Apache and Royal Marines
 

BBC News

The BBC News has an intersting story about Royal Marines being "strapped to the wings of 2 Apache Helicopters" in an attempt to rescue L/Cpl Ford RM who was killed at the weekend.

And the commanders in Afghanistan are saying they do not need any more helicopters......

RIP L/Cpl Ford

Certainly one way of doing CSAR!
However, my thoughts go to the L/Cpl Ford's familiy and friends.
:uhoh:

Sympathy for yet another brave soul who has been lost and ABSOLUTE respect for the RM guys and Apache drivers who affected the recovery of a fallen comrade.

I wish I had nads that big:)

Balls of steel and BZs all round, RIP Royal.

Ultimate respect booknecks. RIP hero.

An uplifting and very moving story. Greatest respect to all involved.

Absolutely immense, takes a lot of b*lls to pull off that manoeuvere.:D Good to see that they got the chap back.

Kahoonas of the first order - nice one booties and hairy arms!:ok: :ok:

Is this a practised procedure or the product of some fast thinking and industrial strength gonads? Either way one hell of a ride!

RIP L/Cpl Ford - sounds like you have some diamond mates.

RIP L/Cpl Ford. BZ to all involved in this rescue mission, I'm sure the family will be eternally gratefull. My utmost respect to the AAC for this amazing flying and the Marines for having the guts to do it.

I hope the powers that be recognise the Apache crews and the Marines for the incredible courage shown here.

RIP L/Cpl Ford...

As an aside, wasn't a personnel pod developed for this purpose a while back - for the Harrier perhaps?

N

This is the sort of thing that puts the Great in Great Britain.
This is what sets the British Military apart from every other Government department (and the rest of the world). This is what makes the men and women special. This is exactly why the Armed Forces should be treated as special. This why the Armed Forces should be properly cherished as the jewel in an otherwise tarnished crown.
I hope these brave individuals get the recognition they deserve and my heartfelt sympathy to the family of the fallen Marine. I salute you all.

Nige, the system you mention was devised by a company called Avpro. They got as far as doing fit checks/photo shoots with an Apache and a GR7, but as far as I know it didn't get any further.

On the subject of the great work done here by the AAC and the Marines, I think I overheard someone mention the possibility of using the AH like this in an emergency when I was at Middle Wallop just before Christmas. They also briefed us on how they've been using the Apache to put down fire just 10m in front of friendlies out there (story at: http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...l-by-fire.html)

Much praise and respect, and RIP.

RIP L/Cpl Ford...

As an aside, wasn't a personnel pod developed for this purpose a while back - for the Harrier perhaps?

N[/quote]
:confused: There was a pod that was made for the ah to carry sf into areas of uncertainty. however this was poo pooed a while back as a poor idea i believe. maybe they should rethink.

love to L/CPL Fords family and friends and this hard time.

I've noticed that over the last few years that most light infantry have a Karabeiner clipped to their webbing. Is there anything on the stub wings, tie down points etc to which they could attach this?

RIP L/Cpl Ford and condolences to his family and friends.:(

Possibly some of the largest gonads seen within the British Military for quite a while.:ooh: Top job all involved and those who authorised it!!:cool:

Well done, it makes us all proud.:D :D :D

Ivor

During the Vietnam War, many instances of Huey Cobra gunships landing in hostile areas, often under fire, and retrieving aircrew or infantry by use of the fold down doors to the ammunition storage compartment.

Those experiences lead to the inclusion of such devices as are fitted to the Apache.


Every loss is tragic....condolences to the family and fellow Marines. It is moving to see Courage and Dedication exemplified by the actions of many during such actions as are happening in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I'm not sure if it is still standard procedure still but most Bootnecks used to have a harness made up from Black Marlow rope, hot cut and finished off with Harry Black.

Perhaps some black marlow tied around the wing and attachment point, couple of crabs and this harness did the job.

'Good effort' to those involved, very sorry read that it didnt end as it should have done.


SASLESS, I think that the book Snake Pilot has an account of a cobra or loach crew being picked up under fire by a Cobra, they clung to the skids as it extracted them.....Or was it in Low Level Hell?
Excellent books.

Where's the storage areas on Apache, then? Can you get inside the airframe or are they used as means for hanging on? Exhaust, downwash, CofG issues??? Still bl**dy impressive.

Apparently, the Taliban fled when confronted with two bearded banshees, weilding waepons and wearing women's clothing!

When done Royal and the AAC. Condolences to the family of L/Cpl Ford.

I cannot detract from a single thing that the team did. I also cannot argue that the resultant morale lift will be other than a real force multiplier. I offer a word of caution, though, before people get too carried away. They got away with it and have earned an unreserved BZ but what if it had gone to rats**t? Losing 3 valuable flesh and blood assets and an operationally scarce machine to recover a dead comrade is one hell of a risk. Isn't that how the US got their arrses handed back to them in a sling in Somalia?

That said, RIP L/Cpl Ford and condolences to nearest and dearest.

I don't believe that they knew he was dead. Given the historical evidence of what happens to prisoners in that part of the world, you could not leave a man who MAY be alive in the hands of Afghan rebels.

GBZ don't talk rot, the knowledge that your oppo's will always make the effort to rescue you is worth more than any pep talk in the world.

And since when has a piece of equipment not been worth risking to save the life of a Royal Marine? If that is the way of things then everything would be in grease paper in storage.

Green,

The Apache does not have the same structure of the Cobra. Even on the Cobra, the external passengers rode out in the open on top of the doors but had no harness or any way to secure themselves to the aircraft beyond holding on.

When the Apache came along...the aircrew survival vest incorporated a carabiner type link to facilitate being secured to the aircraft using the devices built into the aircraft for use during such rides. It was a simple mod to the aircraft that afforded the ability to do what has been done.

The incident under discussion here is the first I heard of troops riding into the LZ.

The fact people have ridden on the outside of a gunship before.....in no way diminishes the Courage and Dedication exemplified by the Marines being praised here.

They are to be greatly admired for what they did.

Thanks SAS. Suggest we all invest in karabiners sharpish!

moggiee

I didn't read the possibility of L/Cpl Ford still being alive into the news report. The report I heard earlier on the radio seemed in no doubt that he was known to be dead. If he was believed to be possibly alive, I modify my Post accordingly.

The UK news agenda today is quite despicable. The top story is about Celebrity Big Brother - everywhere. Such a complete waste of time. The Apache story is way down the list.

Anyone got an Apache near Elstree to pick-up 3 rather dumb women ? There's a reservation waiting for them at the Helmand Hilton.

First RIP L/Cpl Ford and condolences to his family and friends.
Second where does the modern British society get such men.I,due to
the magic of satellite TV,can watch BBC 1,2,3,4,ITV1,2,3,4, and find
it very difficult to imagine that this whining ,me, me,me,alcohol-soaked
socialist society as depicted on TV could have produced men such as
these Marines.However maybe something of the Churchillian spirit is still
present in the UK, as an expat. I can only hope so.
One should not mourn these men one should thank God they
lived.
Regards

I am led to believe it all done with magnets.

Not our chaps but it gives you an idea.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...FFreeride2.jpg

You don't get such men from British society, you get them from Lympstone Commando. Some of the best training in the world turns young men into Royal Marine Commandos. Very few meet the standard and 99.9% need not apply. :)

Hoorah and Huzah.

BZ to the Royals and Army air Corps. RIP L/Cpl Ford and condolences to nearest and dearest.

Group Captain Barwell in 1943 proposed a method of transporting a couple of ground crewman in canvas bag mounted on top of each wing of a Spitfire. The bag was to be attached using a loop secured to the barrel of the 20mm cannon and the rear of the bag was secured to the wing trailing edge inside of the flap.
It is believed that this scheme was never air-tested with a human passenger for want of a volunteer!!

Apologies in advance for not qualifying as being a military, or for that matter any other aircrew type, however given that others that are not, still frequent this section........ what the Hell:eek:

Although I escaped from Immingham long ago, I know L/Cpl Ford's Mother and Stepfather, and I know they would be very pleased to hear that you guys are heaping praise on their son, and the brave lads that risked their own lives to recover him.

I can only remember him as being a spotty teenager, but like some of his RM colleagues, that I met while they did a certain Ex last month. I have the utmost respect for what they do on the ground, just as much as what some of you the aircrew do up above.

As for the news today I agree that some of the personalities could do with a spell in Helmand, instead of harping on ad-nausea how perfect they are.

Thanks

V1

Thought I remembered reading something on this subject elsewhere, then found it here:

http://avia.russian.ee/helicopters_eng/mi-28.php

The pertinent part comes in the airframe description of the Mi28 Havoc:

"port-side door, aft of wing, provides access to avionics compartment large enough to permit combat rescue of two or three persons on ground, although it lacks windows, heating and ventilation."

I've a feeling the Israelis also took a hard look at mods to their AH64s with a view to using them for battlefield extractions too.

From all members of 656 Squadron AAC, at JHF(A)
Thank you to the 4 brave volunteers that helped recover their fallen comrade.
Thank you to the brave commander that authorised the recovery of his last man (The loneliness of command in those 5 shocking minutes!)
Our sincere condolences go out to the family, fiancé and friends of Lance Corporal Matthew Ford.

Amazed
 

Humble civvy here. I saw the usual dribble about some chav programme on TV and was venting my fury in the direction of the good woman. Then the report came on about this incredible event. I struggled to relay the story, incredible bravery almost beyond comprehension. I can only echo the comments of others... These people are 'Great' in Great Britain. As for Mrs Micro, she was equally frustrated at the 'big story' and was speechless and almost in tears as I told her of this brave action.
Bliar does not deserve the luxury of such quality being at his disposal.

AAC Officer at Middle Wallop demonstrated personnel holding on by external grab handles immediately aft of cockpit and described this as a CSAR option. He did mention use of karabiners (sp?).

My condolences to the family of the young Royal Marine. Godspeed.

DFC Recognition
 

Its about time my Army Air Corps buddies got the recognition they severely deserve for these outstanding acts of bravery alongside these mighty feats of brave courage from the Marines and Para's.........

Now those are Oppos!!

Great effort by the Apache drivers,

RIP Royal


Shaun

Firstly, condolences to L/Cpl Ford's family, fiance, friends and colleagues.

Secondly, my great respect to those that strapped on and to those that flew them in.

As part of the process of getting the Apaches out to 'stan, the need to strap on was considered and included in the RTS advice, unfortunately this isn't the outcome those involved would have wanted.

sw

Deepest sympathy to L/Cpl Ford's family and friends.

Wonderful story of the bravery and commitment to recover a fallen comrade.

I hopr those involved get the recognition they deserve.

Doc C

Salute to both the fallen Marine and the Apache drivers.

Another war and some other Marines: http://www.popasmoke.com/story14.html