62 // TORNADO TRIBUTEK troops deployed to Afghanistan in
November 2001 when Royal Marines
from 40 Commando helped secure
Bagram airfield. The International Security
Assistance Force (ISAF) was subsequently
created in December 2001 and brought
together 16 nations, spearheaded by the
US. The primary aim was to train and
build the capacity of the Afghan National
Security Forces, however, the Taliban and
other insurgent fighters proved formidable
opponents in this war-torn country.
On January 26, 2006, the then UK Defence
Secretary John Reid announced the
deployment of around 3,300 UK military
personnel to Helmand Province in the south
of the country under Operation Herrick,
as it was officially known. By October
2006, approximately 10,000 additional
Coalition (mainly US) troops came under
the ISAF umbrella, taking the total to
31,000 with 40 nations now involved.
With its main hub at Kandahar, the
UK forces in Afghanistan made use of
various forward bases. Camp Bastion was
carved out of the scrub, 25 miles (40km)
from the nearest town, and became hometo British and NATO forces as ISAF’s
forward operating location in Helmand.
The mission evolved far beyond the original
requirement to protect reconstruction
efforts in the country. The British tasking
in Helmand involved working in one of the
most challenging regions of Afghanistan
with soldiers engaged in daily fire fights
with Taliban fighters, whose improvised
explosive devices (IEDs) also proved to
be one of the most potent threats.Tornado in Afghanistan
For the Royal Air Force, Operation Herrick
was a massive undertaking. Tornado GR4s
from the RAF Lossiemouth Wing initially
deployed to Kandahar under the 904th
Expeditionary Air Wing in July 2009 to
replace Joint Force Harrier. In October 2009,
No 31 Squadron led the first squadron-
level push to Kandahar, under Wg Cdr Ian
Gale. The squadron’s preparations included
ROE (rules of engagement) scenarios
designed to mitigate civilian casualties –
the mission was all about creating security
in the minds of the Afghan population.
“We see ourselves very much as anOperation ‘Granby’
U
Operation ‘Granby’
emergency service for the army,” said
Gale at the time. “We can check roads for
obstructions or explosive devices, if they break
down we can lend support and if they get into
trouble we are there to support them. We are
providing the support that enables the army
to take on their demanding mission and we’ll
do anything to protect and support them.”
The RAF was keen to emphasise that
the Tornado operation was not just about
dropping bombs, but also about providing
highly responsive, theatre-wide coverage
and was only called upon to deliver
kinetic effect as a graduated response in
emergency cases. The RAF-developed
technique of shows of force (SoF) were
used to great effect, with these routinely
demonstrating a highly significant deterrent.
Herrick demanded a significant effort from
the GR4 force. Crews were trained to respond
to ground alert scrambles, which required
them to be airborne in 15 minutes. They
had to be competent, current and confident
to employ the aircraft in all weathers, in
roles ranging from show of force through
to employment of the various weapons
carried, often close to friendly forces.TalibanTaliban
Tackling the
Tornado
Tribute
Between 2009 and 2014, the Tornado GR4 Force was committed to the campaign in Afghanistan under
Operation Herrick. Jamie Hunter recounts a complex mission for the GR4 squadrons.