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Royal Marines storm Basra suburb
The Daily Telegraph ^
| April 1, 2003 | Tim Butcher
Posted on 03/31/2003 3:42 PM PST by MadIvan
Triumphant Royal Marine commandos yesterday mopped up the final traces of resistance in the south of Basra after the success of the first urban infantry assault of the war by British troops.
Under cover from smoke shells fired by British gunners, troops from Delta Company of 40 Commando renewed the assault at first light, attacking two enemy positions, known by military planners using the operation's James Bond theme as Pussy and Galore.
Attempts by Iraqi troops to flee from the British advance over the Shatt Al-Arab waterway were confounded when two boats crammed with soldiers were attacked by mortars and helicopter-borne missiles.
By midday some sort of normality had returned to the riverside suburb of Abu Al Khasib and Royal Marine foot patrols were already deployed Northern Ireland-style, looking for Saddam loyalists.
They received a warm welcome from the members of the 30,000-strong population, with children and adults giving the thumbs-up, smiling and shouting "Mister, mister, England good".
One surprised Royal Marine said: "We were meant to be giving them food but they keep coming up to us and giving us stuff."
The success of Operation James may now embolden senior commanders to order a full advance on the heart of Basra, a city believed to be controlled by a desperate pro-Saddam minority.
While there were some Royal Marine casualties from accidents in the battle for Abu Al Khasib, none was caused by enemy fire. Looking at the devastation around the town, that seemed astonishing.
Under plumes of black smoke from two burning oil tankers, more than 10 destroyed Iraqi tanks could be seen in one stretch of road alone.
Each had been stopped in its tracks, its thick steel armour peeled open. There did not appear to be any Iraqi dead inside, but plenty of hastily removed uniforms were strewn here and there.
"It looks like the crews got out before the tanks were actually engaged," Brig Jim Dutton, the commander of 3 Commando Brigade, said.
"That says something I suppose about the level of commitment from the enemy we face."
Reinforced trenches and earthworks had been built to the south of the town where it faces the salty, marsh flats of the Faw peninsula.
But no matter how elaborate the Iraqi tank positions, nothing could stop 600 Royal Marines from 40 Commando advancing on foot in the early hours of Sunday supported by tanks, artillery and air power.
The 105mm light guns of 29 Commando Regiment, Royal Artillery, had fired an unprecedented barrage ahead of the Royal Marines. Each of the eight guns from 8 Commando Battery fired more than 100 rounds, and their gun pits out on the flats were each surrounded by a small mountain of burnt brass shell cases.
On the roads within the town there were heaps of British spent ammunition cases, each one telling part of the story of the 14-hour battle for Abu Al Khasib. An Iraqi anti-aircraft gun lay destroyed next to a bridge and mortar impact splashes pockmarked the roads.
The Challenger 2 tanks from C Squadron the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards were crucial to the battle. "Plenty of rocket-propelled grenades were fired at our call signs but they simply bounced off the armour," said Capt Fraser McLeman, 26, from Stratford-upon-Avon, the leader of one of the tank troops.
After the battle, there was a buzz of excitement among the Royal Marines as groups exchanged stories. A physical training instructor sergeant was generally acclaimed after he was hit on his bullet-proof vest by enemy fire. The shot shattered the heavy ceramic plate in his vest but the sergeant continued to fight and even killed his attacker.
One British armoured vehicle was attacked by 70 rocket-propelled grenades but it was not destroyed and its occupants were unhurt.
A Royal Marine told of a grenade glancing off his helmet and another told of how an Iraqi colonel driving a car with a briefcase full of cash refused to stop and was shot dead. "I didn't know what to do with the money so I gave it to the kids, bundles of the stuff," the Royal Marine said.
For the Iraqis the arrival of the British also appeared to be welcome news. British troops discovered evidence of the brutality of the regime in a police station in the suburb where they found what appeared to be a torture chamber.
"If any proof was needed of the nature of Saddam Hussein's regime then things like this give it," Lt-Col Gordon Messenger, the commanding officer of 40 Commando, said.
Local people were not yet in any mood to discuss the past, but life appeared to be returning to some sort of normality yesterday.
Shops opened, selling bags of spices and nuts, and at least one bakery was producing fresh, unleavened bread in a wood-fired oven.
The Royal Marines now patrolling the streets of the town reported good relations with the local population, who tipped them off on Sunday about an ambush being prepared by Saddam loyalists. Using this information, the British soldiers surprised their ambushers, killing three of them.
For Col Messenger yesterday, there was only a residual sense of pride in the performance of his men. "To the layman the achievements in Abu Al Khasib of these men might sound strange but I know them well and it came as no surprise to me," he said. "Quite simply, they were magnificent."
The lads strike again.
Regards, Ivan
1 posted on 03/31/2003 3:42 PM PST by MadIvan
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Bump!
2 posted on 03/31/2003 3:42 PM PST by MadIvan
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Under cover from smoke shells fired by British gunners, troops from Delta Company of 40 Commando renewed the assault at first light, attacking two enemy positions, known by military planners using the operation's James Bond theme as Pussy and Galore.
I love it! I can just imagine the James Bond theme being played while they stormed this suburb! Great work!
3 posted on 03/31/2003 3:45 PM PST by Pyro7480
(+ Vive Jesus! (Live Jesus!) +)
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Quite scary the surge of nationalistic pride reading that ;p
4 posted on 03/31/2003 3:46 PM PST by may18
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I love the comment about giving away the cash to the kids!
There will always be an England.
5 posted on 03/31/2003 3:48 PM PST by Blueflag
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Here, have another dose:
Regards, Ivan
6 posted on 03/31/2003 3:48 PM PST by MadIvan
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Once Basra is liberated, the dominos will begin falling all the way to Baghdad, as word spreads on how great freedom from fear of Saddam's regime feels.
7 posted on 03/31/2003 3:49 PM PST by Russell Scott
(Iraqi soldier, is it really worth dying for the Butcher of Baghdad?)
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Operation Bond? I guess they had to call it something.
Good job for the Brits.
8 posted on 03/31/2003 3:50 PM PST by dinok
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The Mother Land has really been giving her all in this war! England is a strong nation and is proving it all over again!
9 posted on 03/31/2003 3:52 PM PST by princess leah
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Brits got style and grace, soldiers and reporters. Bump.
10 posted on 03/31/2003 4:04 PM PST by Shermy
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I would hope for something more Pythonian, like "Operation Trojan Rabbit":
11 posted on 03/31/2003 4:04 PM PST by Chebornik
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The tide is starting to turn. Please add me to your bump list, thanks!
12 posted on 03/31/2003 4:07 PM PST by Citizen of the Savage Nation
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The Mother Land has really been giving her all in this war! England is a strong nation and is proving it all over again!
The Black Watch and other British outfits are from Scotland. There is more to Britain than England.
13 posted on 03/31/2003 4:07 PM PST by Kuleana
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Bond. As in James Bond.
14 posted on 03/31/2003 4:08 PM PST by mondonico
(Peace through Superior Firepower)
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Indeed
Some of the finest regiments, the royal irish, black watch, and the ghurkas
None english.
The scottish scared the hell out of us for a while.
The ghurkas when vastly outnumbered against british soldiers fought to the last man. The british were so impressed they erected a statue in their honour. And decided to get them on their side.
15 posted on 03/31/2003 4:11 PM PST by may18
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Wonderful! Here is to the "Motherland". Makes me appreciate my roots.
16 posted on 03/31/2003 4:11 PM PST by Gauchau
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Ivan, the story is worthy of the men who accomplished this task. And so is your nation. Good on you blokes.
Congressman Billybob
Latest column, now up on UPI, and FR, "The A-MAA-zing War Wizard"
Latest book(let), "to Restore Trust in America."
17 posted on 03/31/2003 4:14 PM PST by Congressman Billybob
("Saddam has left the building. Heck, the building left the building.")
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Attempts by Iraqi troops to flee from the British advance over the Shatt Al-Arab waterway were confounded when two boats crammed with soldiers were attacked by mortars and helicopter-borne missiles.
They were trying to flee to Iran? Maybe that's what the convoy that got shot up the other day was trying to do too.
18 posted on 03/31/2003 4:15 PM PST by aristeides
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another told of how an Iraqi colonel driving a car with a briefcase full of cash refused to stop and was shot dead. "I didn't know what to do with the money so I gave it to the kids, bundles of the stuff," the Royal Marine said.
Cool! BTT!
19 posted on 03/31/2003 4:19 PM PST by alexandria
((Shpeling Opshunal))
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Someone alert al Jazeera! (As if they would listen.)
20 posted on 03/31/2003 4:20 PM PST by jennyp
(http://lowcarbshopper.bestmessageboard.com)
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This operation in Basra is destined for the textbooks. The days of Saddam's reign of terror are numbered.
Do you hear tell of what the Brits will do when Basra is secured? Will they advance north or pacify the situation in the south?
21 posted on 03/31/2003 4:23 PM PST by Don'tMessWithTexas
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A Royal Marine told of a grenade glancing off his helmet and another told of how an Iraqi colonel driving a car with a briefcase full of cash refused to stop and was shot dead. "I didn't know what to do with the money so I gave it to the kids, bundles of the stuff," the Royal Marine said."
ROFL!
22 posted on 03/31/2003 4:25 PM PST by Don'tMessWithTexas
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Do you hear tell of what the Brits will do when Basra is secured? Will they advance north or pacify the situation in the south?
I suspect a bit of both - some will be left to pacify, others will join on the attack on Baghdad. After all, it wouldn't be right to let you go in there alone. ;)
Regards, Ivan
23 posted on 03/31/2003 4:25 PM PST by MadIvan
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One surprised Royal Marine said: "We were meant to be giving them food but they keep coming up to us and giving us stuff."
V
24 posted on 03/31/2003 4:54 PM PST by Dog
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Another gem.
Thanks & BTTT
25 posted on 03/31/2003 4:55 PM PST by Fzob
(Why does this tag line keep showing up?)
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Ivan, I want you to know that my husband and I have VOWED to visit England as a thank you gesture! We had planned to visit Paris before the anti-American toads backstabbed us. FORGET IT, it's England, our sister nation for us!! And we plan to spend BIG BUCKS THERE!! God bless England and the USA!! ONWARD BRAVE SOLDIERS!!
26 posted on 03/31/2003 5:17 PM PST by RoseofTexas
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There is a story about the British training of the Ghurkas.
The Brits had a Ghurka paratroop regiment, and on the first jump, the officer was explaining to the men, via a translator, "We will be jumping at 1,000 feet."
There were concerned looks and shaking heads as the translator repeated the words.
"What's wrong?" asked the officer.
"Sir, the men wondered if we could jump at 500 feet."
"That's impossible---their parachutes won't open at 500 feet."
The translator communicated that to the troops, who suddenly began smiling and nodding and muttering.
"What's going on?" asked the officer.
"Sir. It's OK. They didn't know that they got parachutes."
27 posted on 03/31/2003 5:24 PM PST by LS
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Magnificant indeed. Showing how it is done...
28 posted on 03/31/2003 5:33 PM PST by JasonC
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brave Brits ping
29 posted on 03/31/2003 5:58 PM PST by jwfiv
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"RULE, BRITTANIA" indeed!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for that audio link!!!
30 posted on 03/31/2003 6:17 PM PST by CarmelValleyite
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Sounds like them.
I was told stories about the Ghurka by a Border Patrol agent originally from Arkansas who worked with my father.
He was in some sort of Special Forces (my memory is failing, sorry..) in Vietnam, working with the Hmong.
He served a lot of his time with the Ghurkas, and even was gifted with a khukri (sp?), their wicked short sword/long hatchet-knife thingy.
They evidently have their sense of humor quite in common with the Brits - they were evidently extremely dry most of the time - but then they'd quite somberly and deliberately play intricate practical jokes on someone. For hours.
And they're devils in combat. Pure ferocity.
31 posted on 03/31/2003 6:20 PM PST by Republicanus_Tyrannus
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I would suspect that a goodly number could offer us Yanks some assistance in cleaning out remaining pockets of resistance in the cities leading up to BD.
32 posted on 03/31/2003 6:21 PM PST by Don'tMessWithTexas
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A big well done and Semper Fi to your Royal Marines. In the end, enemy real estate is always taken by men of valor armed with rifles. Now, what about Malta. The Commando based there in Summer of 65 [can't remember the outfit] invited the officers of 2nd Battalion/8th Marines over for a mess night and got us in the total paralytic mode before the roast beef ever showed up. They drank scotch neat, hard and fast, and we would have been rude not to follow their example. Then they took us down to the bars in Valetta so we could look in on our Marines. Malta under the Brits still had much of its WWII aura - writ large in the annals of war as Churchill would put it. Bunch of commies there now. It won't be the same until you take it back.
33 posted on 03/31/2003 8:48 PM PST by Bedford Forrest
(Roger, Contact, Judy, Out. Fox One. Splash one.)
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"I didn't know what to do with the money so I gave it to the kids, bundles of the stuff," the Royal Marine said.
What an awesome thing to do!! That Iraqi was trying to head off after feathering his own nest. It is only right that the money should go to the ones who were most terrified by all that has gone on!
34 posted on 04/01/2003 7:17 AM PST by SuziQ
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WHere are the Ghurkas from?? I am sorry to be dumb.
35 posted on 04/01/2003 7:26 AM PST by lizbet
(Obey God and things will be better for the USA!)
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Nepal
36 posted on 04/01/2003 8:35 AM PST by may18
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"If any proof was needed of the nature of Saddam Hussein's regime then things like this give it," Lt-Col Gordon Messenger, the commanding officer of 40 Commando, said.
None was, Colonel, but thanks just the same.
37 posted on 04/01/2003 1:41 PM PST by Mr. Silverback
(What part of "We're winning" did you not understand?)
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Great battlefield reporting. Don't know why the American papers aren't capable of the same kind of writing.
38 posted on 04/01/2003 1:52 PM PST by txzman
(Jer 23:29)
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"Do you hear tell of what the Brits will do when Basra is secured?"
The plan is to have the Brits acts a mobile reserve for the final assault on Baghdad protecting the flanks of the main force.
The British expertise in urban warfare has proven to be invaluable boon to this campaign.
Bravo!
39 posted on 04/01/2003 1:59 PM PST by ggekko
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Rule Britania...
well in Basra anyway.
40 posted on 04/01/2003 2:33 PM PST by dinok
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