Operation APOLLO

Operation APOLLOOperation APOLLO

Canadian Observations onCanadian Observations on

Operations in AfghanistanOperations in Afghanistan

February – July 2002February – July 2002

This PresentationThis Presentation

• Presents Unclassified MaterialsPresents Unclassified Materials

• Opinions Presented Herein are of a Opinions Presented Herein are of a Personal Nature and May Not Personal Nature and May Not Necessarily Reflect Those Of the Necessarily Reflect Those Of the Canadian Forces Canadian Forces

Dedicated To

All 89 Strathconas who deployed to Kandahar

OutlineOutline

• The Canadian Ground Contribution to The Canadian Ground Contribution to Op ENDURING FREEDOMOp ENDURING FREEDOM

• OperationsOperations

• ObservationsObservations

• Light Infantry Battalion Group (850 pers)Light Infantry Battalion Group (850 pers)– 3 Rifle Companies3 Rifle Companies– Light Armour Reconnaissance CompanyLight Armour Reconnaissance Company– Engineer CompanyEngineer Company– HHCHHC

• Recce PlatoonRecce Platoon– SnipersSnipers

• MortarsMortars• TOWTOW

– National Support ElementNational Support Element

The Canadian Ground Contribution The Canadian Ground Contribution to Op ENDURING FREEDOMto Op ENDURING FREEDOM

AfghanistanAfghanistan

Twelve Times Zones and Several CenturiesRemoved from Canada

Our New Home in the DesertOur New Home in the Desert

• Movement from CA done via Movement from CA done via combination of Contract and USAF combination of Contract and USAF (primary) Aircraft to Germany(primary) Aircraft to Germany

• Final Leg into Kandahar was on Final Leg into Kandahar was on USAF AircraftUSAF Aircraft

Threats – Taliban/Al QaedaThreats – Taliban/Al Qaeda

• Sniper/Incursion AttacksSniper/Incursion Attacks• AmbushesAmbushes• Rocket/Mortar AttacksRocket/Mortar Attacks• The Threat of MinesThe Threat of Mines

Threats - Debris of WarThreats - Debris of War

• An Ever Present ThreatAn Ever Present Threat

Threats – The NeighboursThreats – The Neighbours

• Taliban/Al Qaeda in Detainee FacilityTaliban/Al Qaeda in Detainee Facility• ““I wonder what property values are like living I wonder what property values are like living

next to a Maximum Security Prison”next to a Maximum Security Prison”

Threats – The EnvironmentThreats – The Environment

• LeshmaniasisLeshmaniasis• Snakes and InsectsSnakes and Insects

OperationsOperations

• Defensive OperationsDefensive Operations– KAFKAF– Quick Reaction ForceQuick Reaction Force

• Offensive OperationsOffensive Operations– Op HARPOON (AAslt)Op HARPOON (AAslt)– Op GREY HUSKY (Ground)Op GREY HUSKY (Ground)– Op TORRI (AAslt)Op TORRI (AAslt)– Op CHEROKEE SKY (Ground and AAslt)Op CHEROKEE SKY (Ground and AAslt)

ObservationsObservations

Observations – Observations – Full IntegrationFull Integration

• As a Coalition As a Coalition Partner, US Military Partner, US Military Did Not Hold BackDid Not Hold Back– Access to US Access to US

ResourcesResources– An Amazing An Amazing

ExperienceExperience

• Modern Sensor Systems Provide Modern Sensor Systems Provide Outstanding Capabilities right down to Outstanding Capabilities right down to Soldier LevelSoldier Level

• Night Vision Gear for the SoldierNight Vision Gear for the Soldier– Mated with appropriate pointers or designatorsMated with appropriate pointers or designators

• Thermal Observation Systems. Our weaknessThermal Observation Systems. Our weakness– Outside the Reconnaissance Company, thermal Outside the Reconnaissance Company, thermal

was limited to our Platoon Anti-Armor Systemswas limited to our Platoon Anti-Armor Systems

• Vector BinocularsVector Binoculars• DesignatorsDesignators• All-weather sensors (dust and night) and All-weather sensors (dust and night) and

shootersshooters

Observations – Observations – FirepowerFirepower

• There Are Never Enough Long Range There Are Never Enough Long Range ShootersShooters– As the Enemy’s stand off capability increases, so As the Enemy’s stand off capability increases, so

does our requirement to respond appropriately, does our requirement to respond appropriately, using either patrolling or firepower and observation using either patrolling or firepower and observation (or a combination of both)(or a combination of both)

• 25mm Cannon, Anti-Armor, Snipers25mm Cannon, Anti-Armor, Snipers– Get standoff to degrade accuracyGet standoff to degrade accuracy

• For the Infantry the deliberate application of long range For the Infantry the deliberate application of long range fires is an outstanding force multiplier (.50 or 7.62 mm). fires is an outstanding force multiplier (.50 or 7.62 mm). We need more:We need more:

– But Marksmen or Sharpshooters appropriately equipped will But Marksmen or Sharpshooters appropriately equipped will provide much of this capability and should be down to the provide much of this capability and should be down to the platoon levelplatoon level


1 X SUSPECT LAYING MINE

1 X SUSPECT CARRYING MINE

SPLASH FROM SHOT

SUSPECT BEHINDWALL

• The Capability To Deliver Firepower The Capability To Deliver Firepower (Direct and Indirect) In Adverse (Direct and Indirect) In Adverse Conditions Must Never Be ForgottenConditions Must Never Be Forgotten– Just because we cannot fly and observe or Just because we cannot fly and observe or

kill the Enemy, does not mean that he will kill the Enemy, does not mean that he will respect this limitation on usrespect this limitation on us

• All weather systems and teams are the key All weather systems and teams are the key – RISTARISTA

– Effective Direct Fire Mated to RISTAEffective Direct Fire Mated to RISTA

– Mortars/Field ArtilleryMortars/Field Artillery


• But……….But……….– Rules of Engagement and employment of Rules of Engagement and employment of

assets should mirror systems capabilitiesassets should mirror systems capabilities• Direct Fire Systems must match the capabilities of Direct Fire Systems must match the capabilities of

Observation SystemsObservation Systems– Why see something if you don’t have a response Why see something if you don’t have a response

capability to engage and destroy the targetcapability to engage and destroy the target

• Delivery and Control of Unobserved firesDelivery and Control of Unobserved fires– Through Target Acquisition RadarsThrough Target Acquisition Radars

– Surveillance RadarsSurveillance Radars

– Electronic Warfare Systems Electronic Warfare Systems

Observations -Observations -FirepowerFirepower

ROCKET FIRING

SURVEILLANCE VIDEO CAPTURE OF 107MM ROCKET LAUNCH

• Collective Training is a MustCollective Training is a Must– Must be Continuous and Appropriate to All Must be Continuous and Appropriate to All

ElementsElements• FIST, ETAC, Engineers and Logisticians need FIST, ETAC, Engineers and Logisticians need

to train with the other component parts to to train with the other component parts to ensure awareness of skills on both sidesensure awareness of skills on both sides

• Weak Links cannot be tolerated in any Weak Links cannot be tolerated in any component parts, exposure to equipment, component parts, exposure to equipment, doctrine and training ensures that everyone is a doctrine and training ensures that everyone is a Warfighter!Warfighter!


• Coalition Partners Must Ensure Coalition Partners Must Ensure Training Standards Are Recognized By Training Standards Are Recognized By Key AlliesKey Allies– Control of Fixed Wing AircraftControl of Fixed Wing Aircraft

• Not an issue with AviationNot an issue with Aviation


• CommunicationsCommunications– Appropriate and compatible Appropriate and compatible

communications equipment is a must for communications equipment is a must for ensuring access to Firepowerensuring access to Firepower

• Secure or DatalinkSecure or Datalink– Frequency Hoping CompatibleFrequency Hoping Compatible

• Should be addressed by any coalition partner Should be addressed by any coalition partner hoping to work shoulder to shoulder with the UShoping to work shoulder to shoulder with the US


• Sustainment over 12 Time zones was Sustainment over 12 Time zones was difficultdifficult– Use of Civilian Courier Service to expedite Use of Civilian Courier Service to expedite

deliverydelivery

• Like it or Not, Batteries Need to Be Like it or Not, Batteries Need to Be Considered as a Combat Supply ItemConsidered as a Combat Supply Item– Without our Night Vision and Communications Without our Night Vision and Communications

Equipment we become a World War II ArmyEquipment we become a World War II Army

Observations – Observations – Combat Supplies = FirepowerCombat Supplies = Firepower

Special Thanks To:Special Thanks To:Stephen Thorne (CP)Stephen Thorne (CP)

Garth Pritchard (Fearon)Garth Pritchard (Fearon)Nahlah Ayed (CP)Nahlah Ayed (CP)Paul Cowan (Sun)Paul Cowan (Sun)

Mike Vernon (CBC)Mike Vernon (CBC)Paul Workman (CBC)Paul Workman (CBC)Kevin Brown (CBC)Kevin Brown (CBC)

Jim Farrell (Southam)Jim Farrell (Southam)CF Combat CameraCF Combat CameraUS Combat CameraUS Combat Camera

• Embracing the Embracing the Media Works!Media Works!– Tell Canadian Tell Canadian

Stories to CanadiansStories to Canadians– A Link for the A Link for the

Families At HomeFamilies At Home

Observations – Observations – Firepower For The Domestic FrontFirepower For The Domestic Front

QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

Documents

Operation APOLLO