British soldiers watch the after effects of a 500lb bomb

Photograph: British soldiers watch the after effects of a 500lb bomb being dropped on an enemy position in Musa Qala.Digital photograph taken by Cpl Mike Fletcher, Royal Logistic Corps, Helmand Task Force Photographer, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, 24 Aug 2006. From a CD of 309 images.Members of the Helmand Task Force, which included troops from 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment, 51 Para Squadron, Royal Engineers, Royal Irish Regiment and D Squadron Household Cavalry, took part in Operation ATOMI. The operation was one of the largest to take place since British Forces arrived in the region and centred on the troubled town of Musa Qala in the north of Helmand Province. The aim of the operation was to allow safe passage of Afghan troops to a compound in the district centre of Musa Qala and then relieve Danish troops who were leaving the compound. Troops flew in to Musa Qala at first light and cleared a safe route in to the district centre with the assistance of Explosive Ordnance Disposal experts, they cleared the route of booby traps and improvised explosive devices. The operation was assisted with artillery provided by I Battery, 7th Battalion Royal Horse Artillery and attack helicopters from 9 Regiment Army Air Corps. Both were used extensively throughout the operation.This image was taken on Operation HERRICK IV, the UK's deployment into Helmand Province, Southern Afghanistan. Operation HERRICK IV has seen the development of the Helmand Task Force in the province, which has seen the cross Governmental Provincial Reconstruction Team set up in Lashkar Gah to help the Afghan Government build strong governmental institutions, security and create jobs. The Task Force was made up of 3, 300 troops from the British Military, with the majority being taken from 16 Air Assault Brigade

Picture No

11095268

Media ID

48573240

Size

2024px x 3000px (817KB)

Credit

Source

photograph, digital

Date

2006