Combat Airdrop in Afghanistan
By FLTLT James Laurence
Sunrise departure
The New Zealand Defence Force is one of many armed forces and other organisations that contribute to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. The Royal New Zealand Air Force has relatively few personnel deployed with ISAF but, as a recent event proved, enough to make a significant impact. Flight Lieutenant James Laurence tells the story.
No. 40 Squadron conducted their first combat airdrop in Afghanistan on 27 April 2009. The opportunity arose when an urgent task request was received from a United States Marine Corps (USMC) unit, stationed north-west of Helmand, for a re-supply of ammunition and rations. With only limited and dangerous access by road, and United States Air Force (USAF) aircraft tied up with other duties, No. 40 SQN accepted the re-supply task.
The RNZAF C-130 Hercules crew, along with their trusty maintenance team, had been based at Bagram Air Force Base (AFB) for the preceding two weeks, conducting intra-theatre airlifts for ISAF. The Captain, Flight Lieutenant Ricky ‘The Chin’ Beetham and Co-pilot, FLTLT Aaron ‘Clancy’ Lloyd had already piloted the Herc into over a dozen austere strips in the two weeks leading up to the drop, so both were well prepared. Additionally, the crew had been west to Herat, north to Mazar-E-Sharif, east to Salerno, south to Camp—deep in Helmand Province—and everywhere in between.
The operational airdrop was, however, going to be a further test of the crew’s training and teamwork. For the crew, it was the first time that they had attempted an airdrop in a combat environment.
Inside the Herc
There were multiple differences between the routine training airdrops at Kaipara and Raumai ranges in New Zealand and the real thing in a war zone. Instead of a simulated threat there was the possibility of a real engagement, which meant that we had only one chance to drop once we had committed to the run in.
The initial deployment objectives did not include airdrop, but after the Detachment Commander, Squadron Leader Andy Scott confirmed that we had that capability and, together with approval from command, planning began in earnest for an airdrop mission. Our Loadmasters, Flight Sergeant ‘Uncle’ Mike Roberts and SGT Paul ‘Craypot’ McBride, had to find a full complement of specialist airdrop equipment. Fortunately, our friends within the USAF 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron had been operationally testing new Low Cost Low Velocity (LCLV) chutes only two months previously. The LCLVs were a good initiative to save money, but presented some teething problems related to chute deployment reliability and unpredictable drift rates. This provided the Navigator with some new problems to solve and an excuse if he got it wrong!
The weather was suitable for airdrop—layered cloud around Kandahar to mask the C-130’s departure and clear skies over the drop zone. Fortunately for the Marines, brilliant work from W/O Gibson and his RNZAF maintenance team quickly and effectively corrected a problem with a piece of mission critical equipment.
Armed and ready
Preceding the airdrop, clearances needed to be gained from multiple agencies, including Command and Control and the Marines on the Drop Zone (DZ).
Clearance to drop was initially withheld as an Improvised Explosive Device had recently gone off in the vicinity and more time was required to secure the DZ. A hold plan had to be devised that allowed the crew to maintain communications with the required ground agencies.
When the fire-fight on the ground had died down and the Marines had gained some semblance of control, they cleared the Herc in for the airdrop. Modified tactics had been planned to counter the most likely threats, but the crew was operating on the edge of their comfort zone. Easily identifiable visual features made the run in—towards the setting sun—relatively easy. The Marines threw a smoke marker, which helped in wind assessment and also to identify the DZ in the hazy conditions.
At the Calculated Air Release Point, Navigator, FLTLT James ‘Cletus’ Laurence called for the green light and the Loadmasters cut the eight bundles of vital supplies away. The bundles rolled perfectly out the back for another No. 40 SQN load right on target—the USMC would have supplies to fight another day.
The escape from the DZ was as expeditious as possible; SGT David ‘Boomer’ Bennett ensured we had max power, and cleaned up the after-drop checklist. After a rewarding mission, the crew returned to Bagram AFB for the American version of tea and scones—root beer and donuts—in preparation for their next tasking.
Mission accomplished!