1 SCOTS IN IRAQ
COMMANDING OFFICER’S SITREP – APR 08
As I predicted in last month’s SITREP April has been interesting, and has made all our activities prior to this look like a gentle jog! The committal of the 1 SCOTS BG back into Basra City, embedded and in direct support of the Iraqi Army, has opened a new chapter in the Iraq campaign, and to be at the forefront of this has been challenging, demanding, relentless and fascinating. It would not be inaccurate to say that as the Battalion looks towards its 2nd Birthday, it has truly come of age. All ranks have been tested fully, not just those at the sharp end of operations, but also those tireless workers in the back room enabling and supporting our activities in the city, with increasing demands, less manpower and considerable time pressures.
When I last wrote Prime Minister Maliki had arrived in the south, and had taken personal charge of Operation Charge of the Knights; the IA plan to rid Basra of the malign militia influence which has plagued the city over recent years. This was always something that would require an Iraqi solution, and a month on the omens are positive; the IA, supported by embedded Military Transition Teams (MiTTs) from the 1 SCOTS BG are largely in control of the city, the population has welcomed them, and the militia now appear to have fled, or laid down their arms. Cordon and search operations continue, and the haul so far has been impressive; more than 1000 mortar systems, 500 rockets, 200 improvised explosive devices, 1000kgs of explosives, a number of SAMs and other significant munitions. Without trying to overstate matters, these really are huge finds and represent a very significant reduction in capability for the militia. The challenge now will be in securing the gains made on the security line of operation, and accelerating progress on the economic development line.
The UK contribution has been relatively small but potent, based initially around 30 – 35 man MiTTs drawn primarily from Rhine and Mons Companies, and supported by Forward Air Controllers, who have provided direct combat support and advice to partnered IA units. The initial deployment into the city saw us partner with IA battalions, but over time we have rebalanced, focussing our efforts at the Brigade HQ level, where we can achieve most effective influence over the planning and execution of operations. Concurrently, the MiTTs work to provide long term conceptual development of the Brigade HQ staff. Living conditions have been austere, living out of our vehicles initially, before gradually developing ‘MiTT Compounds’ within our partner unit bases. We live, eat, train and fight with our IA counterparts – sharing the same hardships, the same risks and the same successes. It has been hard graft. However, tangible successes have been many, and I suspect that all will return home in a month’s time enormously proud of their achievements. I have certainly been immensely proud to command such an agile and responsive Battle Group – which has risen to this unique challenge with good humour, selfless commitment and a real sense of purpose.
Supporting these MiTTs, and themselves providing embedded support to the Basra Operations Centre (BOC) has been the BOC Ops Staff, a 60 man grouping drawn from across the BG based in the former Shatt Al Arab Hotel (SAAH). The SAAH was the former Basra City BG HQ back in 2005/06, before being handed over to the Iraqi Army. Conditions here were dreadful initially, probably worse than those with the MiTTs and, despite rigorous health and hygiene measures, we have lost small numbers of soldiers to the dreaded D&V. The BOC Ops Staff provide our city based Ops Room and armoured QRF as well as a forward based echelon for the MiTTs. It was here that one of our NCOs was badly injured by shrapnel, as sadly reported last month. I am pleased to say that he is well on the way to a full recovery.
Given the Battle Group’s well established links to GOC 14 (IA) Division, it was logical that I formed a mobile Divisional HQ MiTT to embed with the GOC at his Tac HQ in the city, which has provided an additional challenge to the BG, but has again provided considerable coherence to the MiTT concept. Concurrently, we have embedded a reinforced Staff MiTT at the Main HQ of 14 Division, from where I now write this SITREP, waiting to conduct joint planning for the next Divisional operation in the north of the city. From a rear based team of 5 staff a month ago, we now have a MiTT of some 20 staff embedded with all functional branches of the Divisional HQ, providing planning support and advice across the HQ. Again, a fascinating job.
Whilst IA training at the DTC inevitably halted at the beginning of Operation Charge of the Knights, it has restarted this week with a vengeance. The catastrophic failure of a newly formed brigade in the first week of operations, largely as a result of insufficient training and experience, has reinforced the urgent need for comprehensive training. A decidedly ad hoc training team drawn from across MND(SE), under OC Mons Company, is now putting some 450 soldiers a week through re-training, in order to regenerate this brigade rapidly. This will keep the DTC busy until the end of tour.
Beyond the Battle Group, the Divisional Surveillance Company has fully supported our activities, with a number of teams now operating with us inside Basra, whilst our Minden Contingent attached to 1st Bn Scots Gds has been kept busy with a number of tasks on the fringes of Basra.
As we draw towards the end of our tour, and draw breath after the past month, our efforts are now switching to ensure that our successors are set up for long term success. The rather austere, initially temporary arrangements of the past month now need to be secured, and further life support and engineering work is required across our new locations before we can hand over with a degree of pride. I suspect that it will be another hard charging month for all, but all understand the requirement to set the conditions for long term success.
Our return to Edinburgh will be spread over about 10 days. On return, we will conduct a number of homecoming parades – company parades in Hamilton, Dumfries and Musselburgh and a Battalion Parade in Edinburgh from Holyrood Palace to the Castle Esplanade. We will then take a period of well earned leave before returning refreshed to assume the duties of HM Royal Guard at Balmoral and the Edinburgh Military Tattoo Support Company.