Page 413 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
in action is the Russian pack-horse platoon currently operating in the North Caucasus. Whilst this capability is not openly disclosed or even noted in the Russian Federations military capabilities, it is described as: “reliable, all-weather, with high off-road capability in forested mountain terrain.” The Pack animal transport platoon is among the most essential sub-units in the Russian mountain brigades. It is part of the brigade’s logistic support company and interacts with the recon- naissance and motorised rifle sub-units. The unit is employed in a variety of roles, but these are encapsu- lated in the working mission statement of: “support for reconnaissance and search measures: dropping off in the mountains boxes laden with munitions, evacuating a wounded or traumatized serviceman, bringing out the trophies of battle.”
The first 18 Karachai86 horses arrived in the Brigade in the spring of 2007. In an environment of road-less terrain, impenetrable forests, and treacherous mountain slopes, no motor vehicle or armoured equipment can compete with them.87 This very modern example of the employment of horses has direct read across to Afghanistan. The Russian Federation is conducting serious military deployments, in harsh terrain and the horse is not on trial or in development, but an actual capability.
A second example of contemporary employment of horses comes from the US Special Forces. On 19th October 2001 soldiers from the Fifth Special Forces Group (SFG) were deployed into northern Afghanistan. The SFG joined CIA recruited Northern Alliance warlords and found ways to help the Northern Alliance leaders defeat the Taliban without stirring up resentment of American involvement. The campaign was a combination of high technology such as laser designating targets, combined with mounted combat. The US SFG used horses as a means of mobility, having had virtually no prior instruction. They became involved in cavalry charges and hand-to-hand combat from the back of horses. The role of horses was central since there was no other transportation for the tasks at hand. The acceptance by the American military was summed up in a speech by Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld on 31st May 2006. In it, he eulogised the horse as a pertinent and reliable means of transport that was particularly suitable to Afghanistan.88 This successful SFG mission in Afghanistan reopened the debate on the use of horses and mules in the American military at the turn of the 21st century.
Social status of the horse in Afghanistan. From the beginning of civilisation to the 21st Century, ownership
of cavalry horses has been seen as a mark of wealth. A cavalry horse involves considerable expense in breeding, training, feeding, and equipping, and has very little productive use except as a mode of transport in battle. For this reason and because of their often decisive military role, the cavalry has typically been associated with high social status. This simple premise is reflected around the world and is as true in Afghanistan today as it was in the Shires of England a millennium ago.
The social status of the horse is also demonstrated in the national sport of Afghanistan which has changed little in the last thousand years. Buzkashi is played between two teams of horsemen, with ten players to a team in a stadium the size of a football pitch. The central object is a headless calf that weighs 150 pounds and has been soaked in water all night to make the hide tough. The origins of the game are lost in history, but some believe it was invented as a defence against the hordes of Genghis Khan who would sweep down onto an Afghan village and grab precious cattle at a full gallop. However, in order to play this national sport, you must own your own horses and be prepared to risk their wellbeing for sport. This simple assertion solidifies the status of the horse and its association with an elite part of Afghan society. Consequently, there is read across to deploying horses into Afghanistan as they will be revered. It is not too big a step to translate their reverence for horses into a perception that non-radicalised Afghanis may be less likely to harm a horse within their culture.
Costing. While the costs of establishing a horse Unit in Afghanistan is not inconsequential, the relative costings are minimal compared to that of PM vehicles, aviation fuel or the procurement cost of UAVs. The fixed costs for manpower, non-horse orientated specialist equipment, such as weapons and radios are small. The non-recurring cost of the purchase of horses and specialist horse equipment is again minimal. In rough orders of magnitude, it would cost in the first year to establish and run an equine Unit of 40 animals and 71 staff approximately £2.6 million. However, in the second and subsequent years this would fall to £2 million. The cost of a single CH47F helicopter is $32 million89 The cost of fuelling a single Support Helicopter for one year, based on 2hrs flying per day at a price of £39790 (this figure is hugely higher if priced at Camp Bastion – Ed.) per cubic metre of fuel, is approximately £750,000 per year. This makes the establishment and running of a mounted Unit comparably small especially when the majority of the cost is in soldier wages which are fixed no matter how they are employed.
Why it will not work. The UK Government, and by
86 Karachi horses are similar in breed to the Akhal-Teke breed that are the most suited to the terrain and climate of the Caucasus and Afghanistan steps.
87 Krasnaya Zvezda website, Moscow, 6th Feb 10.
88 American Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld’s Commencement address to the U.S. Air Force Academy dated 31st May 2006.
89 Global Security.org web page.
90 Price of CZ of F44 Avcat based on the average cost in North West Europe 18th May 2010 is £397.72.
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