Canada in Afghanistan

[John McGillivray]

Canadians Help Corral Taliban as Major Operation Begins
Matthew Fisher, Postmedia News • Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/Can...923/story.html

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan —The Royal Canadian Regiment battle group established blocking screens to try to trap the Taliban this weekend as U.S. and Afghan forces swooped down on the Horn of Panjwaii, which has been one of insurgents’ last strongholds in Kandahar.
The long-anticipated air assault to clear the Horn, where many Canadians have lost their lives in recent years, is part of a much larger operation that has been evolving for weeks. The crucial part of the campaign in western Panjwaii was declared to have officially begun Saturday, with about 800 Afghan troops supported by a much smaller number of Americans, the New York Times quoted Maj.-Gen Nick Carter, NATO’s commander in the South, as saying.
To support the operation, Canadian engineers have recently built trenches, berms and other barriers on the eastern margins of the Horn. They are designed to funnel travellers into checkpoints manned by Afghan and Canadian forces. Other Canadian soldiers have taken up key ground near the Horn to deter insurgents from trying to run this gauntlet.
“(The Canadian) job is primarily to enable the operations in the Horn of Panjwaii by stopping uncontrolled movement to the east,” said Lt.-Col. Doug Claggett, Task Force Kandahar’s chief of staff.
The farming area about 50 kilometres west of Kandahar City is home to about 8,000 Afghans, many of whom are well known for being sympathetic to the Taliban and its leader, Mullah Omar, who was born in the area. It has long been used by the Taliban as a bed-down area and logistics hub for insurgents headed to the provincial capital.
Clearing this area of Taliban is considered necessary because “the Horn of Panjwaii has been an area that has not had the same security emphasis for the last little while,” Lt.-Col. Claggett said. The intent now was, he said “to provide the same security effect in the west of Panjwaii as elsewhere.”
If the operation is successful, it would undoubtedly enhance security in the much more densely populated Canadian sector, too, because “anything that happens in one part of Panjwaii effects the other part,” he said.
Holding the Horn has proven to be a persistent problem for NATO since Canadian troops arrived in the South in 2006. The first task force to take a crack at the area was led by Brig.-Gen. Tim Grant in 2007. Not a shot was fired during Operation Baaz Tsuka and the area remained quiet for several months before security began to deteriorate.
A year later, in a bloody operation that lasted several months, Brig.-Gen. Guy Laroche’s task force eventually launched an attack on the Horn from north of the Arghandab River. But the small Canadian force, which was still virtually alone in Kandahar, did not have anywhere near enough troops to hold the area, nor was the Afghan government able at that time to provide sufficient security personnel or administrators to maintain effective control.
As a result of these shortcomings, Canada closed several patrol bases it had established in the area.
After the Canadians quit the Horn, the Taliban moved in to fill the vacuum created with large numbers, heavily sowing the area with homemade landmines and meting out their own particularly violent form of Islamic justice.
“They have had courts set up, but not in one specific area,” said Lt.-Col. Roger Cotton, who does future battle planning for Task Force Kandahar.
“It is an area where they have had freedom of movement because there has not been enough GIROA (Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan) and coalition presence.”
Should the campaign in the Horn and others that have taken place in the Canadian sector in Panjwaii finally result in an enduring Afghan and NATO presence, “if they (insurgents) come back in the spring, it is going to be a lot harder for them to establish a foothold,” Lt.-Col. Cotton said.
This weekend’s assault involved far more troops than Canada and the Afghans were able to devote to this task in the past.
The effort has been enormously helped by the recent arrival of more than 10,000 U.S. combat troops in Kandahar as well as a big increase in the number of Afghan soldiers available.
Since the U.S. troop surge and the arrival of additional Afghan forces, Canada’s task force has been able to concentrate almost its entire focus on the Panjwaii and Dand districts.
As well as transferring command responsibility to U.S. forces for Kandahar City, Arghandab and Zhari at the beginning of July, the Canadians handed control for the Horn of Panjwaii directly to NATO’s Regional Command South during that month.

[John McGillivray]

He’s now home after his second tour over there!

Van Doos take over as last Canadian combat group
The Canadian Press
Date: Saturday Nov. 27, 2010 12:43 PM ET
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/World/2010...keover-101127/
KANDAHAR — The new commander of Canada's battle group in Kandahar will have an iron fist, but hopes to use a velvet touch with the war-weary population of this embattled province.
Lt.-Col. Michel-Henri St-Louis, who is in charge of the 1st Battalion Royal 22e Regiment combat team, officially took charge Saturday and will carry the baton through to the end of the country's combat mission in July.
In an earlier deployment, he spent time in Kabul as part of a military team that advised the Afghan government on ways to reconstruct a shattered civil service.
It made a profound impression on him.
Years of war have hardened Canadian soldiers and made them wary of locals, a mindset that St-Louis said must change.
"At the end of the day, not all Afghans are your enemy and I tried to instill that in my troops before getting here," St-Louis said in an interview with The Canadian Press.
"The (Strategic Advisory Team) showed me that there are some devoted Afghans who want a better future and have seen a better past."
Urbane and articulate, St-Louis seems perfectly in sync with NATO's strategy to win over recalcitrant Afghans, especially after a hard, bloody summer of fighting.
He brings to the job a keen awareness of cultural sensitivity, being born in Nicaragua and growing up the son of a Canadian father and a Central American mother.
The battle group will concentrate on building confidence in the hardscrabble hamlets of Panjwaii, Dand and Daman districts, said St-Louis, who wants to take full advantage of the current ebb in fighting.
It's unclear whether the lull is related to the onset of winter -- or whether the Taliban has been soundly defeated, he added.
The outgoing commander of Canada's mentoring team, Col. Ian Creighton, declared on Friday that the back of the insurgency was broken by the NATO offensive on the outskirts of Kandahar this fall.
"I'll reserve my assessment of that for a while, and maybe the real test will be in the next spring and summer" when traditional fighting season returns, St-Louis told reporters shortly after a ceremony that marked the departure of the [ 1st Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment battle group .
Soldiers coming in from the forward bases and patrol shacks west of the provincial capital were happy to see the fighting ease off.
"Boring is good. I'll take boring any day," said Master Cpl. Colin Chabassol, a Pictou County, N.S.-native who fought with India Company.
One trouble spot awaiting St-Louis is Nakhonay, a notorious Taliban redoubt that Canadian troops have chipped away at year after year with repeated clearing operations.
"There was outright disapproval of the leadership of the town to our presence this summer; they had to disapprove because they were forced to disapprove by the insurgents," said Lt.-Col. Conrad Mialkowski, the outgoing battle group commander from Petawawa, Ont.
"Yet, we still remained and were interactive with them. That spoke volumes to the local population."
Mialkowski acknowledged there is likely more hard fighting ahead, but the growing Afghan National Army will be there to carry a bigger share of the burden.
The fledgling Afghan force, which is 134,000 strong on paper, is due to be expanded to 260,000 over the next few years. But one of the biggest drawbacks it faces is its lack of what the military calls enablers -- specialized units such as artillery, air support and engineers.
It is the combat engineers who've drawn the most applause from soldiers who are headed home.
Sgt. Chris Jeapes, a member from 8 Platoon of [Charles Company, 1st Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment, couldn't say enough good about the troops whose job it is detect and clear away improvised explosives.
"A lot of foot patrols, engineers were able to actually pick up and find them before we moved into an area and found them ourselves by stepping on them," Jeapes said in a recent interview.
"It saved our lives numerous times on this tour."

[servicepub (RIP)]

Originally Posted by John McGillivray

He’s now home after his second tour over there!

Really glad to hear that John. Happy for both of you. Mine goes in 2011 but as part of the new, gentler, mission.
Clive

[Brian Gough]

The war in Afghanistan has claimed another Canadian, with the 154th soldier killed in combat Saturday.

Cpl. Steve Martin, from 3rd Battalion, Royal 22e Regiment, was killed Saturday 12:30 p.m. local time by a bomb detonated while he was on patrol in the Panjwaii district of Kandahar Province.

Martin was serving with 1st Battalion, Royal 22e Regiment Battle Group, based at CFB Valcartier, Que.

"Our thoughts are with the families and friends of our fallen soldier during this difficult time," said the department of national defence in a statement.

"We will not forget the sacrifice of this soldier as we continue to bring security and hope to the people of Kandahar Province."

Prime Minister Stephen Harper also expressed his condolences at Canada's latest war casualty.

"Corporal Martin was a brave Canadian who made the ultimate sacrifice while proudly serving his country," he said in a statement.

"Thanks to Canadian Forces members like him, we continue to make real progress in Afghanistan, rebuilding the country and contributing to the peace and security of its people.

"We will never forget Corporal Martin's bravery and his sacrifice to make life better for others."

Martin's death pushed the NATO mission's overall death toll to 700 this year alone.

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

The new Herc's have started to arrive and have began their service in Afghanistan,..
Here are the new Herc's spec's..
Some difference from when I used to fly around in them back in the late '60's and early '70's..

Technical Specifications
Aircraft Description The CC-130J Hercules is four-engine turboprop tactical transport aircraft with a rear cargo ramp, rugged landing gear, good short-field performance and high ground clearance for engines and propellers. It is used for troop transport, tactical airlift (both palletized and vehicular cargo) and aircrew training and qualification. It is designed to operate from rudimental airstrips in an active theatre of operations. The CC-130J has the same look as its predecessors, but in fact is a greatly improved airplane. The new "Hercs" fly faster, higher, and farther, carrying heavier loads while burning less fuel. They deliver cutting edge technology to provide the Canadian Forces with a cost-effective, operationally-proven tactical airlift capability.
Length 112 ft 9 in. / 34.37 m
Height 38 ft 9 in. / 11.81 m
Wingspan 132 ft 7 in. / 40.38 m
Horizontal tail span 52 ft 8 in. / 16.05 m
Power Plant Four Rolls-Royce AE2100D3 4,591 SHP (shaft horsepower) turboprop engines; Dowty R391, 6-blade propellers (all composite)
Maximum take-off weight (MTOW) 164,000 lb / 74,389 kg
Maximum payload 48,000 lb / 21,772 kg
Maximum cruise speed 355 KTAS / 660 km / hr
Landing/take-off ground roll (typical assault mission) 1,500 ft / 457 m
Payload at 500 n. mi /926 km 47,000 lb / 21,319 kg
Maximum range without tanks 3,700 nautical miles / 6,852 km
Cargo compartment length 55 feet (15 feet longer than the C-130J-Short)
Crew Minimum 2 pilots and 1 load master
Passengers 128
Combat paratroops 92
Year procured Delivery began in 2010
Quantity in CF 17 to be delivered
Location 8 Wing Trenton, Ont.
Manufacturer Lockheed Martin Corporation

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Department of National Defence 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group


5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group
Jan 18, 2011 13:05 ET
Death of Soldier at CFB Valcartier

CFB VALCARTIER, QUÉBEC--(Marketwire - Jan. 18, 2011) - A soldier died at approximately 10:00 hrs Monday morning after falling from the roof of a building at CFB Valcartier. Corporal Jean-Michel Déziel, a member of the Headquarters and Signals Squadron, was in the process of installing a telecommunications antenna when the incident occurred. The soldier was immediately evacuated to the Laval Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

"It is with great sadness that we learned of the death of Corporal Déziel this morning. I would like to express my sincere condolences to his family, those close to him, and to his colleagues," said Colonel Jean-Marc Lanthier, the Commander of the 5th Canadian Mechanized Brigade. "This young soldier who served a tour in Afghanistan had a resoundingly promising career ahead of him in the Canadian Forces. His unexpected and premature death represents a profound loss to our organization."

The incident is under investigation by the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service. As a result, no further details will be released in connection with the circumstances surrounding the fatality at this time.

Corporal Jean-Michel Déziel had served with the Canadian Forces since October 2006. A signals operator, he served a tour in Afghanistan in 2009.

One of the key roles of the soldiers of the Headquarters and Signals Squadron, an integral unit of the 5th Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, is to provide communications links between command elements and operational forces.

For more information, please contact
5th Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group
Lieutenant Dennis Noel
Public Affairs Officer
418-844-5000. Local 4688
418-260-3082 (FAX)
Click here to see all recent news from this company

[John McGillivray]

Canadian soldier, 24, killed in Afghanistan

The Canadian Press
Date: Sunday Mar. 27, 2011 10:42 PM ET

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — Another Canadian soldier has been killed in Afghanistan.

Cpl. Yannick Scherrer was on a foot patrol Sunday near Nakhonay, southwest of Kandahar city, when he was killed by an improvised explosive device.

The 24-year-old Montreal native was on his first tour in the country.

It's the first Canadian death in Afghanistan since Dec. 18, when Cpl. Steve Martin died from an IED during a foot patrol.

The latest death brings to 155 the total number of Canadian military members who have died as part of the Afghan mission since it began in 2002.

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories...killed-110327/

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

A Canadian soldier was found dead Saturday morning in Afghanistan in the southern province of Kandahar, and the Department of National Defence attributed his death to "non-combat-related wounds."

"One Canadian Forces member was found dead from non-combat related wounds at approximately 6:00 a.m. local Kandahar time on 25 June 2011 at a coalition forward operating base in Kandahar City," the Department said in a statement.

The soldier's identity has not yet been made public at the request of the family.

The soldier is the 157th Canadian to die in combat in Afghanistan since 2002.

Canadian combat troops have already started returning from Afghanistan, and will all be home this year.

At the same time, Ottawa is planning to send 950 military instructors to train Afghan soldiers.

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Memorial to fallen Canadian soldiers buried at front line Afghan base
The Canadian PressBy Murray Brewster, The Canadian Press | The Canadian Press – Wed, 8 Jun, 2011



MA'SUM GHAR, Afghanistan - A symbol of Canadian blood and sacrifice, etched into the crusted hillside of a forward operating base in Kandahar for nearly four-and-a-half years, is being buried and left behind in Afghanistan as the end of Canada's combat mission draws ever nearer.

The Maple Leaf rock mural at Ma'sum Ghar started as a tribute to five soldiers killed during the landmark battle of Pashmul, known as Operation Medusa.

But throughout the years, the memorial has grown as more and more marker stones were placed to honour additional casualties.

A total of 59 stones, representing 72 soldiers who operated out of Ma'sum Ghar, were buried in a trench at the base of the memorial Wednesday in a moving sunset ceremony staged by members of the Royal 22e Regiment battle group.

Capt. Joshua Robbins, the commander of 1 Platoon, Para Company, knew three of the soldiers and the family of a fourth.

"It's just evidence of how close our army is; how small it is," said Robbins, who is on his first tour of the war-torn country. "The degrees of separation between us are few and far between."

He and other soldiers said they found it entirely appropriate to bury the memorial stones in Afghanistan, rather than bring them back to Canada.

As each stone was carried to the trench, where the sides were draped in black cloth, the names of the dead soldiers were read out.

Some of the markers were personalized with drawings and even tiny regimental and Canadian flags. A few of them had plates drilled into the rock, but the names had been scorched or bleached off by the brutal Afghan sun.

"They represent Canada for us," Maj. Graham Thompson, the task force chaplain, said of the stones. "They represent great Canadians for us. They represent honour and honourable service for us."

After the moving, unusual ceremony, soldiers — some of them teary-eyed — filed past the trench and tossed poppies and handfuls of Afghan sand atop the markers.

The U.S. is about to take over the base, which has been a linchpin in the Canadian army's war in western Kandahar.

The memorial was originally built in the winter of 2007 by Americans and South Africans whose bomb-sniffing dogs accompanied troops into the field.

Van Thames, of AM-K9 Protection said at the time that he built the tribute in his spare time as a way to say thank you to the soldiers of the 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, who kept him and his team safe and comfortable.

Although touched, some troops were upset that it took someone other than a Canadian to think of the gesture, which has become iconic for anyone who has spent any amount of time in either Panjwaii or Zhari districts, west of the provincial capital.

"I had one guy that come up and first of all I thought he was mad with me," Thames said when the memorial was built.

"I said, 'What's wrong? What did I do wrong?' He said: 'I'm mad 'cause it took an American to think about it and do it instead of one of us doing it."

Thames and his fellow dog handlers, Hollis Crawford and Rogelio Meza, laid out all of the rocks and then proceeded to paint them red and white before they were joined by two South African colleagues to finish the job.

It is hard to understate the historic significance of Ma'sum Ghar, an ugly, J-shaped mountain that seems to thunder unexpectedly from the desert floor and overshadow the town of Bazaar-e-Panjwaii.

Early in the war, its slopes were soaked in Canadian blood. It was the launching point for Operation Medusa, the first NATO-led offensive in Afghanistan.

Most Canadian combat operations throughout the war have been staged out here.

The army's contingent of Leopard 2A6M battle tanks have called it home — one that has sustained frequent pounding by Taliban rockets.

As a heavily fortified position, the base was a beacon of safety for the untold number of patrols that stepped off — or launched — from its gates into the surrounding nest of insurgent vipers.

Lt.-Col. Michael Wright, who was a major in August 2006, won the Medal of Military Valour, along with three of his men, when he fought to hold on to Ma'sum Ghar after the Taliban had encircled it.

Insurgents recognized the value of its bluffs soon after Canadians moved into Panjwaii in force that summer.

Wright, in an interview with The Canadian Press, said he recalled watching from nearby Patrol Base Wilson as firefights increased and tracers flew around the mountain at night.

The Taliban had been using cracks and folds of Ma'sum Ghar to mortar Canadian positions and Wright was told to take and hold the area on Aug. 19, 2006 with a platoon of soldiers.

The troops linked up with Afghan police who had been holding the nearby district centre.

"I could hear some machine gun fire to the south," Wright recalled. "I sat down to do some confirmatory orders and I heard a pop and saw a (rocket-propelled grenade). It landed about eight feet away, but luckily it didn't explode or things would have been very different."

The shot had come from a position that was supposed to have been manned by Afghan police, but had been quietly overrun.

"It was very difficult to figure out where the enemy was coming from," said Wright. "The fact they were coming from the south was not what we were expecting at all."

Waves of Taliban tried to storm up the mountain and Wright's light armoured vehicle opened up with its 25-millimetre chain gun. Soon other LAVs were firing both to the south and east and an American Predator drone joined in with a few well-placed Hellfire missiles.

Wright's platoon hung on, suffered no casualties, but eventually withdrew.

A couple of weeks later, as the first act of Operation Medusa, the Canadians took the hill and have never left — until now.

Although it will remain a Canadian base for a few weeks, Wednesday's ceremony signals the beginning of the end.

The U.S. has already moved in and greatly expanded the rugged outpost.