A Lance Corporal’s perspective

Lance Corporal Josh Crook

Lance Corporal Joshua Crook, of Y Company 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (1RRF), joined the Army in January 2011 and attended the Infantry Training Centre Catterick for the six-month Combat Infantryman Course. He joined 1RRF in September 2011 and since then has completed countless exercises. Joshua attended and passed the Fire Team Commander’s Course in January this year and was promoted in Afghanistan in April.

This is my first operational deployment. Here I am now, hoping to tell you all about it.

I’m sure many of you who are reading this are currently serving in the forces, whether that be out on operations or back with your units in the UK, Germany or Cyprus but I’m also aware that a lot of you are also civilians, looking at joining the army or are in the process already. This weekly blog will be, hopefully, an insight as to what it is I’m doing out here in Afghanistan as a Lance Corporal as part of an infantry battalion and also, a brief look at the bigger picture to give you, back home, a look at what is going on and why in Afghanistan.

The deployment begins

Troops undertake RSOI training. Cpl Si Longworth RLC (phot)

I flew out on the 10th April to Camp Bastion – everyone who comes to Afghanistan on deployment has to attend a week’s RSOI package which is basically a full up-to-the-hour information read-in on everything that is taking place in theatre; from insurgent tactics to main causes of diseases over here. It really is extensive. As well as all those briefs, depending on your unit and what it  is you’re out here to do, you then conduct ranges and various training packages within the week to make sure you’re up to scratch on everything you’ve been taught in your pre-deployment training, like Counter IED training for example. It’s useful and for the first time puts into perspective just how good the training is you get back in the UK leading up to your operations. RSOI done, and it’s a long week believe me – not to mention the fact that for me especially, the heat is unreal, even in April. I think the hottest day we had on that week was in the region of 42 degrees, which in full kit – is pretty warm.

Troops undertake RSOI training. Cpl Si Longworth RLC (phot)

Troops undertake RSOI training. Cpl Si Longworth RLC (phot)

MOB Price; Where I am now and likely to be based for the rest of my time out here in Afghanistan. It doesn’t take much to work out why this place gets called MOB Nice by most people either; the accommodation is big, clean and air-conditioned. The place has three large gyms with all the equipment you need and the cookhouse serves better food than camps in the UK!

MOB Price against a the backdrop of a sandstorm.

I’ve been in Price since around the 19th April and this first entry comes in June, so I’ll focus mainly on what’s happened so far. I’m with Company HQ out here, working as a junior NCO in my company’s intelligence cell. What that means, in a nutshell, is that whenever anything happens in Afghanistan that concerns British Forces and us here in Price, I find out about it and then if necessary, become responsible to disseminate that information to the rest of my company so that we are all constantly up to date on what is happening around us and what it means to us. It’s an interesting job, and because of it, I get to go out on 90 per cent of the operations my company are tasked with, whether that’s as a Top Gunner on the vehicles, or one of the blokes in the section when going out on patrol. It’s the best of both worlds!

In the eight weeks or so that we’ve been out here, Y Coy have been tasked quite a few times with various operations. The first being the closure of a CP (check point) not far from Price that had both ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces)  and British Forces manning it, the idea; that we pull all British troops out of the CP and let the ANSF man it themselves – a great example of how much the ANSF are developing and how much progress they have made and are making! The operation went great, no drama’s at all! First task Y Company; Success!

First Fusiliers handing over a checkpoint. Cpl Si Longworth RLC (phot)

First Fusiliers handing over a checkpoint. Cpl Si Longworth RLC (phot)

Since the first, tasks have come through slow and steady; varying from supporting the Engineers with CP builds, to clearing major routes here in Helmand Province. A lot of the time patrol manage is in force, which basically prevents a lot of us from going out on the ground unless it is absolutely necessary, it’s frustrating for us in the infantry as it’s not what we want to hear, but it makes sense. Here in Afghanistan it’s completely different from how it used to be. A different war. We are no longer out to start fights; grenade in hand and bayonets fixed. We’ve been there, done that and it’s now the time to let the ANSF take over: take responsibility for their country and their people; and they’re doing just that.

Of course, there have been teething issues and at times our support is still necessary, but that is the whole point in us being here now – to support the ANSF. However, we are seeing time and time again ANSF not needing our help, not needing our support and it’s all because of the training we have given them and the training they are disseminating down from us to their troops. We are slowly but surely pulling out of Afghanistan and evidence of that is clear all around us. For example, the number of CPs and PBs (patrol bases) that are being closed around Helmand, all of which held British troops.

1RRF Regimental Flag flies over MOB PRICE

Well, that pretty much brings us up to now… I’ll be updating this blog weekly or even more frequently than that if I get the chance, then again, not as frequently if I don’t. I’ll do my best to get some sort of system in place where any of you guys reading this that have questions can get them to me and I’ll endeavour to get the answers back to you. There’s a lot of units out here in Price and many others that pass through on a day to day basis so, I’ll make sure there are plenty  of different points of view from all different units and cap badges out here in Afghanistan. All feedback is welcome, good or bad – I’m just as new to this as I am Afghanistan so any ideas would be great and feedback much appreciated.

Catch you next week,

Crooky

Read Josh’s other blogs here

In the midst of the fight

Herrick 18 Stories

Capt Mau Gris. Sgt Barry Pope RLC (Phot)

Captain Mau Gris is team leader for the British Army’s Combat Camera Team (CCT) based in Afghanistan throughout the summer 2013 as part of 1 Mechanized Brigade. Op Herrick 18′s CCT also includes Sergeant Barry Lloyd – video cameraman – and Sergeant Barry Pope – photographer.

This trip was the reason we exist, though at the time we didn’t know it. Going in alongside fighting troops to capture their experiences and help out if required.

‘If you don’t get it, you might as well not be there’

It was only meant to be an hour and a half on the cordon for a search operation. The team and I had been put with 3 troop of the Brigade Reconnaissance Force (BRF) along with Matt Cook, a war artist covering the search for bomb making equipment.

I didn’t really think much was going to happen. They aren’t going to put a war artist in the thick of it; even though Matt Cook, who has illustrated for The Times, is a hugely experienced war artist. We would be stuck in one place, the boys would cover it in five minutes; then there’d be an hour of sitting around.

If there is anything that two previous tours has taught me; it’s always those little trips that prove the most interesting.  We inserted as we had with the Brigade Operations Company before, with the ground assault force. I knew what was coming (read about that here…) – a ride in my favourite vehicle, the Warthog.

The insertion was as expected, hot, cramped and dusty. Without going into to much detail, the place we were had a bad reputation, everyone was a little on edge and keen to get into some cover.

We moved off into the green zone. I could see we were going to get some great material from here. It was that classic Helmand landscape, lush green in places, working out to desert through various shades of brown and beige. Photogenic but dangerous, as hiding amongst it is easy to do.

4 Troop of the Brigade Reconnaissance Force.

Lloydie and his Holiness were moving up and down the line of troops as they moved out to get those ‘patrolling shots’ that have graced fronts covers and illustrated reports for 10 years. I had one eye on them; and one eye on the 3D handycam that I was attempting and failing to master.

We gained access to a compound with the guys fanning out to cover the surrounding area. Using ladders guys clambered up to the roofs to increase their line of sight. I suggested to Matt, did he want to get up to get some pictures? He takes pictures on the ground to work from later. He said, ‘yup,’ and clambered up.

I then moved the ladder to a nearby compound climbing up myself. The moment I reached the top of the ladder, three bullets cracked overhead in rapid succession. Accurate, controlled and close. I dropped down. Immediately regretting telling Matt to get up then taking away his only method of getting down. The lads started returning fire, adding to the noise. The guys were shouting;

‘Get cookie off the roof. Get him down.. Now!’

‘Who’s Cookie?!

‘The fudging war artist, you know, THE CIVVY.’

‘Oh, fudge’ (or words to that effect.)

Same risk

Matt hadn’t been with the guys that long so the nickname threw everyone. I was already moving the ladder. Matt climbed down smiling like a Cheshire cat. Adrenaline has that effect on some people.

To report the incident, we needed more than just the audio of guys firing, so I told the two Baz(s) to get up there and gather the material. It was at this point that I paused. Previously, when I have ordered soldiers to put themselves in at risk; in situations like this one, the reasoning is clear. It would give us an advantage on the battlefield. Now the risk verses reward was not as clear cut.

In the end it came down to the basic reason for our existence as a combat camera team; as it is in our mission statement: “The Combat Camera Team provides broadcast standard news footage, audio content, photographic images and copy on stories involving the British Army which, for reasons of national or foreign security, operational necessity or general sensitivity, would not ordinarily be available to the public media.”

Capturing the action on film.

We take the same risk to show people what our fellow soldier goes through. We were in danger anyway and if you don’t get it, you might as well not be there in the first place. Lloydie and His Holiness were straight up there.

The contact tailed off quickly, and we had to move to a new compound. Before moving, I tried capturing the reality of what a fire fight sounds like for the soldiers, whilst it was fresh in their minds and because I had recorded the actual fire fight I would be speaking to them about. So I made a quick recording with one of the guys before we moved out.

Troops of the Brigade Reconnaissance Force.

Troops of the Brigade Reconnaissance Force.

Troops of the Brigade Reconnaissance Force.

You can listen to that here: Crack,Thump. It’s only a minute or so long but the feeling is there, and we were preoccupied at the time. We moved off to get a better view of the area and ended up on the border where green zone meets desert, in a raised compound. Lloydie hopped up to the best vantage point and me and his Holiness hung around Matt Cook as he sketched.

Matt Cook takes notes.

Matt Cook takes photos of the soldiers to draw from later.

As the firing had died down the guys went back to the original tasking of compound searching for any enemy weapons stashes. It wasn’t long before it picked up again.

A hollow sound, like something being spat out of a tube; followed the shout of ‘incoming..,’ The troops dived for any available cover. A pregnant pause preceded the dull impact and explosion of a grenade launched from a UGL (underslung grenade launcher).

With the same accuracy of the initial engagement, the grenade had landed 30 metres behind me and between the Baz(s). A bullet landing on the domed roof two metres in front of Lloydie meant it was probably time to move.

Before we got the chance, another shout of ‘incoming.’ This grenade landed within 15 metres of his Holiness. Lloydie hopped off the roof and joined Baz Pope and me beside a wall which offered us cover. As the BRF suppressed the enemy, with their own grenade launchers, the fire eased up.

At that point, I poked my head above the wall. A ‘crack’ followed by that small puff of dust on a compound wall not far from my head made be duck back down. It felt personal.

Duck!

Contact with the enemy.

The combat camera team with war artist Matt Cook.

As I was the only one exposed, he could only have been shooting at me. This has happened before, but it is rare and I always come away feeling the same. Despite my chosen profession; it still strikes me as strange from an objective point of view that someone would try to kill me or I them, despite no personal grievance between us.

It is an obvious thing to say, and naive too, I am sure some would also say. It’s not something that I dwell on or particularly think about other than when I am in the situation or immediately afterwards. Or when I am blogging…

After that, we were joined by the guys who would be taking our place. These guys had landed with the main body on the helicopter assault force and had experienced more fighting than we had that day, but not without reward.

Some significant finds had been made. Enemy machine guns, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and bomb making equipment had all been uncovered. For us though after only an hour and a half, the operation was over.

We returned to Patrol Base Lashkar Gah Durai, not minding the Warthog ride as much as usual; anticipating the material we had gathered and the stories we could tell. The guys from the BRF were interested in what we had gathered as well. There’s a certain pride in seeing the interest and the reaction of the guys to the footage the team had produced.

There was one downside. We hadn’t seen the stuff being found, so we couldn’t tell that story as well as we should be able to. Secondhand recollections and helmet cam footage - poor material for us to build the story with. The curse of TV or photographic reporting - ‘If you didn’t get it and you can’t show it, you might as well have not been there’.

If you want to see the photos we get or those recordings I make; follow me on Twitter or Soundcloud.

Speak to you soon.

Read Mau’s other blogs here: Capt Mau Gris

Follow Mau on Twitter: @mau_gris

Strap kit down, buckle-up, enjoy… the never ending ride (Pt2)

Corporal Si Longworth in Afghanistan

Corporal Si Longworth is one of 38 trained British Army photographers. He left a career in aviation to pursue his passion for photography; capturing everything that military life has to offer. He is currently in Afghanistan as the Task Force Helmand Photographer on Op HERRICK 18.

Alarm clocks…

…Interesting things that we all rely on a day to day basis to meet our daily schedule. I hadn’t needed one so far. At Lashkar Gah, between all the guys in the morning who rustle around the tented accommodation at ‘sparrow’s fart’, the morning tent-shaking delivery of stores from whatever helicopter passes overhead, or the fact that there are plastic windows that are never closed in our pod, ever, it’s pretty much guaranteed that I will be awake with plenty of time on my hands to get to the gym, have breakfast and walk to work at an unbelievably slow pace.

Annoying as that all is each morning, what it does mean is I don’t have to worry about not waking up or setting an alarm. Ok, the helicopter may change its schedule, but the sun will definitely still rise, and I would risk my house on the fact that somebody will catch some part of their body armour’s male Velcro, on the female Velcro surrounding the tent doorway, and have to prise themselves off it. It’s not that noise that wakes me; it’s the angry vocal expletive that accompanies it that does… but also makes me chuckle.

So there I was at MOB Price having expected to be on a flight home, but instead being told that I was up and out first thing in the morning on another operation. It was around 2000 hrs when I finally got into the transit accommodation, and I was due to be up and out at 0300 hrs. I have no clean clothes, and not really any time to wash them. I had to dig into my kit, re-pack, dust everything off and charge all my camera batteries, which were flat. The unit’s press officer was looking me after. He was gracious enough to loan me a pair of clean socks for the off. I will get them back to him at some point..

I decided to take a chance and swill one set of underwear out in the sinks. I left it hanging outside the tent and hoped for the best.

I turned my camera kit around and re-packed and finally laid down at around 2200 hrs. As I laid there eyelids flickering, it occurred to me that I had absolutely no way of ensuring I was up ready to be out at three. Jumped out of bed, and ran over to the NAAFI. They had sold out of alarm clocks so I ran over to where the press officer worked. He had called it a night and I didn’t know where he lived. There was hardly anyone around camp to even ask, so decided to head back to my room. When I got back, another traveller had slipped in, and was just unpacking his gear. It was a cruel call, but I sweet-talked him into setting an alarm on his iPad to wake me up. Nice one.. Shut eye, at last.

Obsessive neatness

You never really get a good night’s sleep when you know you are up early. This was no different. I engaged autopilot from the second I heard the beep beep. Shower, shave. The usual drill, with eyes wide shut. I grabbed my undies. Yep, they were still damp, but that would be refreshing so on they went.

My transit accommodation was a good 10-minute walk down to the ‘dust bowl’. This was an area where visiting vehicles could leaguer up. It was a fairly enthusiastic walk as I had finally woken up and I knew whom I was going to meet up with. It was 32 Sqn, 3 CLSR and the men and women from the Combat Logistic Patrol I had been out with previously. (If you haven’t read that, I would ready that first, here)

I got down there and ‘tipped my hat’ to the OC, Major Rob Futter, and the Squadron Sergeant Major, WO2 Grant Turley. It was good to see them all again, as we had shared some laughs on the previous trip. This time, I was going to take a seat with the OC in his command vehicle, which was a Mastiff. The crew consisted of Taff, a Welsh Reservist, Britt, a man with obsessive neatness around the vehicle, Tex, the OC’s signaller and a crap-hand at poker (which reminds me of the 20 you owe me..) and the boss. They made me feel as welcome as ever. I was even given a computer to play around with in the back, and shown the text communication systems.

The OC filled me in on all the finer details of the plan. Simple as always. Convoy move to a location, rest up and be prepared to provide logistical support where necessary. As always, I squeezed out the information that was relevant to me. The whole task was going to last between three and nine days. I am sure I made the confirmatory sniff to the armpits of my shirt as subtle as possible when the OC gave me the time-frame. Actually, why was I worried? Even though the convoy was going to top my first bout of 26 hours by nearly another 10, I was in good spirits, because we could wash our gear at our end location; couldn’t we? Well actually, no. There was no room at the inn for the amount of axles we rolled with, so we were going to once again leaguer up in the desert. I even managed to crack a smile.

Once on the road I got down to the usual task of getting what images I could from the top hatch. We were trucking through the desert this time, and the scenery was different from the green zone, but unfortunately a bit bland.

Convoy

I got convoy images, but wanted to catch the OC in his top cover duties as that made for a more interesting shot, and wouldn’t be posed. This proved more difficult than you can imagine. As a photographer, I wanted everything to be as ‘perfect’ as it can be, for the picture. Sure there are always outtakes and images that never see the light of day, but as this is a blog about photography, as much as it is about being an Army Photographer I want you to see the differences. During a convoy that is heading in one direction for hours and hours, it’s hard to get the shot you want (if you are only using available light) when the sun is in the wrong place. This is also made worse when you can’t be stood there for hours and hours. I was popping up and down as the patrol moved on and kept on checking on my friend, the sun.

Here is an image that doesn’t make the cut. The light is not that great.

The first go: bad light spoilt play

However, when the ‘stars align’, in this case, the sun, the whole image can be turned around. I hope you agree, it was worth trying again and again.

Second time lucky: Same angle, different light

Happy with that image, I sat down again in my seat and pondered the mysteries of life for another five or six hours until our first rest stop. I am aware that after my last blog a lot of people are interested in the bodily functions that us guys and girls have to do when we are locked in the back of a moving vehicle for so long, and need to keep hydrated. Let’s just say that as the hours roll on by, the collection of full bottles builds up at the back of the wagon. Fortunately, different manufacturers make bottles with varying opening sizes. Hang on, hang on; before you all run your minds off to the gutter please let me explain. The smaller water bottles are great for the tarmac roads, whilst the energy drink ‘Gatorade’ sized bottles are more your rough-terrain pee-bottle. If you use all your supply of larger bottles up too early in the journey, whilst still on the tarmac, then purging one’s self could become quite interesting when it comes to the uneven ground. Trust me; when the truck is bouncing in every direction, the last thing you want is to do is worry about a ‘rogue stream’.

 Bodo and Onyx

On and on we rolled. Mile after mile. I did laugh at the fact that I had only done a journey like this several weeks earlier and had decided that as good an experience it was; there wasn’t much photographic benefit to it. But, the juice was definitely worth the squeeze on this occasion, because I would be spending time with another group of very different people and getting to know how the CLSR does business in a Leaguer. Tex was good company too. He briefed me up on all the different nets the OC was chatting on, who to send texts to and when. It actually made the time pass by a little quicker being given something to do and not just be a passenger. I thank him for that. (But you still owe me 20)

Luckily for us, the journey was broken up with a five-hour stop over at a military base. In we rolled, parked up close and stretched our legs. I still laugh today as I recall watching a steady stream of people emerging from within the tightly woven vehicles in the general direction of the toilets, each person clutching a collection of bottles. Only the military would find this funny.

Break time for the convoy

The guys got down to administrating their vehicles in all sorts of ways. Dust filters needed cleaning, water stocks had to be updated, and minor repairs had to be made when bit’s had been damaged on the terrain. It was still daylight, but the sun was fading fast. Camp cots were being positioned all around, and once food had been consumed, it was time for shut-eye.

I busied myself grabbing pictures, and managed to snap Taff in front of a setting sun.

LCpl ‘Taff’ Davies

During our short stay, I met another two dogs. One was a protection dog, Bodo a Malin-cross, pictured below, who was handled by Private Chris Jones Royal Army Veterinary Corps and the other was a black Lab called Onyx, a search dog handled by Trooper Jordan Davies. (A ‘Tankie) Bodo took an instant like to me. Or was it the other way around? I have always loved dogs and always wanted one, but couldn’t justify it whilst in the Army. I am away too much to stress about keeping it exercised. One day maybe.

A toy for Bodo the military protection dog

After a few hours shut-eye, we rolled out. Thankfully it was only another three-hour sprint to our final destination. In the words of the fantastic Tina Turner; “Big wheels keep on rollin’”.

As we pulled into our intended leaguer area, the Danes where pitched up beside us, and behind them as if by magic were the Warthog Group; they had pipped us to the post. I smiled, as I know I would have had a much comfier ride than the guys on tracks. There is always somebody worse-off. I went and said hello to the guys. It had been little under 48 hours since I saw them last, but it was like a year break, and the catch-up banter was cruel, in a way I believe only soldiers understand.

Back over at the CLP leaguer area, everyone was starting to pitch camp, and find his or her little spots for the coming days. I was met by a frustrated looking Britt, who had shoe horned himself out of the driver’s position only to find the rear of his truck had been messed up by yours truly. He quickly got on with re-administering it. I joked he would make a good house-husband and his frown deepened. As I came to realise over the time I spent living with this truck full of guys is that having someone who takes great pride in making sure that every detail is ‘squared-away’ is a real god-send. To Britt, this mastiff was his baby, and he looked after it, and thus, looked after us. So thank you, man.

My bed, bottom right. The wind and sand was unforgiving.

One of the first things I noticed was how fine the desert sand was. It actually was more like dust, and there seemed to be a constant wind whipping up everywhere. Dust and sand got everywhere. There was no stopping it, and quite frankly, it was brutal. Nowhere was safe, less in a sealed wagon. It was a massive effort to keep all my kit and equipment clean and dust free. My two cameras took an intense beating whilst living here, but they still pulled through.

I set up my little living area. It wasn’t much. I hoisted up the satellite dish on to the roof and made a little working area. I thought this was going to be my office, but I hadn’t really thought it all through. I was hit with so many problems that I couldn’t have imagined. Up until now, I hadn’t really needed to communicate with the outside world, but I wanted to start sending updates back to HQ. For starters there was nowhere to charge my laptop and satellite. Thankfully, the ‘big-wheelers’ (Tank transporters) had a little gadget that converted 24v DC to a useable output. Next there was the sheer heat. At 42-45 in the shade, the computer does not do well. In fact, it doesn’t really ‘do’ at all. The trackpad does not sense your finger and the CPU overheats; probably from ingesting so much sand. Finally the battery power is greatly reduced. I am talking about a 30 minute window, if I could get the battery fully charged at all. The only charging window was when the trucks started up, and that was only twice daily, so I never really hit full charge. In reality, I managed to connect to the Internet for about 10-15 minutes daily. This was just enough to send an essential update to the real world. That was, until this happened…

Oops!

Someone had accidentally broken the main cable that gave me precious contact. So everyone can blame the sun, the sand and whoever snapped my cable, as these are the reasons why the latest blog has taken so long to get to you.

The Littlest Hobo

Over the next few days I spent time capturing different parts of the day; morning routine, exercise and the dogs. I kept wandering over to see Bodo, who always greeted me with a smile. (You haven’t seen the last of him)

Me and Bodo

The sand engrains itself into your skin throughout the day. Cpl Gethin Hiscocks, 3CLSR.

The Brits make use of the wind and a poncho, to pass the time. The Danish vehicles leaguered up in the background.

The Oscar Charlie prepares for the future.

I found a way to contact my boss using the text system in the vehicle. I had left a message and it had finally been received. I had been there a total of four days and had eaten far too much sand. My kit stunk. I had tried rinsing clothes through but only to have it dry stiff with infused sand. I was all pictured out. It was time to leave.

I managed to formulate an extraction plan, as I knew there was a resupply going to happen by helicopter. I was keen to get on a radio to my boss. Through the magic of radio satellite communications, Tex made it happen. I explained what I had done, and what my plan was to get out. My boss however, had different ideas. What he had found out was that there was another Op going on relatively close to where we were. Images were required, and unfortunately I was just too close to miss this opportunity. It was time to pack my bags. The ‘Littlest Hobo’ was on the move again. Just enough time to say my goodbyes and smash one last picture of Bodo and Private Chris Jones.

Bodo and Private Chris Jones

One last thing… Tex; you owe me 20!

To be continued…

Read Si’s other blogs here: Life Through a Lens…

Follow Si on Twitter: @Si_Army_Phot

Bloodhound SSC: Inspiring the next generation of Engineers Pt 1

BloodhoundSSC

Major Oli Morgan is the Team Leader for the Army’s involvement in the Bloodhound SuperSonic Car project.  As an Aircraft Engineering Officer in the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers, his technical background on Apache is used to good effect to provide the Bloodhound team with technical advice on Engineering Assurance. In addition to his engineering role, he is also responsible for recruiting each six-month attachment of personnel and managing the team on a day-to-day basis.

Bloodhound SSC mixes jet engines with children and live circuits

Last month the Bloodhound SSC team tested a Typhoon development jet engine using the electronic control system destined for the supersonic car. The test was held at Rolls Royce’s test facility and proved the system developed by Joe Holdsworth and REME Avionics WO2 (AQMS) Mark Edwin worked as designed.

Joe Holdsworth stands next to the EJ200 engine that will be used in the Bloodhound Super Sonic Car. By Stefan Marjoram

The unlikely grouping of a former financial software programmer and an Army Avionics Instructor has proven a winning combination. Joe Holdsworth has developed the code with Mark Edwin bringing the concept into reality, building prototype electronics from his knowledge of military aircraft. The pair have created a control system the size of a sandwich box that has allowed the Bloodhound team to control the EJ200 engine as if were wrapped up in an aircraft.

The development has been no mean feat and has relied on the advice of Rolls Royce technical experts to get around the aircraft engine looking for airspeed, temperature and pressure inputs – it’s been a challenging project but the pair have been hugely successful.

Watch the engine being tested at

WO2 (AQMS) Mark Edwin makes final adjustments to the EJ200 control circuits. By Major Oli Morgan

135,000 horse power

So, why is this ‘box of tricks’ so important? The Bloodhound SSC team are using one of the smallest most powerful jet engines of its type to get a competitive advantage in order to propel the eight-tonne British Land Speed contender though the sound barrier and beyond. The control system is needed to allow driver (Wg Cdr Andy Green) to throttle the jet engine in conjunction with a bespoke High Test Peroxide Rocket to get Bloodhound SSC to break through the supersonic barrier in South Africa in 2014. The combined power of the jet and rocket system is equivalent to 135,000 hp, six times greater than all of this season’s Formula 1 cars on the starting grid!

Rolls Royce’s Colin Smith and Bloodhound SSC Director Richard Noble OBE. By Stefan Marjoram

WO2 (AQMS) Mark Edwin has now handed the ‘electronics baton’ over to SSgt Henry ‘H’ Breed who was with the newly arrived REME team at Rolls Royce’s announcement of their involvement in the project. Colin Smith, Director of Engineering and Technology set out that that Rolls Royce would provide financial and technical support as well as 50 educational ambassadors to support Bloodhound SSC’s aim to inspire the next generation of kids into careers in STEM.

Big Bang Fair

At the event I got talking about the way the programming language worked with the EJ200 engine; SSgt ‘H’ Breed joked that the system could be taken one step further and integrated with a motion controller. This confirmed something that has interested me for sometime – the successful control system could be connected to something like an Xbox Kinect to turn the engine on with the wave of a hand. Now I must caveat that the team will be providing Andy Green with a throttle lever, which is much more physical, but it does illustrate the massive potential of technology with a little programming and electronics knowledge.

That evening my curiosity got the better of me and I spent a night reading more about motion sensing software to find that there are far more kids experimenting with Kinect technology than I had thought!  This fact was reinforced at the Big Bang Fair with thousands of engaged kids mad about science and engineering and Bloodhound was there in force with the full sized show car as well as the entire REME team. Motion sensor technology was on display as were robots made by school kids and every kind of science – of note was the group from Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College who delivered a super remote controlled all-terrain vehicle and are off to carve out careers in the MoD when they graduate.

Welbeck Students with REME SSgt Neil Gallagher.

Reflecting on Big bang Fair and the Rolls Royce announcement – it was evident that there is serious interest in the technology and a sense that young people are much closer to the digital world i.e mobile devices than ever before and they are not scared to experiment.

Bloodhound Educational Ambassadors

David Willetts MP with kids at the Bloodhound SSC stand at the Big Bang Fair. Copyright Harry Dalton The Manufacturer

The exam question is: “how we harness young people’s natural interest in technology and point them towards a career in engineering or science?” Seeing the effect of the Bloodhound project on kids who came up to us on the stand in London convinced me that the work the Bloodhound Educational Ambassadors are doing is making a difference – the kids knew more about the car than the teachers/parents they dragged over.

Next blog (part two) will be straight after this one to make up for a bit of a delay. I will introduce the new REME team and the exciting work they be doing as the Bloodhound car comes together in the new Bloodhound Technical Centre in Avonmouth, Bristol.

Read more about the Bloodhound Supersonic Car

An Artist Abroad: Drawing for the coffee table art book

Captain Sophie Whitaker, 39 Regt RA. Image by Cpl Si Longworth RLC

Captain Sophie Whitaker is a serving war artist whose main job is to provide Joint Fires Targeting support to Task Force Helmand on OP HERRICK 18. As a member of 74 Battery (The Battleaxe Company) 39 Regiment Royal Artillery – attached to 1 Royal Horse Artillery, Sophie works in the Brigade Headquarters, Lashkar Gah, where she finds time between an often hectic schedule to put pencil to paper.

Well I guess this is it – I’ve committed to a blog and need to write one of these each week, so here goes attempt number two…

I have been in Afghanistan now for a little over two months. I deployed only with my mechanical pencil thinking I would be far too busy to draw. However, my friends (who know me far too well) had sent ahead a couple of birthday parcels with some A5 sketch pads, a selection of pencils, chalk and charcoal to get me started.

Then like music to my ears the Brigade Commander announced his intent to create an OP HERRICK 18 coffee table art book, which would harbour a collection of works from serving soldiers across Task Force Helmand. To complement this, there were free Operational Art packs available – what a treat! I didn’t need to be told twice, this was the green light to go.

The artists’ kit, or, operational art pack (camera and pistol not included!)

The Operational Art packs are the brain child of the Army Arts Society who gathered donations and volunteers to put together a fine selection of paints, brushes, pencils, sketch pads and even included a book and colour wheel.  I couldn’t wait to test out the watercolours!

Now, what to draw?

With my handover complete from my predecessor, and sitting firmly at the helm, I quickly settled into my routine. It wasn’t long before I experienced my first sangar duty – two hours spent armed and in full PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) observing outside the wire to protect the Main Operating Base (MOB).  I thought nothing of it as I clambered into my body armour (trying not to get my hair tangled up in the velcro). I grabbed my rifle and reported to the guardroom 15 mins early (so as to avoid any extra duties!) After the brief at the guardroom, I wandered over in the midday heat to my sangar expecting a rather lengthy ‘stag’ – if distant memories of Sandhurst served me rightly.

Two brightly coloured Afghan girls

To my surprise I hadn’t realised quite how close we were to the local population – my eyes lit up as I watched motorcyclists whizz by with one, sometimes two passengers …even three …but then five!  Children of all ages appeared from multiple doorways across the street wearing brightly coloured clothing, attracted by the sounds of the ice lolly seller as he played the distinctive tune of Happy Birthday.

It was wonderful to see such bustling life outside of the wire. But then I quickly remembered where I was, as I slid the creaky black metal shutters a little closer together.  A few days later I accompanied a friend on duty and started to sketch from life as he covered our arcs. However, my sketching had to be so quick – next time I thought, I’ll bring my camera.

Lightening sketches of children

Again I joined a friend in the sangar, this time armed with my camera, a Nikon D300 with a 400mm zoom lens. Perfect for shooting through the bars. Intrigued by combinations of people on motorbikes, bikes, trucks and carts, I attempted to capture a few such combinations – how an entire family (with groceries) manages to balance on a single motorcycle is far beyond my comprehension.

Four on a bike

My first painting

Keen to test the watercolours I sketched a simple figure of an Afghan motorcyclist from my pictures taken earlier that day. I wanted to create a broad brush, bright and colourful quick painting. So in conclusion for this week’s entry – here it is.

Afghan motorcyclist – watercolour

I am currently working on the same model as a pencil study – you’ll have to wait until next week for the finished piece!

Look at Sophie’s page

Find out more about Army Arts Society

Flying with the Argentine military

Capt Peter Singlehurst.

Captain Peter Singlehurst is from the Media Operations Group(V) and is currently serving as the Media and an Ops Info Officer, with 17 Port and Maritime Group in Cyprus.

 

The military currently serving with the United Nations in Cyprus is made up of service personnel from a number of nations that you would not expect to usually work together.  Not many people realise that here on the island we, the British Army, work very closely with the Argentinian military who, after the UK, contribute the second largest contingent to UNIFYCP.

Argentinian helicopters on service with the UN

The Argentinians patrol Sector 1, which includes the mountainous Buffer Zone in the west and they also operate the only helicopters the UN has with this mission.  This therefore means that when we in Sector 2 patrol from the air we are flown by the Argentinian Air Force in their helicopters.  Recently I joined one of these air patrols and have also spent a day with my Argentinian counterparts to see how they carry out their work and the challenges the UN face in Sector 1.

In Sector 2 we patrol on the ground, on foot, by bike and by vehicle.  This however limits what we can see and we need to monitor what the opposing forces are doing immediately behind their respective cease fire lines.  The answer therefore is to take to the air and fly along the Buffer Zone. 

The air patrol

One morning recently I  joined two other British soldiers for an air patrol.  First we had to report to the Argentinian UN Flight for a briefing.  The helicopters operate from a corner of the old Nicosia International Airport.  This has been closed since the fighting of 1974 and remains frozen in time slowly deteriorating, as nature recaptures the land and the buildings crumble.  Here in a corner sits one hanger and a small office where we are briefed on the flight and I explain that I want to look at an illegal rubbish dump that is being used by Greek Cypriots from the south and some building work being carried out by the Turkish Forces in the north.  Finally I will be looking at the farmer’s crops in the Buffer Zone and how much they have harvested so far.

Once the briefing is over we are taken out to the small Hughes 500 helicopter for our patrol.  I sit in the front right hand set next to the pilot and the other patrol members sit behind.  Soon we are off and I am looking out through the plexi glass dome at the deserted airport.  We fly over the old runway and see the long abandoned remains of an old Royal Air Force Shackleton below.

On aerial patrol

As we climb it is now time to be thinking of work, I have to get my bearings and look for the edge of the buffer zone so I can find the rubbish dump.  I see it and take some pictures before we fly on to the northern side of the Buffer Zone to check on the construction we have been asked to look at.  Everything is in order so now it is a quick flight across the old town before we can see the east of our sector opening up before me.  I note the progress of the farmers before it is time to return to the airport.  Suddenly we are coming into land and the patrol is over.

Nearly an hour has passed and though I have flown in British military helicopters many times I have never been in one so small and noisy.  As the pilot shuts down the ground crew are there to escort us out but not before thanking the pilot.  It has certainly been an experience.  Now it is back to Ledra Palace to download my pictures and file my report.

The Buffer Zone Nicosia

The ground patrol

On Tuesday a small group of British personnel joined our Argentinian colleagues for a familiarisation tour of their sector.  Our sector, Sector 2 consists of the Buffer Zone passing through Nicosia and some flat rolling agricultural land either side.  It is therefore the narrowest part of the Buffer Zone and also the most populous area.  Sector 1 lies to the west and the Buffer Zone quickly opens up into a wide area several kilometres across.  Initially the land is farmed and it is green with orange and lemon groves unlike the parched fields we are used to where cereals are grown.  The Buffer Zone then rises into the Troodos Mountains before meeting the northern coast away to the west. The two sectors therefore are very different and the UN peacekeepers face different challenges.

We join our Argentinian hosts at the UN Headquarters and set off for Sector 1 in convoy, our first stop is in the Buffer Zone, near the northern edge, by a Turkish Cypriot village which lies just outside the Buffer Zone and further north.  Here we are standing on the site of a serious disagreement last year with one of the opposing forces that ultimately was resolved after some prolonged negotiations by the UN Force Commander, Maj Gen Chao Liu, but the area still remains contentious.

Polite discussions and negotiations

Soon after our arrival and as our Argentinian host is explaining the past problems to us an officer and private soldier from one of the opposing forces approach us.

Our visit has just become a patrol and we are witnessing a violation of the status quo agreements.  This means that troops from either of the opposing forces can only enter the Buffer Zone with prior UN agreement and that is not the case here.  To start with we observe, photograph and report the incursion.  Meanwhile the officer observes photographs and reports us!  Our Argentinian host begins to discuss the situation with the officer but an Argentine patrol arrives and we are able to hand over the incident to the new arrivals.

Welcome to the UN Buffer Zone where instead of violence, it is polite discussions and negotiations over what might appear to be very minor incidents, but this is the world of the peacekeeper and it has worked for many years here.  Our success means tensions between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides have eased and now it will be the diplomats and politicians who must reach a solution through talk.

The rest of the visit passes without incident as we journey to the far end of the Buffer Zone to visit the large manned observation post there. This OP is on the top of a small mountain that looks out over the sea.  Here an officer and eight soldiers look out over the other peaks at the equally isolated Greek Cypriot and Turkish positions in the distance.

Argentinian manned UN Observation Post Sector 1

Read more of Peter’s blogs here

The edge of the fight

Herrick 18 Stories

Capt Mau Gris. Sgt Barry Pope RLC (Phot)

Captain Mau Gris is team leader for the British Army’s Combat Camera Team (CCT) based in Afghanistan throughout the summer 2013 as part of 1 Mechanized Brigade. Op Herrick 18′s CCT also includes Sergeant Barry Lloyd – video cameraman – and Sergeant Barry Pope – photographer.

Fight the ‘deep battle’

For those of you who haven’t seen a Warthog vehicle, they are made up of two boxes of armour on some rubber tracks. Incredible vehicles really, it’s just like someone over six-foot trying to actually fit in one comfortably – impossible.

If by some miracle you do manage to fit, don’t fall asleep. Unfortunately soldiers are programmed from basic training, to sleep anywhere. Particularly if they are about to be up for a long time and for some reason, particularly if you are on transport. So I fell asleep. Bad mistake.

All credit to the Royal Tank Regiment, I slept soundly for the whole journey, although I woke up with my head stuck at 90 degrees for the first 30 mins of the operation; and my neck in pain for rest of the Irish Guards operation (op) on the border of the green zone. This was an op to clear an area in the east of Helmand of enemy weapons stashes.

The Irish Guards are the Brigade Operations Company for this tour. The BOC as they are called, are there to fight the ‘deep battle.’ By this I mean their sole purpose is to target the enemy where he least suspects it and take his ‘lethal aid,’ the stuff he uses to attack us; bomb-making kit, ammunition, weapons.

The BOC prepares for Op DAAS NAIZAH. By Sgt Barry Pope RLC (phot)

Soldiers from 1 Irish guards on Op DAAS NAIZAH. By Sgt Barry Pope RLC (phot)

Soldiers from 1 Irish guards on Op DAAS NAIZAH. By Sgt Barry Pope RLC (phot)

Soldiers from 1 Irish guards on Op DAAS NAIZAH. By Sgt Barry Pope RLC (phot)

Brush with the enemy

Before heading out on their task, they dropped us off at a compound with the tactical headquarters to watch the sweep start before we joined it. All was well initially, the guys got off to a good start clearing compounds as we watched them from afar.

Then the first rounds were exchanged. The enemy had reorganized and were fighting back after seeing what the troops were doing. It’s a strange thing; immediately looking to get somewhere more exposed when the shooting starts; but as a team we have to get the footage or stills of the action as it happens, to get the story.

As it was, the action was just out of sight and focused on the troops who had landed with the Helicopter assault force and it was cut short by the Apaches arriving overhead. I had a strange mix of emotions. From a professional perspective I was a tad frustrated on missing what could have been an interesting story, mixed with relief for the guys that it was over. Though we still had the rest of the day for excitement.

Following the BOC’s initial brush with the enemy, we moved out of the command compound and on to the ground with another set of guys. Just in time to see them uncover a hidden enemy weapons stash; which had home made explosives.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal team at work searching for IEDs. By Sgt Barry Pope RLC (phot)

Ordnance Disposal team at work. Sgt Barry Pope RLC (phot)

Explosive Ordnance Disposal team at work. Sgt Barry Pope (RLC) phot

Enemy stockpiles

This gave us a great chance to see the Explosive and Ordnance Disposal (EOD) guys at work. I suspect there is nothing they like better than blowing stuff up. Following a suitably large bang, we continued on with the search.

Throughout the day there would be sporadic shooting as the enemy sought to harass and distract the Irish from their task but the focus of the troops meant that once the day was over five enemy stockpiles had been discovered.

For the combat camera team, we had had a productive time with the BOC. It was a chance to test our working methods amongst the some of the best troops around and, strangely, I found myself coming away frustrated at not getting more of the action, but pleased that we had been give the chance to test ourselves in a near fight before we were actually in the line of fire.

Soldiers from the 1st battalion the Irish guards on Op DAAS NAIZAH. By Sgt Barry Pope RLC (phot)

Soldiers from the 1st battalion the Irish guards on Op DAAS NAIZAH. By Sgt Barry Pope RLC (phot)

Capt Mau Gris recharges his batteries before the operation. By Sgt Barry Pope RLC (phot)

See you next time guys.

Read Mau’s other blogs here: Capt Mau Gris

Follow Mau on Twitter: @mau_gris