posted January 6 2009 at 10:09 AM.
We all very proud of all our beloved ROYALS May they all keep the faith, remain strong and finish the job !
Stay safe all you warriors ! Very Proud Mum of Vinny 45 CDO Whiskey coy
By Eileen Brown . Posted January 5 2009 at 8:48 AM.
There are some very niave people out there!!!! dont you people realise that if we are not fighting them in their own back yard then we will be fighting them in our own country all be it in a different way!
By ESSENCE MARINE. Posted January 5 2009 at 4:52 AM.
Thankyou for posting this story of our heroic loved ones who are fighting this war!! My brother explained to me that he is fighting this war because that is what he has been trained to do, it is like taking a degree in French but never using the language, he would be ashamed if he did not put his new found talents to good use. The people that say this is not our war are wrong, I do not wish for my brother to be where he is but if our soldiers were not doing their damnest in Afghanistan then goodness knows how many terrorist attacks we would be enduring over the coming years! I am so proud of my brother and all our soldiers, including the military from other countries for coming together when they need to and helping to solve this problem!!
x
By Sister of Marine in J Coy, 42 Commando. Posted January 4 2009 at 5:33 PM.
For the life of me I can't understand the negativism of people that bitch about this war.I'm old school, the way I see it if you can take out one or a hundred Taliban that's one or a hundred that we don't have to worry about hitting on our Homeland.I for one am very proud of the Military that are fighting and giving thire lives to save our way of life. Death of a loved one is a hardship that comes with protecting our countries freedom.What about your forefathers that fought in the world wars so as you can still live to express your views.
By the way I'm a Yank that has friends that are Brit's that are fighting the Talibans and I am Honored an Proud to know them. And yes I do worry about whether thire going to come home to thire loved ones, but I also know that they are willing to give up thire lives as would I to make sure the Taliban never come to our Homeland an take it over. May God Bless each and every one of our Military an may they all come home with Victory and Pride for a job well done.
Viet Nam Vet US Army
By Dennis. Posted January 4 2009 at 2:10 PM.
Why, oh why, don't they take all the troops home this is not our war, the russian's pulled out after 7 years do we have to wait this long for our beloved son's, husband's, wive's, girlfriend's to keep safe. Mum of Jason Y Coy 45 Commando
By Diane Edge. Posted January 4 2009 at 1:40 PM.
very well done!
By sandra jones. Posted January 4 2009 at 11:44 AM.
seems like alot of effort and wasted lives just to kill one hundred taliban fighters when there are another thousand waiting in the wings to kill our boys.we are fighting a losing battle which we couldnt afford before the credit crunch how can we keep funding it?
By alex b. Posted January 4 2009 at 12:34 PM.
Thank you News of World. My son is one of the 'Black Knights' of 42 Commando. Its scary stuff reading what they have done for the people of Afghanistan. Its such a pity that alot of the other News organizations dont feature them on their news,. oh sorry, they do when one of them dies. Nothing on the countless injuries sustained since being in theatre. When i read your story i welled up with tears of pride at what they are doing and the conditions in which they do it. My son is home soon for 2 weeks R n R and i cant wait to see him.
By susan shaw. Posted January 4 2009 at 10:15 AM.
What a good report it is so good to hear of something positive that our loved ones have been part of, after all the hard and gruelling tasks they perform on a daily basis nothing seems to ever get reported other than bad news. So well done news of the world. keep it up.
and thanks.
By sheila sykes. Posted January 4 2009 at 9:05 AM.
We are all so proud of you. My dad was in 44 Commando in WW2 and wants me to tell you "his heart is bursting out of his chest with pride". Not sure what some of our Pollies think but the people who matter (the great British public) as so proud of how you protect us all. This article is quite personal as I live in Sydney so Stuart will be missed and I went to school in Sheldon Birmingham and my thoughts are with Rob. God Bless You All
By Peter. Posted January 4 2009 at 8:07 AM.
Keep packing these bases with troops. Maybe in 10 years time and you have a 1,000 of these bases packed with ,say, 300 troops in each one, then maybe we,ll declare "victory" and bring the 300,000 troops home. Insanity!
By Scotty McBee. Posted January 4 2009 at 2:40 AM.