Coalition Forces complete Operation Aero Hunter with AH-1W and UH-1Y

Coalition Forces complete Operation Aero Hunter with AH-1W and UH-1Y

18-Jan-2011 Source: ISAF

KABUL, Afghanistan (Jan. 18, 2011) — Coalition forces in western Kandahar province completed Operation Aero Hunter Jan. 13.

The operation consisted of two phases. The first part was a patrol to flush insurgents out of a village. The second, to implement a series of snap vehicle checkpoints along Route 1 near Forward Operating Base Ramrod.

British ground troops of The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, also known as 2 Scots, patrolled a village with overwatch provided by a UH-1Y Huey and an AH-1W Super Cobra, both from U.S. Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward).

Marines from Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, circled overhead in an EH101 Merlin from 1419 Flight Squadron, Joint Aviation Group, 3rd MAW (Fwd), for extra support as 2 Scots pushed through the village.

During the first stage of the mission, Lima Company Marines supported 2 Scots as they patrolled and were there to catch any suspicious vehicles if they tried to leave the area, explained Marine 2nd Lt. John Howarth, a platoon commander with Lima Company.

During the second stage, Lima Company Marines landed and stopped six cars along Route 1 at three separate VCPs. Though the Marines didn’t find anything suspicious in the vehicles, they were able to make the coalition presence known in the area.

“When you think about our ability to go anywhere we want, put guys on the ground and stop anyone we want with a snap vehicle check point, it is impressive,” said Marine Capt. Tom Duff, a Cobra pilot. “Lima Company went to three separate places, which says to the insurgents on the ground that we can go anywhere we want, when we want.”

This is not the first Operation Aero Hunter, but it is the first time U.K. and U.S. aviation and ground assets have integrated for a mission, explained Royal Air Force Sgt. Dan Allanson, a crewman from 1419 Flight Squadron.

“We have worked with U.S. ground forces in the past, but this was the first with so much planning,” said Flight Lt. Patrick Hearne, a Merlin pilot with 1419 Flight Squadron. “It worked really well. Hopefully we will be able to put together a standard operating procedure that will aid others with future missions.”

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