April 12, 2007
This is how Britain fights
Michael Yon -- the freelance American journalist who has become the 21st century's Ernie Pyle -- provides a pungent counterpoint to the cowardly British sailors and marines who so embarassed their nation with this up-close-and-personal dispatch from Iraq.
Lieutenant Colonel Justin Maciejewski MBE, the Battle Group Operations Commander (equivalent to an American Battalion Commander), allowed this writer unprecedented access to the planning details of Operation Arezzo, part of three simultaneous strike and arrest operations in the al Quibla district of Basra, designed in part to bait the enemy into attacking British forces.
In all, 13 platoons would partake, and I’d accompany 5 Platoon. LTC Maciejewski further permitted me to record both video and still camera images during the operation, and to get as close to the combat as I dare. 5 Platoon has seen a lot of fighting in recent months, and had already taken me on several minor missions. For Operation Arezzo, they adopted me as one of their own.
They opened on us with massive small-arms fire from many directions, and RPGs. One RPG slammed into a British vehicle and exploded in the slot armor, but the vehicle took the hit, and the men inside continued to fight. The enemy pounded at one of the platoons with at least one large machine gun, possibly a 12.7 mm, which can blow a man in half and easily defeat British or American armor. But soldiers in that platoon responded with blistering fire, and silenced the gun.The ensuing firefights were vigorous. As more enemy joined and the battle progressed, British elements maneuvered and fired, making adjustments to the plan to mold the fight. With no helicopters above to help develop ground awareness or to help shape the combat by engaging targets, British commanders directed their elements by map and ground-feel. Having no helicopters also left rooftops open to the enemy, adding another dimension to the combat. In addition to small arms, British soldiers used 7.62mm machineguns, grenades, and 30mm guns with deadly focus. As soldiers ran out of ammunition, they dropped back to reload, while other soldiers kept up the aimed shots.
Read the whole thing -- and consider hitting the "tip jar" on Yon's site; he funds his work with contributions from folks like you and me, so we can get the kind of coverage no one else is providing.
Posted by Mike Lief at April 12, 2007 12:15 PM
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Comments
This article looks like a bunch of hype to me. You can tell by British casualty rates that the limeys are ducking the fighting. The British have lost their balls.
Posted by: Eddie G. at April 13, 2007 10:57 PM