Chinooks in Afghanistan: Blades of Mercy
By Madonna Walsh, Boeing Defence UK Communications
Back to Dispatches from Afghanistan
The role of the United Kingdom's fleet of Chinook helicopters in Afghanistan is threefold.
The Chinooks also provide life-saving response through the Immediate Response Team and Medical Emergency Response Team. They use the helicopter for casualty evacuations, or casevac, to aid the injured, no matter their nationality or circumstance.
And the Chinook is a major factor for transporting troops, a force multiplier providing a formidable presence in a matter of minutes. The heavy lift helicopter also can resupply to the most remote and austere forward operating bases.
"With the Chinook's capability to carry troops, lift supplies, and provide casevac, along with its ability to operate in extremely high, hot conditions, it is one of the key assets we have out here," said a British Army officer commanding the Joint Helicopter Force Afghanistan at Camp Bastion (identity withheld for security). "The crews are at high readiness, ready to carry out the day's task or react quickly when a call comes in."
"It's the only aircraft around that can fly year round to all of the sites and carry as much as the people on the ground need," said Squadron Leader Johnny Priest, a Royal Air Force Chinook pilot. "Without it, some of the guys at some of the sites, certainly those higher up during the heat of the summer, would struggle to get the supplies they need. [Resupplying the troops] couldn't be done -- it would have to be done by road, which is too dangerous."
"The Afghan environment is hugely challenging for almost any form of normal life -- a very rugged terrain. It's a very hot and dusty environment," said Group Capt. Andy Turner, Commander Joint Aviation Group Afghanistan. "The Chinook has proven itself time and time again through its constant reliability and capability."
In April, a Boeing-Vector team of contractors-on-deployed-operations (CONDOs) will begin to provide engineering and maintenance assistance to the Chinook fleet in Afghanistan.
"The addition of CONDOs will help ease the strain we have on our ground crews, perhaps increase their availability," Priestly said.
A 21-year old Royal Dragoon Guard (identity withheld for security) on his fourth tour of Afghanistan said it best when asked what he thought the Chinook brought to the fight. "When you're out in the Forward Operating Base and you're down to your last load of ammunition or you need reinforcements and you hear the sound of the Chinook above, it's like a prayer has been answered."