"The Fire Support Team at Sangin"

by DavidRowkands

Giclee Print 58 x 38 cm

When A Company 3 PARA fortified the District Centre (DC) at Sangin in 2006, the OC placed his Fire Support Group (FSG) on the flat roof of the main building within the compound. It became known as the FSG tower.

3 Commando Brigade deployed to Helmand Province from September 2006 to April 2007 on Operation HERRICK 5. Royal Marines of 42 Commando garrisoned Sangin DC, but in February 2007 were relieved in place by C Company Group, 2nd Bn The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

On a daily basis, in support of their company groups, Fire Support Teams conducted artillery and mortar fire missions, as well as close air support and attack helicopter controls. To put this intensity into perspective, the 105mm Light Guns of 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery fired in excess of ten thousand rounds in six months. Calling in air and artillery strikes by giving the co-ordinates of targets was a delicate task, as the proximity of the enemy meant that bomb strikes and gun rounds were a danger to our own troops.

This scene on the rooftop of the FSG tower depicts a Fire Support Team in contact supporting the Fusiliers in March 2007. The FST was composed of gunners of 29 Commando Regiment RA. At this time the fighting was almost continuous. In their first twenty days in Sangin C Company Group was attacked by the Taliban 79 times. Three members of the FST were killed in March. This view, looking East, is towards the town of Sangin.

Capt Tom Vincent RA, seated, wears a pullover and US body armour (with his Commando dagger in the front). He is giving orders to the guns, via Lance Bombardier Dan Hardingham, the artillery signaller. Turning to face Capt Vincent is Bombardier Andy Myers, the Joint Tactical Air Co-ordinator (JTAC), who wears a ‘plate carrier’ (instead of his Osprey body armour) over his smock. Most of the gunners in the FST wore Para helmets instead of the Mark 6 standard combat helmet.

At left is Major Jim Taylor, the C Company OC. One of his Fusiliers carries boxes of .50 calibre ammunition to one of the sangars.