The Helmand blog is run by PJHQ and the team from UK Forces Media Ops. The team is located in Northwood in the UK and in Helmand at Camp Bastion and the Task Force Headquarters and works to support the coalition forces together with the other government departments such as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development.
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Lance Corporal (LCpl) ‘Gaz’ Lovett (23) is an Aviation Crewman on the new Lynx Mk9A helicopter, serving with 672 Squadron, Joint Helicopter Force (Afghanistan). Working as a ‘door gunner’, Lovett provides fire power from the skies to support troops on the ground or when the Lynx is escorting other aircraft.
“A typical day in Afghanistan, we all come down to the flight line, rig the cab up with the weapons system, make sure everything is okay on the aircraft, that everything is serviceable and good to….We’ll have a brief of what everyone is doing for the day, what aircraft is doing what. Come down as a crew, get sorted out, and get the kit on the aircraft and go flying,” said LCpl Lovett.
Lance Corporal Lovett looking through the sights of a Heavy Machine Gun (HMG).
With increased firepower, more powerful engines and the ability to operate in hotter temperatures, the new Lynx Mk9A has increased the options available to commanders in Afghanistan since its arrival in May 2010. It is fitted with a more advanced communication system, improved surveillance equipment and the M3M Machine Gun - a 0.50” calibre weapon, capable of firing over 850 rounds a minute.
“When we’re in the air, my responsibility is to look out for any other aircraft that could cause a danger to our aircraft. I’m also looking for insurgent activity in relation to other aircraft going in and out of the PBs (patrol bases),” said Lovett.
To ensure firing is accurate when engaging potential threats, LCpl Lovett regularly practices firing from the helicopter on the ranges near Camp Bastion. He says, “We get a lot chances to use the ranges out here…. It’s a full 360 degree range, which gives you more time on target and more time to fire the weapon system.”
LCpl Lovett has always wanted to be a door gunner. On joining the Army Air Corps he became an Air Trooper and gained his class one proficiency qualification. After completion of the 20 week Aviation Crewman course he took up his current post. “When I was at school I always wanted to be involved in aviation, whether that is flying or being on the ground. I joined the Army Air Corps to be a door gunner and this is what I’m doing now,” said Lovett.
He continues “A long day out here can be very demanding with all your kit on, but it’s nothing compared to what the guys on the ground have got. And it gives you an awesome sense of achievement picking them up out of the PBs and bringinPhog them back.”
The latest version of the world’s fastest helicopter is bringing a vital boost to the UK’s battlefield helicopter capability in the arid deserts of Afghanistan.
The multi-role Lynx Mark 9A has given the Army Air Corps a massively enhanced capability according to the crews that fly it. It’s a light and agile helicopter for the rapid deployment and extraction of small numbers of troops and it’s capable of lifting surprisingly heavy loads for its size. The Lynx is flown in Afghanistan by 672 Squadron of the Army Air Corps.
The new Lynx Mk 9A Photo: Crown Copyright/MOD 2010
Deputy Squadron Commander, Captain Pete Marfleet from Kent said, “It’s fantastic to have the new Lynx MK9A with its upgraded engines as it means we can be here throughout the summer, supporingt the troops on the ground through the toughest time of the year. The increased aircraft performance means we can concentrate on bringing the fight to the insurgents.”
The aircraft’s value in the battle against insurgents lies in its versatile performance. The Lynx crews can track insurgent movements and watch over vulnerable areas with its sophisticated surveillance camera. This “overwatch” capability helps in the protection of the massive convoys used to re-supply front line troops in the forward operating bases.
The convoys can be vulnerable to attack as they track across vast swathes of desert from base to base but with the Lynx and its formidable weapons systems circling above, the insurgents stay away. “I’d be concerned if we had lots of contacts every time we flew a mission”, said Pete Marfleet. “Success for us means we’ve got a convoy or a support helicopter in and out of a patrol base without any trouble. Just our presence in the overhead and the threat from our weapons systems means that the enemy wisely keep their heads down.”
In combat operations the aircraft provides both an offensive and a “Command and Control” capability by operating overhead and directing the battle or providing the force commander with a “birds eye” view of what’s happening on the ground.
This version of the Lynx has been specifically engineered to meet the challenges of operating in places like Afghanistan. Previous versions struggled with temperatures higher than the mid-thirties Centigrade. The searing heat of the Afghan summers regularly sees temperatures soar over 45o C which meant that the aircraft could only fly at night and even then their lift capacity was limited.
672 Squadron’s Qualified Helicopter Instructor Danny Rae, a veteran Warrant Officer with 30 years experience said, “This is a massively capable aircraft. The environment in Afghanistan is challenging to say the least but it copes extremely well. The manufacturers have done a fantastic job. Its capability means that we can take the fight to the enemy if required.” Tweet This
Twenty one years ago, Jo Gordon joined the Women’s Royal Army Corps as a Private. After training to be a Chef, Jo transferred to the Army Catering Corps and travelled the world. As part of her duties, Jo (then a Corporal) was posted to be a chef with the Army Air Corps in Germany and it was during a deployment to the Balkans that she realised that she wanted to fly helicopters herself. Despite her humble beginnings as a chef, Jo has recently turned thirty nine and she has just completed her second four month tour in Afghanistan flying the potent Apache AH Mk 1 helicopter.
Jo is very keen to highlight the opportunities available to females in the Army Air Corps and the wider Armed Forces. In particular, Jo singles out the uniqueness of the diverse rank range flying Army helicopters, starting at Sergeant through to commissioned junior officer. Although Jo left school with a handful of CSE’s, her rapid climb through the ranks continues and she was recently commissioned and now wears the rank of Captain.
Constantly seeking the next challenge in life, Jo emphasizes that women in the Army need to be prepared to take the plunge and give it a go. Following successful completion of her helicopter flying training, Jo flew the gazelle helicopter and undertook her first operational flying in Northern Ireland. Back then she was already looking for her next challenge so she volunteered to become an instructor and trained the next generation of pilots at Middle Wallop. Getting restless once more, Jo pressed to convert to the highly capable, but immensely complex Apache attack helicopter.
The intricacies of learning to fly the Apache (which takes around seven months) entails a long ground school and initial conversion course. Weapon systems and tactics then follow and this takes a further eight months. Posted to 653 Squadron of the Army Air Corps based at Wattisham Airfield, the home of 3 Regiment Air Air Corps, Jo then completed a period of consolidation and enhanced training that saw her finally declared ‘combat ready’. This takes about two and a half years in total and is one of the longest training programmes in the Armed Forces.
Jo sometimes misses the lack of many other female pilots and highlights that it is important to get more women to consider the Army Air Corps. Light-heartedly she says that fewer women than men have the spatial awareness to fly and draws humorous comparisons to the female ability to reverse cars. On a more serious note, she firmly believes the Army needs more female helicopter pilots and with the right level of conviction more are capable of achieving this than they might believe. She adds “The Apache is very complex and can be quite daunting at first; the girls just need self belief, confidence, application and skill as well as being a fast learner and quick thinker.”
The Apache helicopter is at the cutting edge of technology. It can operate in all weathers, day or night, and detect, classify and prioritise up to 256 potential targets in a matter of seconds. It carries a mix of weapons including rockets, Hellfire missiles and a 30mm chain gun. In addition to the distinctive Longbow Radar located above the rotor blades, the aircraft is equipped with a Day TV and Thermal Imaging sight. Quick decision making is crucial; superb judgement is required when supporting the troops operating on the ground, in particular to avoid collateral damage and danger to Afghan civilians.
The Apache is a vital element of the rotary capability being provided by the Joint Helicopter Force (Afghanistan) based at Camp Bastion in the heart of Helmand province. The Tri-Service detachment comprises personnel from all three services and operates Royal Air Force Chinooks and Merlins, Royal Navy Sea Kings and Army Air Corps Lynx and Apache helicopters.
Being an Apache pilot in Afghanistan sees long working hours, often at ‘VHR’ (Very High Readiness), where crews scramble to respond to incidents that support troops ‘in contact’ with insurgents. Alternatively they escort the vital Medical Emergency Rescue Team (MERT) Chinook helicopters which extract casualties often under enemy fire.
There is probably no such thing as routine business, but the more traditional missions saw Jo providing mutual support to larger support helicopters transporting troops or equipment. A lot of these missions have been part of OPERATION MOSHTARAK, a joint operation with Afghan and coalition forces to bring greater stability to areas around Marjah and Nád-e `Ali.
Jo describes the best part of her current job being “The satisfaction that we get from the feedback from the troops on the ground.” Jo articulates “When you leave a situation on the ground that has been quite arduous for the guys and they actually thank you when you move off station is very humbling.” Jo knows that they genuinely mean it, and she adds “It is fantastic and you can’t beat that feeling as you can hear the gratitude in their voices and you feel so proud to be able to help when they really needed it.”
The arrival of the Apache to the scene of an incident often sees the insurgents blend back into the local population but able to fight another day. Jo is pragmatic and believes such an approach is appropriate and this reflects the policy of ‘courageous restraint’ which aims to minimise collateral damage and regain the trust of the local population. The same effect has been achieved in the tactical situation, the safety of our troops at that time, but the risks to the local civilian population are dramatically reduced.
The challenges of making such decisions so quickly should not be underestimated. Jo describes “Making the right decision in a very short amount of time is very challenging; we only get one chance to get it right.”
Camp Bastion is comfortable compared to the conditions experienced by the troops in some of the Forward Operating Bases (FOB) and Patrol Bases (PB). Jo makes good use of the limited spare time she has and regularly undertakes fitness training in the well equipped Gymnasium at Camp Bastion. She also does indulge occasionally and treats herself to a pudding on a Friday night! Jo has been looking forward to returning home to some creature comforts. Having a bath for the first time in four months was top of her list as there are only showers in Camp Bastion. Hair and nails quickly followed and then some much needed retail therapy before a well earned holiday with her partner. Jo was also looking forward to a curry in England with a refreshing Tiger beer as there is no alcohol in the British bases.
Jo has now completed twenty one years Army service, twelve of which have been flying. Never one to sit around, Jo is already seeking out her next challenge and certainly holds her own in what some would see as a traditional male dominated environment. She enjoys the banter and camaraderie with her male colleagues but is happy to be treated as one of the boys. She does not wish to be judged on her gender as that is just condescending. She is doing the same job to an equally high standard as her male colleagues and highlights that teamwork is vital.
Jo is frustrated when she is singled out in isolation to her male colleagues just because she is a woman. In addition, she shies away from being compared to a heroine “I would never call myself brave. The guys on the ground are the brave ones – we just do whatever we can to support and keep them alive. I am just another person in another vehicle; it just so happens that I am a woman and I am in the air.”
Lance Corporal Lovett looking through the sights of a Heavy Machine Gun (HMG).
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