Operations by 45 Commando in Afghanistan

© All images Crown Copyright Operations by 45 Commando in Afghanistan
45 Commando was despatched to Afghanistan in March 2002, and began operations on 16th April 2002.

Operation Ptarmigan
Operation Snipe
Operation Condor
Operation Buzzard

Operation Ptarmigan

In April 2002, personnel from 3 Commando Brigade's Reconnaissance Troop and 45 Commando carried out Operation Ptarmigan in a high valley in company with US and Afghan forces, the operation's aim was to search and clear the valley in the Afghan mountains, which was believed to have been occupied by al-Qaeda and Taliban forces.

Chinooks of No.27 Squadron, RAF, supported the operation which lasted for five days, finishing on 18th April 2002 when the forces returned to Bagram Airfield.

Although no contact was made with al-Qaeda, the Operation found signs of recent activity in the area. Caves and bunkers containing ammunition, arms and supplies were found and destroyed in the area.

Operation Snipe

In a remote area of the Afghan mountains at an altitude of between nine and thirteen thousand feet high over 1,000 personnel from 45 Commando Group were engaged in Operation Snipe from 2nd May 2002. The troops were supported by Chinooks of No.27 Squadron, RAF, and local Afghan forces. The aim of the Operation, codenamed Snipe, was to search and clear the area which was believed to be a base used by al-Qaeda and Taliban forces.

The area, in the southeast of the country was investigated by Coalition forces, with the aim of searching, clearing and destroying any terrorist infrastructure located there and render it safe for aid operations to the local population.

During the operation a major cave network was discovered that contained a huge arms cache. Over 100 mortars, a hundred anti-tank guns along with hundreds of rocket-propelled grenades, anti-personnel mines, artillery shells and rockets as well as thousands of rounds of anti-aircraft and small-arms ammunition. Demolition charges were placed and the entire complex was destroyed.

The successful conclusion of Snipe was announced on 13 May.

Operation Condor

Elements of 45 Commando Group were deployed on Operation Condor on 17th May 2002 to support an Australian SAS patrol engaged in fighting with al-Qaeda and Taliban forces in the mountains of Paktia province in southeast Afghanistan.

The operation was intended to destroy enemy forces in the area and the infrastructure supporting them. The Australian patrol engaged the enemy on 16th May, after coming under fire from machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades, the patrol called in air support and casualties were inflicted on the enemy. Early the next day, additional ground forces joined them including members of 45 Commando Group. By 18th May all four companies of 45 Commando plus their supporting Royal Artillery battery were in the area. Munitions discovered in the area after the fire fight were disposed of safely.

Operation Condor was concluded on 22nd May 2002.

Operation Buzzard

On 29th May, Troops from 45 Commando began patrols in the Kowst region of southeast Afghanistan, under the codename of Operation Buzzard. The operation was conducted with the aim of denying the local area to terrorist groups and their support network, to provide humanitarian aid work and secure the area.

Operation Buzzard concluded successfully on 9 July.