Page 495 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
Op HERRICK 8
104 Military Working Dog Support Unit, set up from scratch after returning from Northern Ireland during August 2007 and deployed in the direction of two theatres of war – Iraq and Afghanistan – in March 2008.
It was a significant task to set up a new Unit in a fresh barracks, have kennels constructed, receive all equipment, vehicles and office related requirement as well as plan and train for two theatres of war at the same time. The task was enormous but managed well and completed to the satisfaction of all personnel.
The Chronology Overview of the first month of Op HERRICK 8 is extracted and printed below for information.35
By May 2008 the TMWDSU Mission was changed to reflect the changing nature of the conflict, the Unit Mission was at that time:
To provide Protection and Search support TACOM to the supported formation in order to enhance Force Protection to UK and assigned Force Elements deployed throughout the HERRICK Joint Operational Area.
Uses of Protection Dogs: The use of the Protection dog exceeded its normal remit and had proven successful on foot patrols. The MWD teams deployed with foot patrols provided much ‘intimate protection’ against the threat of suicide bombers approaching patrols, Med Caps, range clearance, Shura’s, GDA Patrols and as a credible visual deterrent.
One Company Commander (Coldstream Guards) from MSQ stated that:
“the locals are not afraid of GPMG on SF being fired at them, however, disperse at a rate of knots at the sight of the MWD teams.”
At that point they had not been utilised on a Manoeuvre Operating Group or conducted any form of Op. One Protection dog team was removed from Sangin DC due to lack of work and re-tasked to FOB Inkerman (the Ops WO made regular trips all over the AO and assessed the level of work each team undertook. He liaised with J5 plans and re assigned accordingly).36
Infantry Patrol (IP) Dogs: Commanders within 16 AA Bde made known their interest in the use of the IP Dog prior to Pre-Deployment Training (PDT). Not used since the Borneo Confrontation and Malayan Emergency, these dogs were re-clas- sified from Patrol and received extensive training to enable them to operate in Helmand Province, particularly in the Green Zone.
Pte Ben Holman RAVC was deployed to FOB Inkerman and his initial task was to patrol 1km from the FOB to provide early or advanced warning of any insurgents, while the Engineers cleared fields of view from around the FOB. The second IP dog was gainfully employed with 3 PARA patrolling and searching for insurgents in the fields full of tall maize that provided first-rate cover for enemy forces.
AES Dogs: An AES dog could have quite easily accompanied every unit on foot or vehicle patrol in Afghanistan. Few searches were planned, although the dog team was always brought into play to conduct some type of search, whether it was a compound, rummage or area search. Almost every vehicle encountered on patrol was
Serial
Date
Event
01
13 Mar 08
104 MWD Sp Unit arrive in Theatre
02
14 Mar 08
RSOI
03 15 Mar 08
RSOI
04
16 Mar 08
Routine Ops
05
17 Mar 08
1 x AES team into Kandahar, 1 AES team into Kabul
06
18 Mar 08
1 x AES 1 x PAT into FOB Jackson
07
19 Mar 08
ToA, between 102 MWD Sp Unit and 104 MWD Sp Unit
08
20 Mar 08
102 MWD Sp Unit depart theatre
09
21 Mar 08
1 x AES team into Musa Qal’eh (MSQ), 1 x AES team into Lashkar Gah
10
22 Mar 08
Ops WO 1 AES 2 IP into FOB Gibraltar
11
23 Mar 08
1 x PAT team into Musa Qal’eh
12
24 Mar 08
1 x PAT team into FOB Jackson
13 25 Mar 08
17 29 Mar 08
Routine Ops
Routine Ops
14
26 Mar 08
20 May 08
15
27 Mar 08
1xIPteamoutofFOB Gibraltar – handler injury (eye)
16
28 Mar 08
Routine Ops
18
30 Mar 08
Routine Ops
19
31 Mar 08
Ops WO 1 AES 1 IP out of FOB Gibraltar
35 Op HERRICK 8 Post Tour Report dated September 2007.
36 TMWDSU/J1 dated 3rd April 2008 by Captain Martyn Thompson RAVC.
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