Page 478 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
in some ways but sadly lacking in others, and therefore identified what should and what must not happen on future deployments.17
WO2 Dave Franklin travelled to Afghanistan and completed a VSET Advisory Visit from 16th – 17th August 200318 to provide advice on the formation of a Specialist Dog section at Camp Souter, Kabul. From the resultant report came several requirements: The primary requirement was the provision of Vehicle Search (VS) Dog Teams to search LEC vehicles entering Camp Souter during normal working hours; primarily at peak times. A secondary requirement was also identified which was to provide search dog cover during planned searches in the AOR. These searches would fall within the role capabilities of an Arms and Explosives Search (AES) Dog Team. The report covered all aspects for the development of a dog section in Kabul and the report concluded that: “...the requirements for MWDs in the theatre was clearly justified and the correct use of VS and AES dogs would greatly enhance BRITFOR capability. Once authority had been granted to establish this commitment, the recommendation made at Annex A should be met.”
It was directed by PJHQ, in late October 2003, that the Canine Division or Dog School was to deploy two Search dogs and handlers to support UK operations in Kabul to support the BRITFOR Mission: “Mission is to maintain a secure environment, creating conditions for progress and overall transition to civilian authority.”
Sgt Andy Strange and Cpl Matt Jones were selected to deploy with their Search dogs. However, Sgt Strange was deployed from Cyprus! With OPTAG training completed and with the assistance of the Dog School, the teams had all their orders and equipment and were ready to deploy.
On 11th December 2003, after the customary delays, the handlers boarded their flight from RAF Lyneham heading for a fuelling point in Bucharest. It was there Sgt Strange’s AES dog, “Jakey”, who had been flown in from Cyprus, was reunited with his handler. As Jakey was not part of the Pet Travel Scheme, he was unable to connect with a flight in the UK and consequently had to be flown out of Romania where a connection was made with the RAF flight as it refuelled in Bucharest.
As was later recalled in an issue of Chiron Calling: “Most of our equipment, including the field kennels, had been sent out on an earlier flight five
days prior to our deployment, but ‘unservicea- bility’ of the aircraft meant that it was all sitting on the tarmac alongside the expectant handlers in Bucharest! After some quick thinking and diplomacy by Sgt Strange all our equipment was loaded onto the handlers’ aircraft and, after yet another delay, travelled with them to Kabul.”
The weather proved challenging: “The weather was extremely cold, and even though most people knew we were coming, it took about three days to get the compound built. With the kennels in good order the dogs started to acclimatise to the high altitude. Capability demonstrations were given by the first handlers in this deployment ensuring all understood the correct way to use the dog teams. The handler procured some local explosives, PE3A or ‘black putty’ and after just five days in theatre the dogs were trained on local explosives, licensed, and ready for tasking by HQ BRITFOR.” Immediately tasks started to come in thick and fast, comprising of Vehicle Check Points (VCPs), patrols, house searches, and camp security tasks.
Kabul itself was a very war-torn environment due, initially, to the Russian occupation from 1979 to 1989, and then the Taliban regime up until 2002. Squalor was apparent at every corner, with dirt and rubbish littered all around the streets. The able dog handlers quickly became accustomed to the areas where they would be frequently deployed; predominant areas included the Russian flats, the Olympic Stadium, and all the security bases and Embassies. The areas were extensive and varied.
“The majority of our taskings were VCPs, in support of Gurkha’s from 2nd Royal Gurkha Rifles and elements of reservists from the Devon and Dorsets, and Royal Gloucester, Berkshire and Wiltshire Battalions. We found the majority of locals were friendly, but inquisitive when it came to the dogs.” The handlers were immediately embroiled in the conflict as enemy forces frequently attempted to disrupt ISAF and BRITFOR operations with the use of rockets, Remote Control Improvised Explosive Device (RCIED), Vehicle Borne IED (VBIED), grenade attacks and suicide bombers. Near to Camp Souter during December (2003), a suicide bomber approached and detonated a device killing him and four local policemen. Sadly, suicide attacks became commonplace, notably on the main supply routes. Sgt Strange and Cpl Jones operationally encountered differing views of the locals and the work they conducted, one commented: “some people are inquisitive, some were scared, but the
17 EDD Deployment Report by LCpl Pauline Smith RAVC Op FINGAL March 2002 and oral testimony 14th February 2021.
18 VSET Officer Report HQ BRITFOR Afghanistan August 2003.
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