The Emergency Scramble is the biggest adrenalin rush of the four main tasks designated to the Apache Flights. Two Apaches are under starter’s orders 24/7, ready to lift for any location in the province. We scramble to bail out troops in contact and cover Chinooks when they’re on reinforcement or medivac flights. It’s proper seat-of-your-pants, World-War-Two-fighter-pilot stuff that always involves a mad dash to the flight line. There are two types of scramble. If the scramble is to a location that’s not under fire, a vehicle accident in the desert, for example, only one aircraft – the Incident Response Team – would escort the Chinook. Two Apaches – the Helmand Reaction Force – would lift for medivacs in the Green Zone and other dangerous locations, and in support of troops in contact. The image above shows me in close escort during an Emergency Scramble.
Ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair’s clandestine visit was the worst-kept secret in Camp Bastion; everyone had known about it for days. ‘Listen, I know you all know who’s coming out,’ the Boss said one night at an evening brief. ‘But from now on, please stop talking about it. It’s supposed to be classified.’ A posh-looking marquee was set up for Blair’s one-hour meet-and-greet visit, complete with the biggest tray of croissants I’d ever seen. In addition to opening a book on who could get the longest handshake with the PM, there was a challenge to see who could ask the oddest question of him and still get an answer. Darwin wanted to ask Blair for a picture – and then follow it up by handing him the camera to take a picture of us. In the end, we all simply gathered sheepishly around Blair; the only rebellion the odd thumbs-up behind him. After a fifteen-minute speech, we hadn’t learned anything new, and I wondered why he’d bothered to come all that way. Still, the bacon croissant was nice.
We quickly realised we were the only chance for Lance Corporal Ford, the marine behind enemy lines. With alternatives quickly falling by the wayside, we came up with a rescue plan that involved strapping marines to the Apaches’ wings. Squabbling among the ranks had cost us valuable time and so, with less fuel than was legally required to get back to camp, we began the rescue mission. There were a million what ifs. I had the answers, but not the time. A three-day planning conference would have been nice. Instead, I had twenty seconds. The best instructions I could give to the four marine volunteers from Colonel Magowan’s Command Post: strap yourselves to the wings so that, if shot, you don’t fall off. And, when we get to Jugroom Fort, rescue Lance Corporal Ford and strap yourselves back to the wings. As simple and as complicated as that.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
105s: 105mm Light Gun – Towed Artillery used by the Paras and the Marines
2i/c: Second in Command
30 Mike Mike: Military slang for 30 millimetre or the Apache’s Cannon rounds
50 Caclass="underline" British Forces L1A1 Heavy Machine Gun – 12.7 mm (.50 inch) calibre tripod-mounted or vehicle-mounted automatic
A10: US Forces ground attack warplane nicknamed the Thunderbolt or Warthog
AA: Anti-Aircraft – known as ‘Double A’. A large calibre gun used against low-flying aircraft
AAA: Anti-Aircraft Artillery – known as ‘Triple A’. Very large calibre artillery pieces used to engage aircraft at higher altitudes than AA
AAC: Army Air Corps – corps of the British Army that operates helicopters and fixed wing aircraft
ADF: Automatic Direction Finder – Radio Navigation System
Affirm: Affirmative – air speak for Yes
Aircrew: People that crew the aircraft: pilots, navigators, door gunners and loadmasters
AH64: AH64A Apache – US Army Apache Attack Helicopter with no Radar, AH64D Longbow Apache – US Army Apache Attack Helicopter with Radar
AK47: Soviet assault rifle – 7.62 mm automatic
Altitude: Height above sea level, rather than ground level
ANA: Afghan National Army
ANP: Afghan National Police
Apache: Apache AH Mk1 – the British Army Apache Attack Helicopter – Built by Agusta Westland and all fitted with the Longbow Radar
APC: Armoured Personnel Carrier
APU: Auxiliary Power Unit – an engine used to power-up the main engines or to provide power to an aircraft on the ground
Armed Helicopter: A helicopter that has had a weapon system fitted but was primarily designed as a weapons platform
ASE: Aircraft Survivability Equipment – the HIDAS
ATO: Ammunition Technical Officer
Attack Helicopter: A helicopter that is designed around being a complete weapon system, rather than a weapon system designed to fit a helicopter
B1: B1 Lancer bomber – US Air Force high altitude long range supersonic strategic bomber
Bag, the: A blacked-out cockpit used to teach Apache pilots how to fly at night with sole reference from the monocle
Battlegroup: A battalion-sized fighting force
BDA: Battle Damage Assessment
Beirut unload: A rough and ready way of firing at something without risking the life of the firer. The firer stands behind cover and places the weapon over or around a wall and fires a full magazine of ammunition in the rough direction of the intended target – name derived from the methods of firing used in Beirut
Bergen: Army slang for a rucksack
Berm: A man-made ridge of earth, designed as an obstacle
Bingo: A nominated fuel amount that allows the Apache patrol commander enough warning to call for a RIP or to inform the ground troops that they have limited Apache time remaining
Bitching Betty: The Apache’s female cockpit voice warning system
Black Brain: The black kneeboard Apache pilots fly with on their thigh that contains everything that can’t be committed to memory and may be needed instantly in flight