Page 505 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
At the time, Canine Division at the DAC continued to have a proactive approach to this – the main focus being on Specialist dog courses. Examples of modified training included the carrying of more weight by handlers, carriage of weapons on later searches, training with MWDs in Afghan compounds at Thetford, walking teams to search areas, the regular working of MWDs with simple buried hides, the laying of non-me- tallic hides. Also, integration with user units thereby enhancing TTPs and drills that provided the handler with a better understanding of what to expect in FOBs, and further battle inoculation at all stages of training with the introduction of a crow scarer and sound system to try and ensure MWDs were more attuned to loud noises.
Op HERRICK 10
Op HERRICK 10 commenced for 101 MWD Sp Unit from Aldershot with twenty-six handlers and twelve MWDs with a further two handlers joining the main body a little later. The tour ran from 13th March until October 2009.
Op HERRICK 10, as previously covered, saw – on 28th July – the first HASD teams licensed in theatre.
A comprehensive Post Operational Tour Report51 outlined:
“the Victim Operated (VO) IED threat remains potent and Battlegroups (BGs) are increasingly looking for a search capability to counter the Low Metal Content (LMC) IEDs. This has resulted in TMWDSU Ops SNCO working hard with the existing AES capability to enhance the detection of buried devices in a more controlled search pattern. Development continues of the HASD and with two dogs going ‘live’, work is needed to prove this capability and refine TTPs. The HASD capability is needed in theatre as a priority and to be available for the BG BARMA teams to help improve the detection rates of LMC IEDS.”
Protection Dogs were used effectively and in addition to providing patrolling sentries at MOBs and FOBs, they also provided high profile protection to Shura sites and on a number of occasions accompanied foot patrols in the upper Sangin Valley and Musa Qal’eh to good effect.
Op HERRICK 10 also saw the introduction of four Royal Air Force Police (RAFP) Dog handlers who were OPCON TMWDSU. The RAFP MWDs provided an additional capability on the ground in BSN.
AES MWDs were in high demand across the AO to assist with the C-IED battle, despite the
51 101MWD/G3/3 dated 30th October 2009 by Captain Matt D W Clark RAVC.
AES having to work behind the BARMA teams due to the VO threat. The AES dog continued to offer a level of reassurance to commanders in both reactive and deliberate Search operations and convoy’s logistic patrols. The AES MWD was successful and notable finds were uncovered.
As for VS dogs, they were now mainly employed in support of Force Protection (FP) tasks at the Main Entrance Point (MEP) to BSN JOB. They also supported a number of other FP tasks as part of the FOB infra-structure development plan across the TF AO. With the unprecedented increase in the numbers of vehicles going through Bastion's Main Entry Point, there was little opportunity to support deliberate operations in the form of Vehicle Check Points (VCPs).
A summary of tasks for the period September 2008 – March 2009:
AES completed: 628 tasks, 7,507 Op hours, 3324 vehicles searched and 41 finds. VS completed: 789 tasks, 4,149 Op hours, 30,405 vehicles searched and 2 finds. Protection completed: 852 tasks, 2,946 Op hours and had one find. HASD completed: 2,300 tasks, 14,989 Op hours with no recorded finds.
It became apparent throughout Op H 10, that as information about HASD filtered through to the BGs, the capability was required immediately. The threat from LMC IEDs was ever-growing and the current AES MWD was not designed for ground scenting of buried kit and the search pattern was not acceptable to Victim Operated threats. A capability such as the HASD, that operated in front of BARMA in a controlled method and be available for the BGs (not exclusively for JF EOD use), was desperately required.
The HASD opportunity was very much seen as an exciting opportunity to save a great number of lives and to be a key asset in the CIED battle. It was requested that high priority be given to furthering this capability or adapting the AES dogs.
The recent move to the new kennels in BSN2 was already raising concerns regarding a potential noise issue. Although appropriate in design, the downside was that it was located in the middle of the majority of TFH troop accommodation. There was another concern; the loss of the current training areas was destined to severely impact on the operational capability if not relocated.
Initial work commenced to relocate TMWDSU into the proposed BSN 3 development became a key project through Op HERRICK 11. Moving TMWDSU into BSN 3 meant being co-located with the C-IED TF and SF which both utilised MWDs.
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