OPERATION : Forged Hope 26-27th Jan 2008

[Jimmy]

LOCATION: MUSA QALEH - HELMAND PROVINCE - AFGHANISTAN

In july 2006 two Dozen reconnaissance Commando's of the Uk Pathfinders Slipped into Helmand Province in Southern Afghanistan. The men were tasked to replace 150 US Infantry troops at the District Center at Musa Qaleh, a remote, crumbling old fortress of mud brick wall enhanced by cinder block, with no running amenities to speak of. Yet the position was essential to the fledgling Karzai Government, as such centers were crucial in demonstrating to the local populace that the Coalition and its Afghan allies were here to stay and the Taliban would never rule again.   




The Pathfinders were expected to hold Musa Qaleh for only a few days; they were then to be relieved in turn by a much larger force so they could return to their specialty of patroling and gathering intel in area's where larger, follow-on forces would rely on their reports. Yet 56 days later, the "Dirty Two Dozen" were still there, and had faught off seemingly endless waves of Taliban efforts to seize the position.

Taliban mortars, RPG's and small arms blasted the compound day and night sometimes fighting hand to hand with the enemy the Pathfinders not only faught off the Taliban but went out after them and In close to two months of intense day and night fighting, not a single Taliban insurgant ever got close to breaching Musa Qaleh.

Taliban insurgents.  30 Places. Uniform : No Uniform Rule. ( Not DPM or Woodland )

UK - Pathfinders: 24 Places. Uniform : DPM


Site Location :
Great Blackhill Farm.  Olchon Valley
Craswall
Herefordshire
HR2 0PH

Price :  £50 per person

For more details contact matt@stirlingairsoft.comThis email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or call on 07831 429 407.

[Derrick]

Will any supplies, food, ammo, batteries, etc be availible BEFORE start of mission ? ie Friday ?

[Jimmy]

Derrick,

There won't be any ammo, batteries or consumables on site I'm afraid.

Friday night there is a local pub which serves food (very nice grub and very quiet)

As from Saturday morning its going to be living off the land - you'll need to be carrying everything you need.

There is no electricity on site for the whole weekend bar emergency battery charging from a generator.

Best to bring dehydrated food which you can make decent scran from using hot water only (there will be plently of stream water which you can boil will be safe to use in food and drinks once it has been boiling for 2 mins) Dehydrated food is also normally light and packs down will. Sandwiches go well but its advised to brting something that will provide some warmth.

Jimmy

[Derrick]

Hi Jimmy,
                        Thanks, I have best part of me gear, I was asked by another bloke who is coming along

Been reading up on a simular Op, how are the opposition ?

Are the 'peace' talks proceeding well ? (if they are we wont be going along  )

As long as the yanks wont be there, we have a chance of coming out alive 

[Zulu Daddy]

On Behalf of the striling staff & crew, i would like to thank all those who attended this weekend,endured the heavy underfooting of the hillside, the vicious winds & what was a truly hard routine, hard core great weekend.
pat on the back to all para, pathfinders, S.F teams & our beloved Enemy forces,  Uncle dave legend this weekend mate! and all the ETS guys.. I know for some of my team in zulu2.2 Alpha it was your first time,& i would like to congratulate you all for doing a grand job on your first outing & hope to see more of you at future stirling events, it was a baptism of fire for you this weekend you all did really great.
it was a hard routine weekend & everyone played their part in making it an enjoyable weekend.

keith. O.C. Zulu 2.2.

[Zulu Daddy]

deployed behind enemy lines, the journey inland was rough
We came across the Taliban a bunch so very tough
they didnt like us in their land, they wanted us to go
but we were 3 para with the marroon berets so we obviously said no!

Pathfinders both brave & bold we tabbed across the region
our aim to get to the fort in our patrol order we looked like a roman legion

with opposition in our way the path was not that easy
the sight of the bullet riddled afghan fighters were not for the quesy

we trekked on until we saw were we were supposed to be
filled with taliban insurgents the fort was manned and our occupation would not be easy.

with orders from our OC the battle plan was formulated, get into the fort
let the lesson be taught & the enemy eradicated!

for quit some time the arm wrestle ensued, the afghans were amazed
to see from their village that we  had made it through & the union jack was raised

everyman gave what he had the ammo running low
but moral was high & no matter how hard they tried we dealt them a cruel blow

No more the cries of  the Terrorists  &  promises & Prayers to Allah!
the dirty two dozen had made it through & were victorious at MUSA QALEH!

[Mike]

Cheers to everyone involved on this one, these combat missions are by far the best I've been to.
Special thanks to Matt and Stirling for the organisation and to Freddy for keeping us in line. Can’t wait for Catterick!

[Syd]

Nice prose Keith, good tribute to the real action as well.

Phil and I knocked up a counterpoem to give the other perspective


By Allah's will, the light of day we sat upon the hill,
the silence broke, from southern crest the enemy did spill.
We packed up our belongings and then did wonder why
the infidel had come so far to watch our children die.

We blew the horn, calling brave and old to take up arms against them
the children and the women cried for fear of losing their men.
The infidel marched ever on towards Musa Quleh
those already maimed by them were moved into the cellar.

Our precious place our holy place we defended with our lives,
lest the evil infidel should look upon our wives.
Our sons of god our warriors, fought vainly to the last,
then Musa Quleh was lost, their victory all too fast.

The Hammer of Mohammed spat fury upon their ranks,
it's just as well they didn't turn up with them all riding tanks.
The enemy hid from us, ignoring those they slew,
we spied on them and watched as they set about their "brew".

Their tactics were superior, of their kit we had much envy,
but by Mohammed we feared the most the thing they did call "NV".
We fought and died, we vainly tried to save our Musa Qulah,
the building they did occupy, the home of the camel seller.


Oh, and cheers to all for a fun weekend.

[Zulu Daddy]

nice one syd! i lke it! was great to see you at the weekend! see ya at the next one.
keith.