| Good POV read: Operation "Sahda Ehlm", Kunduz, Afghanistan, June 2009
The following article was originally published by a German officer who led the quick reaction force battalion of ISAF's Regional Command North in 2009.
I'm only going to translate the part about the Battle at Badoz, which marked the most serious engagements German troops had to fight in since the end of World War Two. Their perfomance during these days earned two German NCOs awards for conspicious gallantry in combat.
Operation "Sahda Ehlm" lasted from May 15 to June 13 and was followed by Operation "Oqab". About 50 insurgents were killed in both operations.
Involved on June 4 were:
* 1x Mobile Medical Company
* 3x Light Infantry Platoon (2x GER, 1x ANA)
* 1x Mechanized Infantry Platoon
* 1x Mortar Platoon
* 1x Sustainment Platoon
* 2x Joint Fire Support Teams
* 1x Headquarters Protection Group
* 1x OMLT (BE)
The following article was originally published by a German officer who led the quick reaction force battalion of ISAF's Regional Command North in 2009.
I'm only going to translate the part about the Battle at Badoz, which marked the most serious engagements German troops had to fight in since the end of World War Two. Their perfomance during these days earned two German NCOs awards for conspicious gallantry in combat.
Operation "Sahda Ehlm" lasted from May 15 to June 13 and was followed by Operation "Oqab". About 50 insurgents were killed in both operations.
Involved on June 4 were:
* 1x Mobile Medical Company
* 3x Light Infantry Platoon (2x GER, 1x ANA)
* 1x Mechanized Infantry Platoon
* 1x Mortar Platoon
* 1x Sustainment Platoon
* 2x Joint Fire Support Teams
* 1x Headquarters Protection Group
* 1x OMLT (BE)
The battle near Basoz and Suljani (10 km SW of Kunduz) at June 4 2009
(.pdf)
That day the QRF acted as follows: The night before, A-Platoon had been deployed to the Char Dara Police Station Outpost and was supposed to conduct a day/night patrol, after which it would return to the PRT by noon. B-Platoon was tasked with checking a road to the NW of the outpost for roadside bombs, cooperating closely with a recce team from the Mazar-e-Sharif Recce Company which operated farther north. C-Platoon would act as a tactical reserve in the PRT.
Just about 04:13 PM the recce team was struck by a suicide bomber and consequently took fire from hostile forces about 3,500 m NE of the vicinity of Basoz. The team was able to break through the ambush and received orders to regroup at crossroads J-79 so hostile force charging southbound could be intercepted. Simultaneously, B-Platoon was ordered to unite with the recce team or to relieve it and prepare a counter attack along the road between J-79 and Yumar Bazar.
The intention was to intercept and wipe out the enemy at a good opportunity in the course of the road.
Even before B-Platoon could move into position N of Basoz, new fighting erupted at about 04:30 PM and this time both the recce team - still N of Basoz - as well as B-Platoon - still S of Basoz - took small arms and RPG fire. B-Platoon broke through the hostile lines and regrouped with the recce team.
While firing at B-Platoon, the enemy jeopardized the security of the civilian population and even fired over and through a group of children. Luckily none of the children was hit. Even as the leader of the leading group reached the recce team's counterpart, the enemy charged a frontal assault in two waves. B-Platoon and the attached recce team took up defensive positions in several compounds in the outskirts of Basoz and successfully fought back a great number of insurgents which charged assaults from several directions and tried to flank the platoon several times.
[ From the award citation --- The Taliban came as close as 25 yards. The recce team leader narrowly evaded certain death when his rifle and his boots were struck by bullets. B-Platoon's leading group leader saved him by killing at least one of the attackers. His charge to the aid of the recce team was praised as "daring" and it is agreed that he saved the recce team from annihilation.
It was described as a "miracle" that no German soldiers were wounded or killed that day. The behaviour of hostile forces was desribed as "fanatical" and "fearless".
Some German soldiers suggested afterwards that the insurgents might have been stoned.]
Two A-10 arrived over Kunduz for close air support at 05:15 PM. One ANA platoon with Belgian mentors was attached to the QRF and provided security to the left flank. Another battle erupted and lasted till the arrival of reinforcements at 06:18 PM. Then the enemy - obviously surprised about [our] strong resistance - retreated in westward direction after having suffered great casualties.
At the same time, a large number of unarmed civilians left their homes. I |