- 1 week ago
Mike Brewer (Wheeler Dealers) heads to Afghanistan's frontline to reveal the awesome new technology available to British and Coalition Forces.
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LearningTranscript
00:00I'm Mike Brewer and I'm in the most dangerous place on the planet, the front line in Afghanistan.
00:08I've been given unprecedented access to the military equipment used by Allied forces in the fight against the Taliban.
00:17Guns, armoured personnel carriers, tanks, helicopters, rockets, planes and jets.
00:25I wanted to get first-hand experience of these incredible battle machines and find out whether they're up to the job in such a ferocious warzone.
00:35Over the coming weeks we're going to be in for one hell of a bumpy ride.
00:39This time I'm taking a Mastiff ride straight into the enemy's sights as I go on the first hazardous combat logistics patrol with vital supplies for our boys on the front line.
00:50Just days after heavy fighting in which they've grabbed new ground from the Taliban.
00:55It's a week since Operation Mastarak started.
01:05During that time the Allies have used virtually all the kit and resources available to them,
01:11to advance into what was a Taliban stronghold in Helmand province.
01:18We're at Camp Bastion, the main Allied base in the region.
01:21With the Taliban on the back foot for now, it's time to ram home the success of Operation Mastarak.
01:25By resupplying weary troops on the front line with the resources they need to build patrol bases.
01:26We're going on the first of many hazardous combat logistic patrols, or CLPs.
01:27Delivering ammunition and supplies to the front line.
01:28We're going on the first of many hazardous combat logistic patrols, or CLPs.
01:29Delivering ammunition and supplies to the front line.
01:30We're going on the first of many hazardous combat logistic patrols, or CLPs.
01:31We're at Camp Bastion, the main Allied base in the region.
01:36With the Taliban on the back foot for now, it's time to ram home the success of Operation Mastarak.
01:42By resupplying weary troops on the front line with the resources they need to build patrol bases.
01:47We're going on the first of many hazardous combat logistic patrols, or CLPs.
01:53Delivering ammunition and supplies to the front line.
01:57CLPs comprising up to 70 vehicles on the ground.
02:00And we're back up from Assets in the Sky, a regular and major part of operations out here.
02:06They're also a key Taliban target.
02:11We know the enemy are in the area, they've got eyes on us.
02:13So this next bit is really crucial, we get it right, really slick.
02:16And reduce the amount of time we're standing.
02:21Breaking into newly won territory, with the Taliban hungry for revenge,
02:25means this one is going to be particularly challenging and dangerous.
02:30We're on a short notice to move, so we'll be going any time.
02:33This is what it's going to take.
02:35About 60 vehicles in total, full of stuff to resupply the front line in terms of Operation Mastarak.
02:42On there is things like ammunition, water, medicine, things like bastion walls, to build new patrol bases.
02:51And for those patrol bases, you need generators to make electricity.
02:54Now what we do know, is that the Taliban have been fighting down in that region where we're going.
03:01And as soon as we come down, we're going to be the main target and the focus of their attention.
03:07Because they don't want any of us to resupply anything down there.
03:10So it looks like we're in for a hairy journey.
03:213am the following morning.
03:23The CLP has been given the green light to go, and a piper gives us the traditional send-off.
03:28The commander in charge is Pat Rehaw.
03:34I remind you that the contents of this orders group are secret.
03:38Once we arrive, the 10 loads of engineer stores and C-SUPs that we have on the vehicles will unload.
03:43I anticipate this taking no longer than 60 minutes in location.
03:47That concludes the QBOs. Are there any questions?
03:50Ladies and gentlemen, very best of luck. Thank you.
03:52We have a 30km journey between Camp Bastien and Shahid ahead of us.
04:02It may not sound much, but many deadly obstacles lie ahead.
04:08Roadside bombs.
04:10Plenty of places for the enemy to hide.
04:13And challenging terrain.
04:14I'll be riding along in a Mastiff with Patch, whose job as commander is to communicate with and coordinate all 70 vehicles,
04:24and several hundred personnel, to ensure they all get safely to Shahid.
04:31There's little doubt that there's a high threat down there.
04:34It predominantly comes from IEDs.
04:37Don't worry about that. In essence, we've got some really good assets on this patrol.
04:40Yeah.
04:41We're going to try and find these IEDs.
04:43If we come across them, we can either get rid of them or go around them.
04:46But there's little doubt the enemy's going to try and get us, but we are equipped and well trained and experienced enough to outwit him.
04:51Exactly the words I want to hear, Patch.
05:00It's a frightening prospect knowing that scores of Taliban are ready to attack us with guns, rockets and roadside bombs.
05:07As we get underway, I can't help feeding like a lamb to the slaughter.
05:17We've got some serious kit to back us up.
05:20The army throw everything they've got into a CLP.
05:23Amongst our 60 fully armoured vehicles are 10-man SV trucks fitted with new enhanced pallet load systems for easy loading, carrying and unloading of ISO containers full of supplies.
05:37The 700-horsepower 48-wheeled heavy equipment transporter, or HEX, carrying large and caterpillar-style vehicles up to 70 tonnes.
05:49The light-wheeled tractor, ready to clear the road and knock down walls.
05:53The Jackal, a speedy all-terrain light weapons platform providing extra support to fend off the enemy.
06:01And in case any of us run out of luck, the rugged 8-wheel drive SVR.
06:06A rescue patrol vehicle ready to pull, lift or tow up to 50 tonnes out of trouble.
06:13That's the roadside assistance taken care of.
06:18And last, but not least, the most important vehicle on any combat logistic patrol.
06:23The command vehicle I'll be riding along in.
06:26The Mastiff.
06:27Still relatively new to operations and working alongside other protected patrol vehicles, the Mastiff is heavily armoured.
06:46Six-wheel drive and can carry eight people and two crew.
06:49This one is called Maximus, after the fellow in Gladiator.
06:56This one is a Gladiator and he looks after me.
07:08Patch, how's it going so far this morning?
07:10Yeah, really good.
07:11Really good progress Mike this morning.
07:13I mean the balance here is getting down there and at a speed which is safe.
07:19So as you can see, all of our force detection assets out, clearing away, they're sweeping for IEDs.
07:24We're looking into all of the near ground here and all the deck.
07:27And although it's wide and open, obviously we've had quite a few finds here in the last couple of days.
07:31Which is good in terms of us finding them.
07:34But what we've got to be very careful of is that we don't sprint down there, we get there nice and safe.
07:39So we have a painstakingly long day ahead of us.
07:42Up next, I take over the controls of the virtually indestructible Mastiff.
07:47It feels like the most sorted tool for the job.
07:52And avoiding roadside bombs isn't the only problem.
07:56Balancing 25 tonnes of armoured vehicle next to a canal is an accident waiting to happen.
08:03The medic has his hand on the handle of the door just in case something happens we can all burst out.
08:07Following the success of Operation Mosherak and the major advance into Taliban-held territory, I'm on the first combat logistic patrol providing troops on the new front line with fresh supplies and materials to help keep the Taliban at bay.
08:26The Taliban will throw everything they've got to kill or maim a British soldier.
08:41They use small arms fire, rocket propelled grenades or even roadside bombs.
08:48So the British Armed Forces rely on the safest method of troop transport there is and it's this, the Mastiff.
08:55It's a British modified version of the American Cougar.
09:02And the most visible difference is the extra armour.
09:06Once the vehicle arrives in England from South Carolina in the States it's still very much a Cougar.
09:12And as such it's really not ready for a theatre of war.
09:16To get it prepared for that it needs some additional armour and that will turn it into a Mastiff.
09:21Now to put the additional armour on you're going to need to drill some pretty hefty holes.
09:26And you can't attack a bit of armour plating with any old drill.
09:30You need one of these.
09:32A hydraulic drill that electromagnetically locks itself onto the metal.
09:36Once the holes have been drilled you can put through these whacking great big bolts and start hanging on this slab armour on the side.
09:45And then on top of that you've got the bar armour.
09:48And now it's starting to look like a Mastiff.
09:51The bar armour protects the vehicle from rocket propelled grenades.
09:56But it's only one of many countermeasures on the Mastiff.
09:58Key amongst them is the V-shaped hole that provides incredible protection against improvised explosive devices by deflecting the blast away from the vehicle.
10:13The rest of the underneath of the vehicle is designed to blow away leaving those above unharmed.
10:19It's one of the safest troop carriers in theatre.
10:21In a regular unarmoured truck they wouldn't stand a chance.
10:32What if somebody was to shoot one of these tyres out?
10:35I mean just look at them. They're big, they're easy to take out.
10:38Well if you was to take a tyre out on a Mastiff they're run flat tyres and the vehicle will carry on going for 17 miles.
10:44However, you can actually blow a wheel off a Mastiff.
10:48And because it's six wheel drive it'll just convert to five wheel drive and it will carry on going.
10:54Infrared night vision cameras, they will give you 360 degree vision around this vehicle.
11:00And talking of infrared, this vehicle is painted with infrared deflective paint.
11:04So at night time if you're trying to find one of these for infrared goggles, well you simply can't, it disappears.
11:08Now you may think I was going to climb into this car in the side of it and climb into the cockpit but no.
11:14The way to get into it is through the rear doors here and they're mightily heavy.
11:18Let's open this one first and then this one and inside is where you'll find the soldiers.
11:24You alright guys?
11:28So how does this mean machine handle?
11:31Now what we've got up front is we've got one of the most monstrous engines I've ever heard of in my life.
11:36It's a Caterpillar C7 producing 330 brake horsepower.
11:44But the big number for me is the 860 pounder torque.
11:48That means that this vehicle has got enough pulling power to get you out of any sticky situation.
11:54And it really does handle like a much lighter vehicle.
11:58I know I'm pushed around 23 and a half tons.
12:01It doesn't feel like that.
12:02Now the Mastiff not only handles the flat roads very well but it also handles the rough stuff.
12:09And there's a one in four heel that we're going to climb over.
12:12It's called the knife edge.
12:14That looks rather scary.
12:17Here we go.
12:18Up this one in four.
12:26That is miserly impressive.
12:2823 and a half tons being pulled up by that C7 engine.
12:32Remarkable.
12:34It treated that heel behind me almost like it was a pimple.
12:38It feels like the most sorted tool for the job.
12:45I'm just driving out onto what they call a plateau.
12:47An area of just flat open ground.
12:49Obviously it's very bumpy and rocky but when you look out it just looks like the surface of Mars.
12:54It's great to see the rest of the convoy on the horizon.
12:59You know you're seeing Mastiffs and Wemmicks and all sorts buzzing out there.
13:03But that doesn't mean we're out of danger.
13:04The prime concern of the commander, driver and gunner is the safety of the six troops inside.
13:16But we are following in the tracks of the vehicle in front which is Panther and following it exactly the same track because if that's covered ground and it's safe then hopefully we should be safe behind it.
13:30You can see them trying to cut a new path rather than take a well-worn route because what happens is if you keep going down the same road, obviously the Taliban know you do that.
13:45And what they do is they lay the IED so try to go around the outside of that and that's what is the beauty of the Mastiff.
14:06It's the perfect troop carrier because it can go in that rough terrain and go where it wants.
14:11But what if the Mastiff comes under fire?
14:14It can fight back.
14:17It's armed with the latest weapon systems including a 7.62mm general purpose machine gun, 12.7mm heavy machine gun or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher.
14:31Which I got a look at helping fit one to a Mastiff on our patrol.
14:38How effective is this?
14:39Yeah, this is very effective. It can damage many targets.
14:45How many rounds does this fire?
14:48Single shot or we can fire in burst, 3 to 5 rounds.
14:52How far can you fire?
14:542,200.
14:562,200 metres?
14:57Really?
14:58The Mastiff weapon and I'm glad to see it on the top of the Mastiff.
15:01That's fantastic.
15:05So the Mastiff's got just about everything covered and even if all those defensive measures and weapon systems fail, this 25 tonne baby can move at up to 105 kilometres an hour and charge at the enemy to get herself out of trouble.
15:18For its drivers using the Mastiff day in and day out here in Afghanistan, its highly protective bulk and strength help keep them alive.
15:28But they do provide some extra operational challenges.
15:31It looks, to me, like the space shuttle up front where you've got buttons, knobs, switches everywhere.
15:39All this is basically your drive, so you know, all your gears.
15:43Like an automatic gearbox, you've got drive, neutral and reverse, you just press a button, yep.
15:47All-wheel drive, you diff lock.
15:48It's almost like being in the back of a ship or something, isn't it?
15:51It's hard work.
15:52As you can see, it's very restricted from what you can see.
15:55So obviously then we've got drop down screens and then obviously night vision.
16:00And you've got 360 degree vision here?
16:03Yeah, yeah.
16:04There's cameras all around, obviously the forward, the rear, your front left, front right, rear left, your rear right.
16:11That's basically 360 all the way around.
16:12That's fantastic.
16:13And then you can mix it up and have like your forward and two rear, so it's easier to judge if you're driving along.
16:20You do feel very safe being inside a Mastiff.
16:22A lot of lads don't like it, but I personally, I'll rate this a lot.
16:26This is one that I want to be in.
16:27Yeah.
16:30While the Mastiff is virtually indestructible, it can be temporarily disabled by roadside bombs.
16:44But those charged with getting it back to work, like the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers back here at Camp Bastion, are full of respect for it.
16:54These vehicles on a daily basis are saving soldiers' lives and they're saving soldiers' limbs.
16:58And so we get them back into use as quickly as we can.
17:01The great strength with these vehicles is that we can turn them around in theatre.
17:05My team have been out here now for three and a half months and in that time we have yet to see a single Mastiff vehicle that we have had to send out of theatre because it can't be repaired.
17:15That's fantastic.
17:17The closer our convoy gets to its destination, the more dangerous our situation becomes.
17:22Patrol Commander Patch can't rely solely on the mighty bulk and strength of the Mastiff to keep us safe.
17:33Patch can call in airborne fire, intimidating fly-pasts or surveillance, all from within the Mastiff.
17:43We're approaching a built-up area where insurgents could be hiding and could launch an attack on us.
17:48What's really frightening is that we can't see into the compound so we could be attacked without warning.
17:56But one of Commander Patch's assets in the sky is about to hand us back the advantage.
18:02We think we've got some enemy to our south and southeast.
18:07So what we're going to do now is push the I-Star platform forward and see what we can see in there.
18:12I-Star is a welcome abbreviation for a whole series of airborne assets.
18:16It stands for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance.
18:23What we've got with the forward air controller, he can talk to the operator of the I-Star.
18:27And in addition to that, he can also see on his little, like a little laptop download terminal.
18:34He can also see what the I-Star is seeing.
18:37While the tornado and high altitude Sentinel often perform this I-Star role,
18:41today Patch is calling on one of the newest spies in the sky, the Hermes.
18:48Designed and built in Israel and flying since the year 2000, the Royal Artillery operate Hermes remotely from Camp Bastion.
19:07And here it is. The unmanned Hermes 450.
19:17So this is it. It's a lot bigger than you think once you stand up close to it, isn't it?
19:21Yeah, this is the Hermes 450 UAV. It's currently being used by the British Army. It's about six and a half metres long, has about a ten and a half metre wingspan.
19:31And it weighs approximately 450 kilograms, hence its name.
19:34Why is it so big?
19:35We need to carry a lot of fuel and a lot of equipment due to our comms equipment as well.
19:39The fuel gives us increased duration in the air, providing us better eyes on the ground to the guys who we need to support.
19:45The airframe itself, the reason why it has such a long wingspan, is it's built around a glider prospect.
19:50Even if you lose the engine, the aircraft will continue to fly.
19:53Back on the combat logistic patrol, we're starting to pick up radio chatter from the enemy.
20:03They can mount an attack at any moment.
20:09But with Hermes and its eye in the sky holding its position overhead, we have the advantage.
20:14They're picking up ICOM, a hostile ICOM, to suggest that seven packs have got eyes on that overwatch location.
20:25Roger, so far over.
20:27There's a wire in the ground, could be a command wire, could be a trip wire.
20:32They don't want the aid to get through and the help to get through to the patrol bases.
20:37They want to disrupt that as much as possible.
20:38I've been riding directly into the danger zone on a combat logistic patrol, providing allied troops on Operation Mosserak with fresh supplies and materials to help keep the Taliban at bay.
20:57Pushed out from their positions, the enemy's commanders have switched our attack to our resupply column.
21:02But we've got something the Taliban haven't.
21:09Hermes, an unmanned aerial vehicle that has a camera trained on the ground, feeding surveillance video back to our convoy.
21:17So how is Hermes able to provide the high quality images essential for detecting enemy activity?
21:24This is the sensor payload itself.
21:27We operate off an EO payload, which is normal television, as you would see anywhere.
21:31Yeah.
21:32We also operate off an IR, which is a thermal capability.
21:35Infrared.
21:36Infrared.
21:37We will see the heat and it will produce a picture from the heat.
21:40Very, very similar to what you see on your police programs from police helicopters.
21:46These sophisticated cameras are stabilised and any vibrations minimised by pairing the drone with a smooth running Wankel rotary engine.
21:53Can you go to any altitude or are you limited by how high you go because it's a prop plane?
22:02This aircraft is limited to a 16,000 foot.
22:04Well that's high enough.
22:05That means that the enemy can't see it, they won't even hear it.
22:08They won't see us, they won't hear us.
22:09What makes the Hermes so valuable is that the moment the camera sees something, it feeds the images live to the ground station below and to a small monitor carried by the forward air controller in the battle zone.
22:22So the ground controller back at base and forward air controller out in the field can view, analyse and discuss exactly the same live images of a potential hazard.
22:36While the aircraft is limited to cruising 70 knots at 16,000 feet, it drops to 10,000 feet to obtain video footage and still images.
22:45A standard Hermes 450 can fly up to 124 miles from its base for 16 hours.
22:52A range determined by its need to maintain a line of sight data link to send images and other information back.
23:00This prop is not at the front like on a conventional aircraft.
23:04No, this is a push prop.
23:05The reason why we have a push prop is if you think about us looking forward at targets and areas of ground,
23:10there's no really point in having it at the front, all you see all day is the propeller.
23:13Put it at the back, it's out the way.
23:15So this just provides frost?
23:17Yep.
23:18Pushes the aircraft along?
23:19Pushes the aircraft along.
23:21It's all very clever not having a pilot on board, but what exactly are the benefits?
23:27If you remove the pilot from the aircraft, therefore you don't need all the life support systems,
23:30you give the aircraft increased duration and in some cases increased mobility.
23:34So the aircrew have been separated from the aircraft and are now flying a Hermes from inside this metal ISO container,
23:41known as a GCS or Ground Control Station.
23:45So this is like a cockpit of an aeroplane.
23:48It's exactly right.
23:49We have the pilot who maintains overall responsibility for the aircraft at all times,
23:53a payload operator that maintains responsibility for the payload and the image that we're receiving.
23:58Yep.
23:59And myself, I remain overall command of the mission at all times.
24:02Yeah.
24:03Predominantly, the aircraft's flying autonomously by flight command, imported into the 19-inch mapping screens.
24:08That's sent up to the aircraft and the aircraft has an automatic pilot inside it,
24:12and that will carry out the flight manoeuvres, not ourselves.
24:16If it loses signal, or this GCS loses power for instance, the aircraft will then fly back to our location via the GPS on board the aircraft.
24:23Don't you just come home and land?
24:24Yeah.
24:25Come home straight away, sit there and wait for us to regain control of it.
24:28They can zoom into any compounds and what they have is a daytime sensor and a nighttime sensor.
24:34They can zoom in, have a look around, follow people.
24:37We'll not only be able to relay, we'll be able to influence as well from the images that we get.
24:42All that information goes to the guys on the ground and also goes higher into the battle group centre.
24:47As well as general surveillance, by gathering intelligence of patterns of life and movement below,
24:53the Hermes can help identify targets and provide situational awareness to troops on the ground.
25:05It can then report back on the success or failure of any subsequent attack.
25:10Any chance I can ever go?
25:12No.
25:13No.
25:17Back on the ground, the combat logistics patrol is making slow progress.
25:27Apart from the anticipated Taliban attack, there's now a suspected improvised explosive device blocking our route.
25:34OK, what's happened now is one of the forward call signs has found what he thinks is a wire to the front,
25:42which could be a command wire or a command call, command detonated.
25:45So we're going to go firm, he's going to go forward and have a look at it.
25:48OK.
25:49And see where it might be.
25:50Alright.
25:51And see where it's linked to an IED.
25:52OK.
25:53How far ahead of us are they at this point?
25:57At this moment they're about, probably about 250 metres, 200 metres ahead of us.
26:03OK.
26:04Something like that.
26:05So 200 metres ahead.
26:06As Pat's just said, there's a wire in the ground, could be a command wire, could be a trip wire.
26:11But they've now pulled over, they're going to get out and investigate it.
26:16And this is typically one of the tracks that the insurgents and Taliban all set.
26:22And it's the biggest threat by doing this kind of logistics patrol down there,
26:27because, you know, that's what they want to stop.
26:29They want to stop this kind of stuff.
26:31They don't want the aid to get through and the help to get through to the patrol bases.
26:36They want to disrupt that as much as possible.
26:38All clear and we're back on the move.
26:42Pat has to look for IED clues in everything he sees.
26:46Seeing the local populace out here waving at you, smiling or even just being here is a very good sign.
26:53From our perspective it's encouraging.
26:54When we don't see anybody about at all, or we might see people starting to run,
26:59that our awareness should be heightened.
27:02This is really important in connecting with the people.
27:04It's all about building that bond.
27:06Again, some of them may never have seen, you know, coalition forces before, or the ANA.
27:10And even if it's an opportunity to, you know, just to say,
27:13Asalaam Alaikum, you know, peace be with you.
27:15Or just to wave a hand or something like that.
27:17It's a really important bridge we've got to try and make with the people.
27:21Our patrollers reach the canal that makes the green zone green.
27:28This is where it gets really tricky.
27:30Bombs planted into this bank are designed to blow us into deep water.
27:36We know the enemy are in the area.
27:39They've got eyes on us.
27:40We know they're going to be quite quick.
27:42They've mentioned 15 minutes, whatever they want from their commander,
27:45to launch something.
27:4715 minutes over.
27:48Our awareness is going to be heightened.
27:50All the drills are ready to go.
27:51So this next bit is really crucial.
27:52We get it right right now.
27:53This is so narrow down this little towpath by the canal.
28:05And we're in danger of tipping in.
28:07There's two things that Pat has asked for.
28:09One is drop down.
28:10So everyone's dropped down within the cabin.
28:14That's because obviously, you know,
28:17all the people on the top, if it rolls over.
28:19And also the medic has now locked the door
28:21and he's standing with his hand on the handle of the door
28:24just in case something happens.
28:26We can all burst out.
28:28All call signs through for Alpha.
28:30Make sure you keep to the left-hand side of this road.
28:33Stay well away from the right-hand edge of the canal.
28:35Out.
28:36If an IED explodes on the left-hand side of the vehicle,
28:42it's going to throw the vehicle over to the right
28:44and we'll end up in the canal.
28:46That's the same for everyone on this narrow path.
28:49And this path, this canal, almost like a towpath,
28:53has been littered with them over the years.
28:55Absolutely littered with them.
28:57And they've cleared loads,
28:58but they know there's still many, many more left in there,
29:02sunk in the ground.
29:07After painfully slow progress, we finally get through.
29:10And I do mean painfully.
29:13Mastiffs were not designed for comfort.
29:17My bum is officially dead.
29:22We've been on the road for almost six hours.
29:24We've just pulled over to the side of the canal
29:31while the tractor's just gone ahead
29:34to clear a little bit more of a route.
29:36Give us all an opportunity to jump out the Mastiff
29:39and to water the roses.
29:42I think we're going into the compound up there.
29:46All on board.
29:47All on board.
29:48We've got to jump on.
29:49So much for the break.
29:53Behind these high mud walls are the compounds our loads are destined for.
29:58Our main objective of the day is finally within our grasp.
30:03I think it would be accurate to say
30:04that the Taliban had quite a bit of freedom of movement around here
30:06and the out of area fighters.
30:08From the general atmospherics in the last couple of days
30:10we're hoping that in terms of the activity
30:13which has reduced quite significantly
30:15that we're hoping we've got them on the back foot
30:17and they're indeed just keeping their heads down
30:19and not looking for a fight.
30:23What's currently happening now
30:24is that the light wheel tractor is going to go into the compound
30:28and needs to widen some of the walls
30:30so that we can get all the stores in.
30:34But being near our destination doesn't mean there are no more threats.
30:37There could still be IEDs along this narrow road.
30:41So when I get out I have to take great care.
30:46This is the front line now in the war against terrorism
30:50or the war here in Helmand province.
30:54Mosterac has been running for nearly a week
30:56and this is where they've pushed to
30:58and this is where the Royal Welsh are holding the line
31:01and where they need their supplies.
31:03So I feel proud really that I've managed to get right down here
31:10where the battle's been.
31:12And this place has been the most fiercely contested area
31:16since the operation started.
31:18Essentially this is it.
31:19This is where ourselves and the Afghan forces
31:23are now going to have a real permanent presence.
31:26Right.
31:27Now if you look to your front now
31:28what you can see now is they've bulldozed the hole in the compound wall
31:31to show you how thick they are
31:32and the amount of work you're required to get through.
31:36You're witnessing the birth of a new patrol base.
31:39Most of the loads are in ISO containers at the moment.
31:47So using a system we've got on the back of our vehicle
31:50it's called a container handling unit
31:51which really just lifts the back of the container off
31:53and dumps it on the ground.
31:55We're going to leave these ISO containers here.
31:57Once the ISO containers are empty
31:58they will also form part of the infrastructure
32:02of the checkpoints themselves.
32:04Well Colonel I've got to say you must be absolutely delighted.
32:08Yeah it's great.
32:09Fantastic.
32:10It could have gone better actually.
32:11I'm Patrick and the boys are absolutely fantastic.
32:13Everyone's here and everyone's really delighted.
32:15I think so far the whole op's gone great.
32:17Everyone's smiling.
32:18There's been no real frictions.
32:20But it's what we wanted it to be really.
32:22Everyone wanted it to be sort of anti-connective.
32:24Just get in there and get it done
32:25and I can't be happy for the boys actually.
32:27It's been fantastic.
32:28Brilliant.
32:29You've enjoyed it?
32:30Yeah very much.
32:31Thank you very much.
32:32No you're welcome.
32:33Good luck.
32:36The Royal Welsh regiment personnel we're running into
32:39are the guys who won this ground from the Taliban
32:41just a week ago.
32:45After their exhausting battle
32:47they've been out here without tents or beds
32:49waiting for us to resupply them
32:51and provide them with raw materials
32:53to turn this into a proper base.
32:57A combat logistic patrol is not the only way
33:00to get supplies to out the way places like this.
33:03Once this patrol base has been established
33:07many of its supplies will arrive by air.
33:09Either by helicopters like the Chinook or Merlin
33:14or for the really big loads
33:17planes like the Hercules C-130.
33:20But there are no big airports here in the Afghan desert.
33:28So just how do you land 60 tons of plane
33:30like that safely on a dirt strip
33:33at over 200 kilometers an hour?
33:35I've been on the first combat logistic patrol
33:39resupplying our battle-wearied boys
33:41with the kit and ammunition they so badly need
33:43to continue their massive push against the Taliban.
33:46Operation Mosterrak.
33:54We're now witnessing the birth of a new patrol base.
33:56But to avoid the threat of attack by insurgents and hidden roadside bombs
34:03future supplies will be delivered by helicopter
34:05or even by the mighty Hercules.
34:09The clues in the name, it's an incredible powerful aircraft
34:12that can deliver heavy loads into makeshift airstrips.
34:15This is the Hercules, the J-series latest for the RAF.
34:31Now, this has been described by the pilots as a flying Land Rover.
34:35That's because it's reliable, dependable
34:38and it's easily repairable on the battlefield
34:40and to talk me through it would be this guy, you are?
34:42I'm Mike Stretton-Cox, otherwise known as Stretchy.
34:44Stretchy, fantastic.
34:49Okay then Stretchy, what is a Hercules?
34:51Well, it's a medium-sized tactical layer lifter.
34:54Its job really is to deliver troops and material
34:57where it's needed within the battlefield.
34:59What can this take in terms of a payload?
35:01Because I didn't realise until I walked up to it
35:03just how big it is, it sort of fills your peripheral vision.
35:06Yeah, it's pretty big. It's a maximum weight of 70 tonnes
35:09and we can take about 20 tonnes of freight.
35:11That's all in a 70 metre long airframe.
35:14In everyday operations, those amazing tonnages,
35:17which can now be loaded in just 90 minutes,
35:19add up to anything from 60 to 90 troops,
35:2216 pallets of supplies or even a couple of Land Rovers.
35:26To get those massive loads into the air, the Hercules needs some serious lifting power.
35:34It has four turboprop engines mounted on its 40 metre wingspan.
35:41These are Rolls-Royce Allison engines and they're 4,700 horsepower a piece.
35:47So there's a fair bit of thrust behind them.
35:49That's limited to avoid damage.
35:51It would obviously tear the engines off if it was producing its full power.
35:55And it can hold that power up to about 10,000 feet as well.
35:57So it's pretty good.
35:58They've got some real grunt, haven't they?
36:00Absolutely.
36:01The blades, are these variable pitch?
36:02Yeah, they're variable pitch.
36:03At the moment, these are as they would be at high speed
36:06and they flatten off in pitch when you get to a slower speed.
36:10Altering the pitch of the propellers optimises the way they cut through the air,
36:14squeezing out every last drop of engine power.
36:18They're also composites.
36:19They're one of the first composite propellers on an aircraft of this type.
36:23And the funny curve that you see is to stop shockwaves forming.
36:27When it's at its cruise speed, these tips are just below the speed of sound.
36:30No way.
36:31And props don't work above the speed of sound.
36:33So we've got to delay the shockwave.
36:35So the tip of this blade will be doing something like 650 miles an hour?
36:39Yeah.
36:40Through the air, yeah.
36:41That's incredible.
36:51Stretchy delivers essential supplies and troops during the safer hours of darkness
36:57and drops loads by parachutes to more remote places.
37:00Air drops are becoming more and more important in a land riddled with threats to ground-based transport and personnel.
37:07It's the kind of aircraft we can deliver stores to out-of-reach places that vehicles, convoys would be in great danger in supplying.
37:19Certain convoys, there's lots of mines, IEDs in the road.
37:25And so by delivering the stores close to the forward operating base, we can avoid that kind of risk, which is great for the troops.
37:32What height do you need to get to to drop the cargo out the back?
37:35Normally in this theatre, normally about 3,000 feet for the air drop itself.
37:40Yeah, they can vary it depending on the wind. Stronger wind, you have to go down a little bit lower.
37:44OK, so 3,000 feet, and how does that work then? Do you just sort of push them out the back?
37:49No, what happens is we open up the doors, the aircraft will go into a gentle climb.
37:53Gravity takes control and takes the pallets out the back.
37:56So you let gravity do the job and go wrong out the back?
37:59Absolutely.
38:00The parachute comes out immediately?
38:06Yeah, that's tripped from a line within the aircraft and then once it's clear, the parachute opens and then drifts onto the drop zone.
38:15The whole drop process is controlled by a computer that gathers data on wind speed, height and GPS coordinates to decide the precise moment for the drop.
38:30Troops also need to get around and bypass the dangers of travelling by road.
38:34The loading bay of the Hercules can quickly and easily be reconfigured to carry them exactly where they're needed.
38:44So this is where they would sit, is it?
38:45Yep.
38:46Just press up against the wall.
38:47I mean, it's not like getting on a commercial jet, is it?
38:49This is club class.
38:50What about if you want to, what happens if you want to go to the loo or something?
38:54Well, we've got two options here.
38:55Obviously, for the number one, we have the purinal quality.
39:02There is no wash basin.
39:05Right.
39:06And the number two is down that way.
39:09No way!
39:10No way!
39:12I've got to do that.
39:13That's fantastic.
39:15What with the whole aircraft knowing full well that you walk down there,
39:20you're going to get yourself up here with your mag.
39:25Pull your curtain if you can find the hooks for it.
39:29That is kind of bizarre.
39:31It's not ideal.
39:32No, it's not ideal, is it?
39:33Especially if they've got the doors open at the same time.
39:35It'll be kind of draughty, won't it?
39:40The Hercules has been in production since 1954.
39:44The longest continuous run of any aircraft in military history.
39:48But the cockpit has been brought bang up to date with heads up displays providing engine and navigation information.
39:56So the two pilots can keep their eyes on the hazardous airspace ahead.
40:01While computers take the strain of engine and propeller pitch management.
40:05This is one big bird to steer.
40:10So, what's this beast like to fly?
40:13It's a little bit heavy in pitch but it's great to fly.
40:17Lovely handling aircraft, very forgiving.
40:20And because this thing is a propeller aircraft, you have to use the rudders quite a lot actually.
40:24It takes a lot more rudder than a normal aircraft.
40:25Do you get torque off the engine?
40:27Yeah, torque and you get a slipstream that goes diagonally off the prop as well.
40:31See, in cars you get something called torque steer.
40:34Which is where you've got a front wheel drive car with a lot of power.
40:37Once you send that power through the front wheels, it will steer the car on the power of the engine alone.
40:42Is that very similar with the Herc? Do you get a torque steer?
40:45For different reasons, yeah, you get that.
40:47Because of the propellers.
40:48On a jet aircraft, you don't have to worry.
40:50But with a propeller aircraft, yeah, it will want to go its own way and you've got to fight it a little bit with the rudders.
40:56The Hercules is indispensable in Afghanistan because it's able to take off and land almost anywhere.
41:05The runway will be marked in a particular configuration which allows the crew to know which way to land and where to land.
41:15There will always be a ground party at that strip which will oversee the safety of that site.
41:26Landing speeds at 220 kilometers an hour and though there should always be force protection on the ground,
41:32pilots must be able to abort landing and take off in case of enemy fire.
41:36The Hercules will carry on its essential work and win over the affections of pilots and troops alike.
41:54It may not be one of the most glamorous military aircraft but its value out here is beyond doubt.
42:03I'd say it's a friend. It's a solid, reliable friend.
42:08Great aircraft, fantastic job and at the end of the day you know you've done some good for the troops on the ground which is really what it's all about.
42:16By bringing together their assets in the air and on land, the allies are resupplying troops on the front line, pushing the enemy out of its strongholds.
42:31Now it's important to build on the success of Operation Mostarac and establish a new base for our soldiers to operate safely.
42:44You can see that they are so pleased that this CLP has made it here because that means that they get stores,
42:50they get some fresh food on board, medicine supplies, there's probably some beds in there, a tent for them sleeping instead of just sleeping against the wall.
42:58And you can see they are all delighted over it.
43:01There should be a lot of water and rations, cop beds we are open for.
43:06Bliss, you won't have to sleep on this stuff anymore.
43:09That's right, yeah.
43:11With the Taliban watching their every move, this has always been a get in, get out mission.
43:16Now the enemy have had time to plan their attack. The return journey will be even more dangerous.
43:21Next time I get to put the warrior armoured troop carrier through its paces.
43:28Experience the Apache attack helicopter's awesome firepower.
43:33And hear from the brave boys who raided a deadly bomb making factory in broad daylight.
43:37In broad daylight.
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