Hellfire

INDEX

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Entries in italics indicate maps, photographs or illustrations.

EM indicates Ed Macy.

ABFAC (Airborne Forward Air Controller) 68-71

Afghan National Army (ANA) 145, 146, 168, 333

Afghan National Police (ANP) 145, 146, 168, 179, 188, 201, 299-300, 301, 333, 338, 339, 363

Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) 168, 339, 344

Afghanistan:

British Army bases in see under individual base name

British Army objectives in 145-7

British Army operations in see under individual operation name

climate 157, 165-6, 211, 214, 215, 357

map of xiii

narcotics trade within 146, 147, 227, 333, 392

reconstruction of 145-6, 147, 154, 392

smell of 157, 158, 159

see also under individual area and place name

air support 200, 233, 341

A-10 166, 234, 236

Apache see Apache WAH-64D

B1B 4, 154, 166, 253, 254, 260, 355, 360, 362

B-2 95

C-17 161, 162

C-130 95, 156, 177

Chinook, CH-47 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11, 97, 129, 130, 132, 147, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 181, 183, 194, 195, 196-7, 199, 200, 202, 203, 212, 226, 253, 255, 258, 259, 260, 265, 290, 292, 293, 295, 296, 298, 299, 300, 330, 333, 338, 340, 341, 345, 346

Close Air Support (CAS) 324, 341, 342

Gazelle 33, 36, 37, 38, 46, 47, 51, 53, 55, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62-3, 64, 65, 68, 70, 76, 77, 79, 80, 81, 85, 89, 90, 91, 97, 118, 120, 147

Harrier 166, 269, 286, 355

Intimate Support 325, 341, 370

Lockheed T-33 Shooting Stars 69, 70, 71-2, 73, 74

Lynx 4, 46, 62, 79, 83, 84, 86-7, 89, 90, 91, 96, 130, 198, 289

Aliu Za’I 201

Al-Qaeda 104, 146

Al-Sadr, Muqtada 128

anti-aircraft guns/gunners xx, 13-16, 90, 91, 132-3, 184, 298-31, 337, 392

Apache AH64A 46-8, 89, 103-4, 119

Apache AH64D 89

Apache WAH-64D:

air-conditioning 106, 197, 202, 218, 309, 351, 366, 381

auxiliary power unit (APU) 115, 116, 197, 198, 201, 212, 213, 242, 263, 264, 268, 270, 286, 350, 351

‘bag’ flying in 117, 120-5, 136, 190

Boresight Reticule Unit (BRU) 100, 116

cannon, 30mm Hughes M230

Automatic Chain gun 10, 11, 12, 106-7, 162, 203, 218, 238, 239, 240, 248, 277, 278, 281-2, 283, 312, 315, 325, 360, 364, 385

Counter Measures Dispensing System (CMDS) 224-5, 228

CRV7 rocket 107, 109, 162

Data Transfer Cartridge (DTC) 264

Direct View Optics (DVO) 102

DTV camera 102, 103, 112, 177, 178, 378, 379, 380

‘dynamic harmonisation’ 162, 163-4, 266, 346, 364

effect on role of helicopters in British Army 88-9

EM first launches 137-43

engines, Rolls-Royce 66, 114, 116, 163, 223

EW self-protection capabilities 94-6, 224-5, 228

Fire Control Radar (FCR) 8, 101, 103, 106, 116, 226-7, 231, 309, 353

flares 92, 254, 263

Flechette 107, 108-9, 111, 263, 266, 337, 380-1, 386

Flight Reference Cards 265

Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) system 102, 103, 112, 119-20, 121, 268, 294, 302, 323, 357, 358, 378, 379, 380

fuel load 212, 217, 219, 225, 229, 230, 232, 250, 251-2, 327, 371, 388

Head-Mounted Display (HMD) 248, 377

HEDP rounds 106-7, 240, 248, 359, 383, 388

Helicopter Integrated Defensive Aids Systems (HIDAS) 94, 95, 132, 364

High Explosive Incendiary Semi-Armour Piercing (HEISAP) 107, 108, 111, 263, 382, 383, 386, 388

Hellfire missile see Hellfire missile

IDM – Improved Data Modem 350, 353, 369

Image Auto-Track (IAT) 142, 320, 321, 322

Improved Extended Forward Avionics Bay (IEFAB) 269

inspection of, pre-flight 114-15

ISTAR 100

Laser Warning Receiver System (LWRS) 94-5

lift off 219-21

loading/starting 209-11, 212-19

Longbow radar 89, 101, 109, 163, 226, 231, 269, 317

M261 rocket launchers 107

MAWS 94

MOD buy 46, 47, 66

monocle display 100, 115, 116, 119-20, 121, 126, 220, 225, 231, 305, 310, 329, 377, 384

Multi-Purpose Display (MPD) 7, 9, 47, 48, 95, 101, 103, 112, 119, 125, 126, 177, 225, 226, 227, 229, 231, 237, 238, 240, 244, 248, 265, 268, 276, 278, 314, 320, 351, 354, 360, 379, 381

Multi-Purpose-Sub-Munition (MPSM) 107-8, 111

ORT (Optical Relay Tube) 47-8, 102, 103, 106, 112, 127, 141, 353, 389, 390

Pilot’s Night Vision System (PNVS) 100, 121, 124, 134, 213, 298, 300, 379, 386

Pinvis (TADS thermal image) 101, 102, 121

port view xxiv-xxv

Power Margin Indicator 230

preliminary flight checks 115

press and 171

Qualified Helicopter Instructor (QHI) 92

radios 215-16, 217, 264, 265, 269, 299, 366, 372

RWR receivers 94

secure datalink 101

simulator 120, 125-7, 128

size of 114

stabilator 264, 305

starboard view xxvi-xxvii

survivability of 127

tail wheel 263-4

Target Acquisition and Designation Sight (TADS) 7, 9, 10, 11, 100, 101, 102, 103, 106, 109, 112, 141, 152, 169, 175, 176, 180, 213, 235, 237, 238, 248, 255, 268, 274, 276, 277, 278, 283, 290, 304, 306-7, 310, 314, 315, 316, 320, 322, 323, 328, 352, 368, 369, 378, 379, 380, 381, 382, 387, 394

torque 219, 220, 222, 223, 224, 227

training course, British Army 98-130

UFD (Up Front Display) 211, 220

Area of Responsibility (AOR) xv, 131, 187, 199, 286, 299

Arming and Loading Point Commander 209

armoured vehicles:

armoured personnel carriers (APCs) 38

light armoured vehicles (LAVs) 353

Pinzgauer 201, 332

Scimitar 332, 353

Spartan 332

Striker armoured fighting vehicle 75

WMIKs 178, 180, 195, 201, 332, 366

Augustus, Operation 257

‘baffles’ 92

Baxter, Mick 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41

Bell Cobra 47, 88, 89

Benzie, Nichol 194, 195, 197, 291, 293

Bin Laden, Osama 131

Blair, Tony 104, 145, 146

blue-on-blue (friendly fire incident) 162, 164

BO105 (helicopter) 89

Bonn, Dickie 192, 194, 198, 204, 205, 290, 292

Bosnia 104

British Army:

Afghanistan bases see under

individual base name

Afghanistan objectives 145-7

Afghanistan operations see under individual operation name

Aldershot base, Hampshire 13-22

Catterick Camp, Yorkshire 149-50

Fremington Camp, Devon 33-41

Middle Wallop base, Hampshire 26-32, 42-54, 98, 99, 105-12, 113-30, 133, 262 Northern

Ireland 55-66

Rules of Engagement (ROE) 3, 8, 107, 165-71, 181, 182, 255, 275, 287, 288, 290, 308, 324, 329, 333, 335, 372

Training Unit Suffield (BATUS), Alberta, Canada 67-86, 234

units see British Army units

British Army units:

Army Air Corps (AAC) xxviii, 3, 25, 26, 55, 198, 292, 336

5 Regiment 55-66

9 Regiment 79, 86, 98

656 Squadron xxviii, 3, 55-66, 86, 96, 105, 152, 157, 193, 198, 200, 202, 203, 205, 206, 211, 212, 215, 217, 219, 232, 242, 244, 251, 258, 293, 344, 349, 350, 351, 364, 387

664 Squadron 62, 86, 149-50, 347, 392

Afghanistan operations see under individual location and operation name

air combat instruction 90-1

Apache training course and selection process 86-7, 88, 98-125

Apache, acquires 66

deployment to Afghanistan 130, 131-3, 143-60

exercises/training, pre-Afghanistan 125-9, 133-43

Northern Ireland 55-66, 147, 175, 188, 237, 333, 334, 374, 377

pilot training 26-55

Special Forces Squadron 62, 63, 335

1 Para 45

2 Para 14, 22, 24-6, 34, 37, 45, 375

3 Para 1, 2, 45, 130, 132, 168, 171, 186, 188, 189, 191, 193, 194, 195, 199, 207, 208, 212, 216, 217, 241, 242, 253, 255, 256, 258, 259, 260, 332, 333, 339, 345, 353, 357, 366, 368, 392

A Company 1, 203, 206, 250

B Company 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 358, 360, 361, 363, 364, 369, 373, 388

D Company 201, 341, 342, 343, 344, 346, 361, 369, 388

Mortar Platoon 338, 346

Patrols Platoon 201, 202, 203, 212, 215, 240, 241, 338, 340, 341, 344, 345, 349, 361, 369

16 Air Assault Brigade 67, 129, 130, 132, 145, 147, 332, 392

Pathfinders Platoon 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 332, 333, 334, 338, 339, 343, 369

AMTAT (Air Manoeuvres Training and Advisory Team) 138-43

Gurkhas 306

Helmand Reaction Force (HRF) 191, 199, 206, 215, 258, 261, 266, 338, 351 Household Cavalry 334

Incident Response Team (IRT) 191, 199, 206, 215, 258, 261, 265, 266, 338, 351

Joint Helicopter Force (Afghanistan) (JHF (A)) 3, 130, 162, 188, 189, 327, 336

Royal Artillery 13, 14

Royal Corps of Transport 199

Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 27

Royal Irish 339, 344

Royal Marine

3 Brigade Air Squadron (3BAS) 90

Commando 31

Royal Military Police (RMP) 366

SAS 16, 17, 21, 24, 25, 32, 34, 66, 67, 68-9, 70, 87

Broken Arrow (Now Zad operation) xix, 258, 259, 260-1, 267-330

B-2 bomber 95

Bush, George W. 104, 106

C-17 Globemaster 161, 162

C-130 Hercules 95, 156, 177

Camp Bastion 1-5, 145, 151, 161, 173, 176, 181, 183, 186, 189, 190-200, 201, 202, 203, 225, 230, 239, 251, 257, 258, 260, 290, 298, 328, 329, 335, 336, 341, 344, 346, 364, 387, 391

casevac helicopter insertion 1-2, 259, 294

Catterick Camp 149-50

‘chaff’ launchers 91 Chinook, CH-47 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11, 97, 129, 130, 132, 147, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 181, 183, 194, 195, 196-7, 199, 200, 202, 203, 212, 226, 253, 255, 258, 259, 260, 265, 290, 292, 293, 295, 296, 298, 299, 300, 330, 333, 338, 340, 341, 345, 346

Chinthe Lines 336

Close Air Support (CAS) 324, 341, 342

Cobra Venom 47

Combined Air Ground (CAG) frequencies 232

Common Tactical Air Frequency (CTAF) 6, 205, 232, 234

Danish troops 333, 339, 344, 369, 373

Dasht-e-Margo (Desert of Death) 131-2, 143, 176, 177, 230

Daz, Operation 266

De Havilland Chipmunk T10 training aircraft (‘Chippies’) 28, 33

Desert Eagle, Exercise 133, 262

dust landings 133-7, 183-6, 190

‘dynamic harmonisation’ 162, 163-4, 266, 346, 364

EA-6B Prowler 93, 95-6

Edgecombe, Colonel Greville 31

Emily 144, 145, 147-9, 154, 155, 160, 257, 266

Eurocopter Tiger 47, 89

FAC (Forward Air Controller) 68-71, 102, 139, 141, 142, 234, 235

Falklands War 24, 45, 108, 332

Farrar-Hockley, General 52

Felton, Lieutenant Colonel 3, 98, 129, 165, 288

FIBUA (Fighting In a Built-Up Area) 241

FOB Robinson 261

foot multiples, supporting 56-66

Fremington Camp, Devon 33-41

GAFA (Great Afghan Fuck All) 230

Gazelle 33, 36, 37, 38, 46, 47, 51, 53, 55, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62-3, 64, 65, 68, 70, 76, 77, 79, 80, 81, 85, 89, 90, 91, 97, 118, 120, 147

Gereshk 145, 261

glossary 397-410

Grau, Lester W. 168

Green Zone 179, 180, 181, 194-5, 235, 281, 292, 302, 304, 305, 311, 312, 316, 334, 338, 340, 342, 343, 344, 345, 351, 352, 353, 356, 358, 362, 363, 364, 365, 373, 375, 376, 387

Gulf War, First 89, 103-4

Hardened Aircraft Landing Strip (HALS) 265-8, 269, 351, 364

helicopters see under individual helicopter name

Hellfire missile, AGM-114 5, 347, 393

AA guns and 315, 316, 319, 320, 322, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328, 329, 334, 392

appearance of 262-3

EM fires 315, 316, 319, 320, 322, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328, 329, 334, 392

firing 111

firing close to friendly troops 325

LOAL Mode 110, 111, 112, 138

LOBL Mode 110-11, 138

Radio Frequency (RF) 109-10

ROE and 325

Semi-Active Laser (SAL) 109, 110, 111

warheads 110, 264

Helmand province xiv, 131, 152, 179, 199, 229, 332, 334 see also under individual area and place name

Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) 145

Helmand River 6, 146, 176

Hezb-I Islami Gulbuddin (HIG) 146, 166

Highway Zero One 177-9, 230, 231

HMS Ocean 129

IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) 343, 355, 358, 359, 361, 366, 368, 370

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) 146

Intimate Support 325, 341, 370

IRA 55, 60, 65, 375, 376

Iraq 106, 112, 128, 129, 147

ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance,

Target Acquisition and

Reconnaissance) 100

Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) 95, 154, 362

JTAC (Joint Terminal Attack Controller) 4, 5, 6, 8, 70, 153, 187, 195, 202, 234, 238, 243, 244, 249, 272, 275, 276, 278, 279, 280, 283, 286, 288, 299, 302, 316, 317, 323, 324, 328-9, 334, 345, 346, 361

Jugroom Fort 395

Kabul 155-6, 157, 177

Kajaki 261

Kandahar 153, 157-9, 161-74, 173, 174, 289, 298, 347

Kandahar Airfield (KAF) 151-2, 158, 161-74, 173, 174, 177, 186, 230, 269, 298, 334, 350

Karzai, Hammid 128, 155, 287, 288

Keogh, Captain Andy 148, 149

Kosovo 67

Lashkar Gah 145, 173, 175, 178, 260, 370

Leggett, Emily 336

Lockheed T-33 Shooting Stars 69, 70, 71-2, 73, 74

Lynx helicopter 4, 46, 62, 79, 83, 84, 86-7, 89, 90, 91, 96, 130, 198, 289

M25 wadi 301

Macy, Ed:

Afghanistan, arrival in 155-60

Air Combat Tactics Instructor’s (ACTI) Course 88, 89, 305

Aircraft Commanders Course 63

anti-aircraft gunner, trains as 13-16, 133, 182

Apache training course 98-130

Apache, first sits in 46-8

Army Air Corps, applies for 25-6

bike accident 16-22, 25

childhood 23-4

engineering apprentice 24

EW foundation course 92-6

exercises in Apache 128-30

family 23, 24, 144, 145, 147-9 see also Emily

Northern Ireland 55-65, 147, 175, 188, 237, 333, 334, 374, 377

operations and exercises see under operation and location name

Paras 13-16, 21, 22, 24-6, 27, 28

pilot, trains as 26-54

returns home from Afghanistan 392-3, 395

SAS, wish to join 16, 17, 21, 24, 25, 32, 66, 87

school 24

Squadron Weapons Officer 128, 137, 149, 161, 168-9, 325-6, 393

maps:

Afghanistan xiii

area of responsibility xv

Helmand province xiv

Musa Qa’leh: Operation Snakebite xxii

Musa Qa’leh: The Sniper Team xxiii

Now Zad: Broken Arrow xix

Now Zad: The Anti-Aircraft Gunner xx

Operation Mutay xviii

Mason, Captain Paul 99, 104, 106, 112

Middle Wallop, Hampshire 26-32, 42-54, 98, 99, 105-12, 113-30, 133, 262

Mil Mi-24 Hind 88, 91

Milosevic, Slobodan 67, 69

Ministry of Defence 46, 47, 66, 162, 326, 327, 336, 337

Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS) 92

missiles:

Hellfire 5, 109-10, 262-3, 266, 315, 316, 319, 320, 322, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328, 329, 334, 347, 392, 393

Javelin anti-tank 4

Milan anti-tank missiles 79

Stinger missile 94

surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) 94, 126, 132, 195, 224, 228, 232, 253, 254, 256, 331, 371, 372

Tube-launched Optically-tracked Wire-guided (TOW) missiles 46

Muhammad, Haji 195, 201

Musa Qa’leh 173, 181, 258, 260, 334, 397, 351, 353, 361, 366, 373, 391

Operation Snakebite xxii, 337, 338-90, 391

Pathfinders in 332, 333, 334

sniper team xxiii, 368-90, 391

Mutay, Operation xvii, xviii, 191, 192, 201-56, 264, 269, 270, 274, 341, 347, 350

NATO 89, 147, 152, 153, 155, 174

night vision goggles (NVGs) 261, 262, 296, 307

Northern Ireland 55-65, 147, 175, 188, 237, 333, 334, 374, 377

Now Zad 173, 177, 178, 187, 188, 190, 192, 193, 194, 195, 198, 199, 333, 364, 392

anti-aircraft gunner in xx, 298-31, 337, 392

Broken Arrow xix, 258, 259, 260-1, 267-330

District Centre 178, 179, 180, 195, 258, 272, 273, 274, 288, 320

Operation Mutay 190, 191, 192, 193, 198, 199, 201-56

the Shrine 179, 181, 259, 272, 274, 275, 278, 280, 288, 289, 292, 293, 296, 300, 317, 319

Omar, Mullah 146, 153, 154

Pakistan 174, 339

Palmer, Mr 26-7, 31, 42, 43-4, 45-6, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 66, 90

Pike, Major Will 3, 202, 234

Pinzgauer 201, 332

Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) 90, 91, 92, 94

RAF (Royal Air Force) 42, 90, 92-6, 98, 112, 129, 157, 167, 174, 292, 305, 331, 391

Reid, John 132, 154

Restricted Operating Zones (ROZs) 187

Rex, Dan 299, 347, 370

Rooivalk 47

Rules of Engagement (ROE), British Army 3, 8, 107, 165-71, 181, 182, 255, 275, 287, 288, 290, 308, 324, 329, 333, 335, 372

Sangin:

3 Para in 1-12, 258, 259, 261

‘Macy House’ 2, 3, 6, 7, 11

map of xvi

re-supply operation 333-4

Scimitar 332, 353

SFOR (Stabilisation Force) 104

Snakebite, Operation xxii, 337, 338-90, 391

snipers:

in Afghanistan xxiii, 11, 2, 332, 344, 361, 368-90, 391

in Northern Ireland 57, 61, 64, 65, 113

Spartan 332

Striker armoured fighting vehicle 75

Supervisory Forward Air Controller (SupFAC) 92, 148, 149, 198-9, 276, 329

Tactical Operations Cell (TOR) 187

Taliban 128, 145, 232, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 247, 249, 251, 255, 270, 271, 354, 355, 358, 365, 368, 369, 370, 374, 385, 391, 392

ANA/ANP and 146

anti-aircraft (AA) guns 298-31, 392

fighting methods 165, 169

Green Zones and 180

helicopters, approach toward

Allied 2, 12, 153, 258

IEDs 343, 355, 358, 359, 361, 366, 368, 370

informers 298

Musa Qa’leh 337, 340, 341, 342, 343, 344, 347

Now Zad 178, 180, 203, 204, 205, 274-5, 276, 278, 279, 282, 287, 288, 289, 291, 293, 294, 297, 300, 301, 308, 329, 330, 331, 332

prisoners, treatment of 106

Sangin siege 1-12, 259

snipers 332, 344, 368-90, 391

suicide attacks 153-4

transport 229

weapons 4, 33, 128, 132, 152, 153, 159, 165, 168, 169, 196, 281, 330-1, 335, 338, 343, 344, 369, 371, 372, 374, 380 see also weapons and ammunition

Thompson, Lieutenant Colonel Iain 79, 80, 81-2, 84-5, 86, 96

Thumrait Airfield, Oman 133-43, 234, 324

Tootal, Lieutenant Colonel Stuart 2, 3, 186-7, 194, 234, 241, 296, 337, 339, 357, 359

United Nations 146, 147, 155

War on Terror 104 see also under individual conflict region

Wawn, Andy 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 83, 393

weapons and ammunition:

1BIT 15

50 cal machine guns 4

105mm light guns 4

AK-47 128, 168, 380

Apache helicopter weapons see Apache WAH-64D

anti-aircraft guns (AA) 90, 91, 132-3, 298-31, 392

Chinese 107mm rockets 4, 335, 338, 369

general purpose machine guns (GPMGs) 13, 14, 178

heavy machine guns (HMGs) 132

IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) 343, 355, 358, 359, 361, 366, 368, 370

Javelin anti-tank missiles 4

machine guns (MGs) 132, 334

man-portable, shoulder-launched air defence systems (ManPADS) 94, 132, 176, 253, 254

Milan anti-tank missiles 79

mines 343, 355, 361, 368

mortars 4, 7, 79, 167, 180, 181, 261, 292, 295, 318, 332, 340, 341, 344, 345, 346, 355, 362, 363, 369

recoilless rifles 4, 333

rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) 4, 128, 132, 152, 153, 159, 165, 194, 281, 330-1, 343, 344, 369, 371, 372, 374, 380

small arms (SAs) 132, 165, 332, 344

Stinger missile 94

surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) 94, 126, 132, 195, 224, 228, 232, 253, 254, 256, 331, 371, 372

Tube-launched Optically-tracked Wire-guided (TOW) missiles 46

Wiles, Pat 115, 119, 125, 126, 127, 157, 158, 159, 191, 192, 204, 225, 234, 252, 258, 330, 344, 347, 349, 350, 352, 364, 365, 368, 369, 388

Yellow 14 373, 375

‘zero-zero’ technique 133-4, 183-6