Brits over-extended and under-equipped in Afghanistan

Every gathering can hide a suicide bomber. Picture / Reuters

LONDON AND HELMAND PROVINCE - Afghanistan used to be called the forgotten war. Not any more. The deaths of 23 British soldiers, marines and aircrew in the past four weeks have seen to that. It has been the deadliest month for the British in Afghanistan since the invasion five years ago.

Fourteen people died together at the weekend, when an RAF Nimrod crashed west of Kandahar. The pilot was said to have reported a technical failure, which would surprise nobody serving there.

The British Army is facing the fiercest and most prolonged fighting it has seen in 50 years, says its commander, Lieutenant-General David Richards.

The troops are determined and now they are battle-hardened, but they also feel exhausted, under-resourced and vulnerable. They have been worn down by the heat and by an escalation in the conflict that has meant some units fighting continuously day and night for more than 40 days.

Among those serving in the southern province of Helmand, where camps have come under almost continuous siege, there is talk of gun barrels melting during prolonged fights. Land Rovers and armoured personnel carriers have proved woefully underprotected against roadside bombs or men who emerge from crowds of locals and detonate suicide bombs. Helicopters meant to provide air cover have suffered equipment failure in the hostile climate.

Generals have called for reinforcements and more resources from other Nato countries, but to little effect. Nato took over command in Afghanistan during the northern summer, bolstered by 3300 troops from Britain. When Defence Secretary John Reid sent them, he said he hoped they could leave "without firing a single shot".

So far, in five years, the British in Afghanistan have fired 80,000 shots. The plan to win hearts and minds was shattered by a huge American offensive this year. Nato intended to protect reconstruction and reduce the influence of the warlords and Taleban. Instead, troops found themselves "pinned down", said General Richards, Nato commander since August 1.

His answer was to vow to search out enemy fighters in their strongholds and kill them. But although his troops are skilful, the 50C heat can cause bodies as well as vehicles to break down. The supply of ammunition to Apache helicopters is allegedly being reduced as the Ministry of Defence seeks to make budget cuts of £40 million ($116 million), a leaked report says.

There are 8000 Nato troops in Afghanistan, mostly British or Canadian, but generals have said they need far more to do the job properly. That job is to bring peace to troubled lands and stop the heroin trade. But the United Nations says the opium crop has grown dramatically in the past year, with the profits going to arm the warlords and Taleban.

British troops in Helmand are fiercely reluctant to admit they are exhausted. But at a camp in Sangin, 100 paratroops resisted 44 Taleban attacks in 25 days. The fighting had been dirty and persistent, General Richards said, and some soldiers were seeing combat for the first time.

Things have to be bad for senior officers to admit they are struggling, but that has happened this year. Morale has been drained by the heat, lack of sleep, and a series of investigations into shooting incidents.

"Even in battle, soldiers know they will have to account for every shot they fire," said one officer. "That causes a hesitation that could be fatal."

Another senior officer in Helmand said of his equipment: "What we have is enough to make a difference but it does force us to be economical."

As aircraft parts fail in the demanding climate, supplies have to be delivered by road, which is very dangerous. Vehicles such as the so-called "Snatch" Land Rover are "not fit for purpose", says Colonel Tim Collins, who won fame during the invasion of Iraq.

One member of a signals regiment in Helmand said wearily: "The Snatch is good for stopping bricks and petrol bombs in Londonderry. That's about it."

- INDEPENDENT