Commando Logistic Regiment Royal Marines
Op Haven

In the beginning there was a vast, hot, dusty plain with two nomad tents, a few sheep and a couple of big dogs. This was to become the largest Brigade Admin Area the Corps has deployed since WW2.

The chain of events which led to the CO's R Gp surveying this scene of emptiness and desolation had unfolded remarkably rapidly. On Mon 15 April we had returned from leave and set about the inevitable post-winter deployment sort-out. Three days later we had the word to go. From then on not many people saw much of home, as the RHQ closed up around a 24 hr Ops Room and the Squadrons tore into their vehicles and equipment, round the clock. By the weekend the CO's R Gp had deployed with the Brigade Advance Party and nominal after nominal was hammered out in preparation for the move of the remainder.

A refugee complete with "Commando Teddy"

The concept was simple. An Advance Logistic Group (ALG) would deploy rapidly by Cl30, with enough vehicles and stocks to support a small Bde HQ and 45 Cdo RM. The rest of the Regiment would then follow as fast as its considerable bulk would allow. A quick appreciation revealed that a sea move was the only option. This was a new concept for us - we normally move lock, stock and barrel by sea and the concept of an airportable ALG could greatly increase the Corps' strategic flexibility.

Surg Cdr Chris Kershaw RM (Med Sqn) Checking a recent born

It will surprise very few to find that a simple concept does not guarantee a simple execution. The RAF's C130 vehicle lift fleet was unable to keep pace with theVC10 passenger lift capacity. in the end much of the ALC was still languishing at South Cerney long after the main body vehicles had sailed and the bulk of the personnel had established themselves at Silopi. While the midnight oil was going up in a holocaust at Coypool the R Gp had set up the only working CP in Silopi and virtually ran the Brigade from one Landrover and a '12 x 12' for over a week.

Back in the UK having a full time ops room and a recall system enabled us to respond rapidly to the ever moving goal-posts, but when after 72 hours solid work on our airportable ALG vehicles, our priority was changed to the heavy sea-lifted assets even the most stoic of VM's began to foam at the mouth. There were more rehashed nominals and stand-by/stand-downs than even the MTO can remember.

Gradually the Regiment and the other elements of the Brigade Admin Area (BAA) built up, until by late April the largest concentration of Green Berets seen for a long time was assembled on Silopi plain. It seemed as if most of the Brigade was dependent on our RHQ for several days, as units waited for their own CP's to arrive. The BAA peaked by the beginning of May, after which the deployment of Bde HQ and unit echelons forward began to outweigh the build-up. This also marked a sharp increase in tasking and for a while we were supporting an almost complete Brigade with a mere 11 trucks. This was a heady period for those in theatre, with rapid advances Eastwards across Iraq, massive press interest and our first direct involvement with refugee relief ops. This last element was only one small part of our contribution to the operation, but worthy of expansion because of its effect on morale and its high profile.

Unloading the 1st MK

A 45 Cdo RM patrol in the hills around Sinaat, North East of Zakho, near the Turkish border, had located a number of refugees and we were tasked to send four 4 tonners to Bde HQ for a brief before going to 45 Cdo RM HQ to escort the unit up to the refugees. Co-ordination during the early stages of Op Haven was not all it might have been and the convoy commander was met by blank looks when he reported for his brief. Undeterred the convoy continued to 45 Cdo RM and thence into the hills, to find a valley full of people, tents and disabled cars. The refugees were in a sorry state, although better off than those further up in the hills. They had clean water and had established a good level of basic field hygiene and latrine discipline.

Surg Lt Alistair Miller RN Examines a New Arrival

Initially it was difficult to persuade the Kurds to come with us, especially as they had heard that there were still some Mukhabaraat secret police down in Zakho. Eventually by using an English-speaking Iraqi Army deserter by the unlikely name of Idris (Taff to the boys), enough families were convinced to fill the trucks and the CO's Landrover. Initially they were taken to Zakho refugee camp which was then the practise, but when we got there, we established that most of them would have preferred to return to their houses in the town now that they had seen how much Allied military muscle was on show. After so much oppression it took them a while to understand that we were quite happy to take them wherever they wanted and that they were now free people.

 
PMOA Smith & LWren DSA Freeman Attend "Sully"
a 9 year old Kurd who threw a Hand Grenade onto a fire

The scenes on arrival in Zakho, as families were reunited and missing relatives returned, were something which no-one who was involved will ever forget. Few people can have witnessed such unbridled joy and relief. The almost incredible morale of the returning convoy had much more to do with the Kurds than the host of TV cameras and microphones which had followed our progress into Zakho.

Our next major contribution to the relief effort was the deployment of the Overseas Development Administration. Their leader, Dr David Nabarro, soon dispelled any notions about wishy washy do‑gooders and proved an energetic and highly capable organiser, who related well to his military counterparts. After an intensive two days of recces and discussions Dr Nabarro formulated his deployment plan with the Bde Comd. It was rapidly converted into an Op Order and within 48 hours of the arrival of his teams at Silopi, they had deployed in support of the Brigade. Each team consisted of 6-8 people wit h expertise in Medicine, Paediatrics, Sanitation, Electricity, Drainage and a host of other useful subjects.

MAQ Liz Taylor Tends a sick child

just as the ODA was deploying the long awaited convoy, with all our heavy assets arrived, finally giving us the power we needed to support the Brigade properly. This was followed shortly by the remainder of the Main Body personnel and we were effectively complete on the ground, bar the sea‑tail in the second ship and, remarkably, some of the ALC, still stranded at South Cerney. Almost immediately a Logistic Task Group (LTG) and Field Dressing Station (FDS) were deployed, as the forward units were 80kms from the BMA. The full MSA was effectively 500 miles long, running from Iskenderun to AI Amadiyah. We were providing drivers and escorts from Iskenderun, an airhead at Diyarbakir, a BMA at Silopi, an FIDS at Sirsenk and a LTG at Sarsink. Despite an all‑up strength of over 750, manpower continued to be the greatest problem, exacerbated by the need to escort our convoys and guard artillery ammo. We were stretched, almost to breaking point, when it became necessary to increase the LTG to a full Forward Brigade Maintenance Area (FBMA) and deploy three composite rifle troops.

Despite the efforts of the aircrews and maintainers it became increasingly difficult to get from Silopi to the 'front' for the face-to-face liaison, which is essential in an operation like this. The solution was to move the BMA forward, effectively tripling the FBMA as a link on the Turkish side of the border was vital to the logistic chain. Battle procedure commenced and on the 27th, in a road and air move, the men and vehicles deployed.

The FBMA had done some good work in their location but enhancements were required. The site was a disused and vandalised road building plant. Thousands of tons of gravel and sand lay in great mounds and millions of pounds worth of plant and vehicles lay stripped and abandoned around the site. Half-wrecked buildings in filthy condition were dotted all over the place - and this was a 100% improvement on what the FBMA had found initially. The task of turning this into an orderly, well defended and tolerably comfortable home was daunting. It was all hands to the pumps for 72 hours.

Working Hard to Build the Camps.

Workshops had resurrected some of the vandalised bulldozers and buckets and these, plus some sheer hard labour transformed the site. By CGRM's visit on 31 May the BMA looked the part. Circuits were bulldozed rolled and TAC-signed; accommodation and working spaces were neatly laid out, seven sandbagged sangar entry and exit VCP's were in operation; stand-to positions were sandbagged and drills rehearsed and re-rehearsed and the whole site was surrounded by triple dannert wire. It was a formidable sight, probably the best protected site in the Brigade, certainly beyond the immediate threat. The aim was to be prepared should the situation escalate suddenly and that was achieved. The VCP's proved invaluable sources of information through our interpreter and our Arabic speaking IO.

Op Haven has been very rewarding and an excellent shakedown exercise. It has enabled us to streamline our internal SOPs and Ops Room procedures, and identify necessary modifications to formation SOPs. It has taught us a great deal about deploying this large and fairly cumbersome beast in the best order of march and it has produced an excellent team spirit in an organisation which few of us really understood on 17 April.

When it became clear that 3 Cdo Bde had achieved its mission and that a Commando Group based on 40 Cdo would be sufficient to remain and continue to provide a safe haven for the Kurds it was necessary to consider appropriate logistic support. At this point we were organised into four Logistic Task Groups (LTG) spread from LTG 'I in Sirsenk, Northern Iraq, to LTG4 at the port of Iskenderun in Southern Turkey.

In order to best support 40 Cdo Gp the CO decided to base their logistic support on LTG2, located in Silopi, Turkey, some 10 minutes drive from the border with Iraq. This was primarily because most of what would be needed was already there. In particular Ord Sqn had already established a large combat supplies area with cold storage facilities for fresh food and an excellent ammunition storage site which securely held the bulk of the formation's ammunition.

Invaluable DROPS - enabling different loads to be carried

Prior to the departure of the Regiment itself LTG2 was reconfigured, with a great deal of educated guesswork going into its composition. As before, very little was known of the likely duration or intensity of operations so to err on the side of caution the LTG was large, some 135 men at its peak. All Squadrons were represented: HQ Sqn providing the signals and OM support; the Ord Sqn element consisting largely of the Combat Supplies Troop, supplemented by food specialists and some technical spares expertise; Tpt Sqn provided a Troop with a cross-section of vehicles, which included DROPS and 20,000 ltr water tankers which had come to us direct from the Gulf and were to prove invaluable; Wkshps Sqn provided an Advanced Work-shop Detachment (AWD), commanded by W02 Court, which included a little bit of every specialisation and, last but not least, Med Sqn provided a Regimental aid Post. In addition to elements provided by the Regiment the LTG was augmented by the unglamorous but morale-boosting Shower and laundry units (whose operators were universally nicknamed Dot Cotton), Postal & Courier and EFI detachments.

The role of LTG2 was to provide second line logistic support to 40 Cdo Gp and it was clear from the outset that in order to provide the best possible support the bulk of LTG2's manpower and vehicles would need to deploy forward to Sirsenk, close to 40 Cdo's HQ. Therefore LTG2 divided into forward and rear elements; the rear element remained in Silopi under the command of 2Lt David Meredith RCT. Undoubtedly they had the least inspiring role as they were required to spend long hours guarding ammunition and handling stores in temperatures at least 10 degrees hotter than those in Northern Iraq in a landscape resembling that seen in a spaghetti Western. Vigilance had to be maintained as PPK terrorist attacks continued against the local Turkish garrison, coupled with the repeated attempts by the local itinerant population to help them­selves to anything and everything they could lay their hands on, including deep trench latrines complete with contents!

Re-supply run to Al Amadiyah

Meanwhile LTG2 Forward in Iraq had established regular logistic routines and a close working liaison with 40 Cdo. The LTG proved to be almost ideally configured and whilst all were kept occupied few could claim to be overworked. Sick and injured Kurds continued turning up at the LTG location, which had formerly been Med Squadron's Dressing Station, such was its excellent reputation. Urgent cases were treated by a combined and efficient LTG2/40 Cdo RAP, others were directed to the nearest civilian medical facilities and in some cases transported there as part of the process of helping the Kurds become self-sufficient. All around the LTG location Kurdish encampments, trading stores and crops (albeit rather meagre) began to spring up and it came as no surprise when talk of redeployment hardened into a plan. Many rumours abounded as to the com­position of the 'Rainbow Battalion' that would remain behind but eventually it became clear that a company from 40 Cdo would remain behind so, in the middle of the redeployment, all the goodies were pooled to ensure that those staying behind would be as well-equipped as possible.

Experience of previous redeployments indicated that Turkish Customs could provide the biggest obstacle: their occasional zeal, coupled with a notorious unpredictability and daily‑changing set of rules had already caused problems so Lt Nick Mather and W02 Stagg, acting as Ops Officer and Sergeant Major respectively, spent many hours meticulously preparing paperwork. In the end both the customs clearance and the journey to the port of Iskenderun were interesting but uneventful with the final elements of LTG2 arriving home about a week after the redeployment started. By the time this article goes to print post-Op Haven leave will be over and work would have recommenced at sunny Coypool. All members of the LTG can however reflect on the satisfactory completion of a challenging and rewarding task.