A Battlefield Tourist

Convoy Clearance Through Helmand Largest Op Since WWII

Sep 2 at 12:12pm by David Tate

The heavy fighting that erupted in northern Helmand Province during the last week in August was touched off by a bold move by allied forces to haul turbine equipment, weighing some 150 tons, up the Helmand River Valley and through Taliban held territory.

The BBC reports the clearing operation for the 100 vehicle convoy was the largest British operation of its kind since World War II and was one of the largest operations in the current war in Afghanistan.

The destination of the convoy:  The Kajaki Dam. When finished, the dam project will bring power to more than a million people. The project has been a goal of the British Army for the past three years and has been under repair since 2004. British troops stationed at the dam continue to fend off attacks, and have for years. The only way to Kajaki Dam is by helicopter, until the early morning hours of September 2 when the convoy arrived.

In all, more than 3,600 British, Afghan, Canadian, American, Australian and Danish troops were involved. Around the clock air support was provided by the French, British, Dutch and Americans.

The convoy’s movement was spearheaded by hundreds of allied special forces who poured into the Helmand River Valley hunting the Taliban in their path. The US reported more than 220 Taliban fighters killed during the operation which included dozens of engagements involving small arms, and close air support.  Troops also uncovered large amounts of weapons which included stockpiles of chemicals used in making explosives (ammonium nitrate).

The fighting, which started August 25, continued for five days even though the route of the convoy was taken up a less used desert road, than the main road that follows the Helmand River.

No allied casualties were reported.