Page 43 - ABA Salvoes 1999-2024

Brown, the BSM, was moved out of BRF HQ and into Bde HQ as an ISTAR watchkeeper, thereby denuding BRF HQ of an OS advisor.
Sgt Cole’s team was engaged within minutes of touching down, resulting in fire missions being ordered and 155mm, MAMBA and AH being employed to silence the Iraqi guns. As the advance north proceeded, the Bde HQ moved up to Az Zubayr naval base. Sgt Cole’s FST was split and deployed to cover the northern bank of the KAA from Al Faw to UMM Qasar Port where they identified a D30 artillery position and a bunker complex. Employing artillery and CAS the Iraqi guns were destroyed and the position neutralised. Thereafter all the FSTs participated in Op JAMES, the advance into Abu Al Khasib and onwards to the Eastern outskirts of Basrah.
Bdr Law, LBdr Clarke and Gnr Smith were part of BRF tasked with conducting an assault to capture Sennen Bridge to the south of Abu Al Khasib, which was required for the Bde’s follow-on advance. At approximately 01:00 hrs all was ready, with a rolling barrage planned to cover the assault to the objective. Artillery fire smashed the Iraqicheckpointjustshortoftheobjectiveandthesmall assault force cleared it, advancing under small arms fire to the bridge itself. Iraqi positions were engaged with small arms fire, UGL and Rifle launched grenades forced the remaining enemy to flee, leaving the bridge secured. Meanwhile, D Coy of 42 Cdo had found themselves ambushed, with the lead Troop separated and fixed and in significant risk of being outflanked by a sizable enemy force. At significant risk to himself and showing immense courage, leadership and bravery, Sgt Godley led his team and some Royal Marines forward from the Company location to link up with the ambushed troop, coordinating mortars and artillery whilst under intense small arms fire, to enable it to extract.
Upon retasking, 148 Bty FSTs participated in the assault to seize Saddam’s Palace in Basrah, the snatching of Baath party members, the conduct of riverine Ops with US Navy Special Warfare teams on the Shaat Al Arab waterway and provided ISTAR screens to protect RM Cdo positions. On completion of major combat operations, the FSTs regrouped as a Bty, which had not been together since leaving the UK in early January. The Bty was allocated its own sector within the Regimental AO and commenced a detailed clearance of the Northern Bank of the Shaat Al Arab waterway, conducting VCPs and patrols to dominate the Bty AO. In a coordinated helicopter deployment, a poignant and moving memorial service was held at the helicopter crash site in Kuwait, involving all ranks of the Bty, the MAB 6 bag-pipe playing padre and Maj Francis, the Regimental Families Officer. The somber occasion provided a much-needed opportunity to pay deepest respects to Les, Ian and Welly and our BRF brothers in arms. Upon completion, the Battery returned to their patrolling task for a few more days before returning to the Naval Base north of UMM QASAR and finally the UK on 10 May 2003.
Throughout the deployment the BK and his small Rear Operations Group had demonstrated absolute commitment, supporting all the families through extremely testing and demanding times and developing a decompression period, which was ahead of its time. Who can forget parachuting into the Mediterranean off Gibraltar among schools of dolphins? Once again, the outstanding training and versatility of the Battery was proven, with NGAs deploying straight into FSTs off their NGA course. Physical and moral strength, courage, professionalism, and commando spirit were shown by all and in spades and in so doing maintained the fine reputation of the men of Meiktila.
FSTs conducting vehicle patrols in the Bty Area of Operations
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