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INTERNATIONAL APACHE
Dutch Rotorcraft Making an Impact in Afghanistan
By Madonna Walsh
Royal Netherlands Land Air Force Photo - WO Jan Stuve
The role of rotorcraft is to contribute as much as possible to match the needs of the ground troops in theatre when they need them the most.
In February 2009, Boeing communications representatives visited Kandahar Base in Afghanistan and met with Col. Bas Pellemans of the Dutch Air Task Force, where Boeing-produced AH-64D Apaches and CH-47D Chinooks are based.
The image of Queen Beatrice watches protectively over the Dutch compound at Kandahar Base in Afghanistan. Of the 1,800 men and women on operations, about ten percent are assigned to the nation’s Air Task Force, which include the Boeing-made Apache and Chinook helicopters.
“The role of rotorcraft is to contribute as much as possible to match the needs of the ground troops in theatre when they need them the most,” said Col. Bas Pellemans, Commander, Dutch Air Task Force at Kandahar and Tarin Kowit. “With the terrain here, with the distances, with the lack of an infrastructure as we know it in Europe and the U.S. such as paved roads and highways, if you do not have air transport, whether it’s fixed wing or rotorcraft, if you do not have attack helicopters, this mission simply cannot happen. It’s as simple as that.”
Under the Joint Aviation Group, the Dutch rotorcraft squadrons are on call 24/7, as part of a quick reaction force ready to fly to the troops when needed, and not just Dutch troops – but coalition forces as well. They go where they are needed, operating mostly in the Kandahar, Helmand and Uruzgan provinces, the latter where the Dutch Army is based on the outskirts of the town of Tarin Kowt. “It’s not uncommon for Dutch Apaches to support American or British casevac (casualty evacuation) missions,” said Pellemans. “Or our Chinooks re-supplying British troops at forward operating bases. Flexibility is important.”
Royal Netherlands Land Air Force Photo - WO Jan Stuve
Providing troop insertion, supplies to the austere Forward Operating Bases and medical evacuation to the wounded, their effort contributes to the 35 nation coalition force taking part in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force.
“Some nations have intelligence information. Other nations bring in transport helicopters,” said Pellemans. “Other nations bring in assault helicopters. It’s like this big melting pot from which you make it happen”.
Used primarily in the hot summer months, the Dutch Chinook transport helicopter provides a significant payload difference to the lighter Cougar helicopter, which is used in the cooler winter months.
“Summer pushes the limits of the lighter Cougar. The Chinook is not as susceptible to the temperatures. Its payloads are significantly (higher) as to the amount of personnel and cargo we can carry,” continued Pellemans.
Anthony Osborne Photo
Under the Joint Aviation Group, the Dutch rotorcraft squadrons are on call 24/7, as part of a quick reaction force ready to fly to the troops when needed, and not just Dutch troops – but Americans, Australians and British as well.
The Dutch Apache attack helicopters provide aerial escort to not only the Dutch Chinook and Cougar helicopters but also to those of the coalition forces.
“The best thing to bring to the “negotiation table” as we call it is the Apache, with its looks, with the sound it makes it’s very clear to people that it means business.”
But Pellemans credits the young men and women who make the Dutch contribution so significant.
“If you see our Army for instance – after 6 – 9 months training they come here to the kind of situations we bring them – that’s heavy. They really work well as a team. They cope very well with the situation. Then if you look at a platoon level – if you talk to the battalion commanders – you always hear the same – they are very, very proud of their personnel and how they perform. It’s very impressive to see.”
Robert Dekkers Photo
“It’s sometimes difficult to make them realize that their contribution, although for a very limited time period of four months, may be small, but maybe in 10, 20 30 years they’ll look back and say it was a significant contribution.”
Prince of Wales Recognizes Soldiers
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall visited Wattisham Airfield in July 2009, to present service medals to soldiers returning home from Afghanistan. More than 100 members of 4 Regiment Army Air Corps received their medals following a tour of duty in Afghanistan between May 2008 and May 2009. 4 Regiment flies Apaches helicopters. The Prince spoke to troops and handed out the medals in his capacity as colonel in chief of the Army Air Corps. Following the presentation, the Prince addressed the soldiers, sat in the cockpit of a Apache helicopter newly-upgraded with a Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight, handed out a few long service awards to long-serving members of the Army and rejoined the main reception to talk to troops and their families.