Battle of Alasay
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Alasay
, codenamed Operation Dinner Out, was a military operation carried out by French
troops of the Chasseurs Alpins's 27e Battalion and the Afghan National Army
(ANA) 1st Kandak (battalion) between the 14th and 23rd of March 2009. Marine Embedded Training Team 6-4 as well as other US
units provided air support
, both with attack helicopters and A-10 and F-15E strike aircraft. The operation enabled the construction of two bases for the Afghan Army in the Alasay valley, which had been guerilla control since 2006.
, had been under guerrilla control since 2006. The ISAF decided to regain control of the sector. Given the proximity of two ISAF bases near the village of Nijrab
and in Tagab, the French Groupement tactique interarmes de Kapisa
(GTIA), harboured there, was tasked with the mission.
The GTIA is composed of
The 4th Company of the 27 RC received the callsign Vert ("Green"); it was composed of several section, label Vert 20, Vert 30, Vert 40. The 2nd Company received the callsign of Jonquille (Narcissus pseudonarcissus
; by tradition, chasseurs alpins never utter the word "yellow", but use the colour of the plant as a metonymy).
The plan envisioned construction of two outposts for the Afghan Army.
helicopters and occupied heights commanding the Southern region of Alasay valley, with Vert 10 directly above the points where the outposts were to be built; Vert 20 and Vert 30 covering the surrounding; and Vert 70 threatening the access path from the South.
Around the same time, elements of the Afghan Army, with several armoured vehicles and two battle tanks, approached their destination. They were supported by the 2nd Company of the 27 BCA and by the GCM. Over the following hours, two mortar sections of the 93 RAC, labeled Vert 60 and Jonquille 60, were installed South of Alasay valley, as forwards elements were now out of range for support from Tagab base.
At 7:17, elements of the Afghan Army came under fire; Jonquille 40 answered in kind, firing several Milan missiles. Four minutes later, Jonquille 20 found itself under sporadic dragunov fire, which stopped to reoccur half an hour later, without causing casualties.
Vert 30 was under fire, and called for air support, provided at 8:00 by elements of the US Air Force. Around the same time, three AMX-10 RC moved to the village of Shekut. Meanwhile, the 2nd company of the Afghan Army refused to move forwards; the captain was relieved of duty, the soldiers dispatched to other companies, and the 1st Afghan company took over, moving towards Alasay Valley.
It arrived 5 minutes later with the GCM and the AMX-10 RC, only to come under fire from two guerrilla units 600 metres away. These positions were pounded by the armoured unit and put out of action, allowing Jonquille 30 to close in and destroy it with small arm fire.
At 8:45, Jonquille 20 moved to support Jonquille 30 and provide assistance to two wounded of the Afghan Army. At the same time, guerrilla elements stormed the positions of Vert 30 and Vert 20, while US helicopters pounded caves occupied by the guerilla.
At 9:30, Jonquille 30sustained sniper fire, prompting the deployment of two 20mm-equipped VAB-C20
to complement Jonquille 20 and 30. During the following hours, several sporadic engagements took place around Alasay
.
The French sustained their first casualty at 12:51, when a Milan operator of Vert30 came under Dragunov fire and was wounded by a splinter after the launcher was hit. The soldier was evacuated to Bagram at 14:41.
Between 15:00 and 15:30, guerrilla elements attempted to infiltrate between Vert 20 and Vert 30, but were prevented by small arms fire and air support. An apparent calm was then restored, though women were seen evacuating the sector.
A 18:00, guerrilla units showed themselves all around Alasay and stormed the village, while at the same time, Vert 20 and Vert 30 were also attacked; fighting lasted for one hour before the guerrilla broke contact under the cover of a hail of RPGs. One of the rockets hit a VAB-C20, killing the driver, Corporal Nicolas Belda.
Over the following hours, guerrilla elements retreated to the East, while the ISAF forces strengthened their positions. The dead and 5 Afghan Army wounded were evacuated at 22:10.
At 6:47, Jonquille 30 destroyed a guerrilla group attempting to storm Alasay. At 7:00, elements of the Afghan Army arrived on BMP vehicles. One hour later, construction of the outposts began.
Vert 20 and 30 departed around 14:00.
Alasay
The village of Alasay is the center of Alasay District in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan. It is located on at 1672 m altitude.The Battle of Alasay, codenamed Operation Dinner Out, was a military operation in Alasay which was carried out by French troops and the Afghan National Army between the...
, codenamed Operation Dinner Out, was a military operation carried out by French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
troops of the Chasseurs Alpins's 27e Battalion and the Afghan National Army
Afghan National Army
The Afghan National Army is a service branch of the military of Afghanistan, which is currently trained by the coalition forces to ultimately take the role in land-based military operations in Afghanistan. , the Afghan National Army is divided into seven regional Corps. The strength of the Afghan...
(ANA) 1st Kandak (battalion) between the 14th and 23rd of March 2009. Marine Embedded Training Team 6-4 as well as other US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
units provided air support
Close air support
In military tactics, close air support is defined as air action by fixed or rotary winged aircraft against hostile targets that are close to friendly forces, and which requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of these forces.The determining factor for CAS is...
, both with attack helicopters and A-10 and F-15E strike aircraft. The operation enabled the construction of two bases for the Afghan Army in the Alasay valley, which had been guerilla control since 2006.
Context
The sector of Alasay valley, in Kapisa ProvinceKapisa Province
Kapisa is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. It is in the north-east of the country. Its capital is Mahmud-i-Raqi, and other districts include Kohistan, Nijrab and Tagab. The population of Kapisa is estimated to be 364,900, although there has never been an official estimate...
, had been under guerrilla control since 2006. The ISAF decided to regain control of the sector. Given the proximity of two ISAF bases near the village of Nijrab
Nijrab
Nijrab is a village and the center of Nijrab District, Kapisa Province, Afghanistan. It is located at at 1,613 m altitude. There are a medical clinic, schools and radio station in the village....
and in Tagab, the French Groupement tactique interarmes de Kapisa
Groupement tactique interarmes de Kapisa
The Groupement tactique interarmes de Kapisa , also called Task Force Korrigan, is a battalion-sized unit of the French Army, based in Kapisa Province, in Afghanistan...
(GTIA), harboured there, was tasked with the mission.
The GTIA is composed of
- the 27th chasseurs alpins Battalion (27 BCA)
- elements of the 93rd Mountain Artillery Regiment (93 RAM)
- elements of the 2nd Foreign Engineering Regiment (2 REG)
- elements of the 4th chasseurs regiment (4 RC)
- elements of the 28th Communication Regiment (28 RT).
- the Mountain Commando Group (GCM)
The 4th Company of the 27 RC received the callsign Vert ("Green"); it was composed of several section, label Vert 20, Vert 30, Vert 40. The 2nd Company received the callsign of Jonquille (Narcissus pseudonarcissus
Narcissus pseudonarcissus
Narcissus pseudonarcissus is a perennial flowering plant which grows from a bulb. It has pale yellow flowers with a darker central trumpet...
; by tradition, chasseurs alpins never utter the word "yellow", but use the colour of the plant as a metonymy).
The plan envisioned construction of two outposts for the Afghan Army.
14 March
At 4:30, the 4th company of the 27 BCA departed Nijrab in four CH-47 ChinookCH-47 Chinook
The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is an American twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter. Its top speed of 170 knots is faster than contemporary utility and attack helicopters of the 1960s...
helicopters and occupied heights commanding the Southern region of Alasay valley, with Vert 10 directly above the points where the outposts were to be built; Vert 20 and Vert 30 covering the surrounding; and Vert 70 threatening the access path from the South.
Around the same time, elements of the Afghan Army, with several armoured vehicles and two battle tanks, approached their destination. They were supported by the 2nd Company of the 27 BCA and by the GCM. Over the following hours, two mortar sections of the 93 RAC, labeled Vert 60 and Jonquille 60, were installed South of Alasay valley, as forwards elements were now out of range for support from Tagab base.
At 7:17, elements of the Afghan Army came under fire; Jonquille 40 answered in kind, firing several Milan missiles. Four minutes later, Jonquille 20 found itself under sporadic dragunov fire, which stopped to reoccur half an hour later, without causing casualties.
Vert 30 was under fire, and called for air support, provided at 8:00 by elements of the US Air Force. Around the same time, three AMX-10 RC moved to the village of Shekut. Meanwhile, the 2nd company of the Afghan Army refused to move forwards; the captain was relieved of duty, the soldiers dispatched to other companies, and the 1st Afghan company took over, moving towards Alasay Valley.
It arrived 5 minutes later with the GCM and the AMX-10 RC, only to come under fire from two guerrilla units 600 metres away. These positions were pounded by the armoured unit and put out of action, allowing Jonquille 30 to close in and destroy it with small arm fire.
At 8:45, Jonquille 20 moved to support Jonquille 30 and provide assistance to two wounded of the Afghan Army. At the same time, guerrilla elements stormed the positions of Vert 30 and Vert 20, while US helicopters pounded caves occupied by the guerilla.
At 9:30, Jonquille 30sustained sniper fire, prompting the deployment of two 20mm-equipped VAB-C20
Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé
The Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé or VAB is an armoured personnel carrier and support vehicle designed by the Euro Mobilité Division of GIAT Industries of France. It entered service in 1976; around 5,000 were produced.- Design :The VAB was designed as a wheeled troop transporter, complementing the...
to complement Jonquille 20 and 30. During the following hours, several sporadic engagements took place around Alasay
Alasay
The village of Alasay is the center of Alasay District in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan. It is located on at 1672 m altitude.The Battle of Alasay, codenamed Operation Dinner Out, was a military operation in Alasay which was carried out by French troops and the Afghan National Army between the...
.
The French sustained their first casualty at 12:51, when a Milan operator of Vert30 came under Dragunov fire and was wounded by a splinter after the launcher was hit. The soldier was evacuated to Bagram at 14:41.
Between 15:00 and 15:30, guerrilla elements attempted to infiltrate between Vert 20 and Vert 30, but were prevented by small arms fire and air support. An apparent calm was then restored, though women were seen evacuating the sector.
A 18:00, guerrilla units showed themselves all around Alasay and stormed the village, while at the same time, Vert 20 and Vert 30 were also attacked; fighting lasted for one hour before the guerrilla broke contact under the cover of a hail of RPGs. One of the rockets hit a VAB-C20, killing the driver, Corporal Nicolas Belda.
Over the following hours, guerrilla elements retreated to the East, while the ISAF forces strengthened their positions. The dead and 5 Afghan Army wounded were evacuated at 22:10.
15 March
From midnight, Vert 20 and 30 left the sector on foot, supported by the GCM, and rejoined Tagab.At 6:47, Jonquille 30 destroyed a guerrilla group attempting to storm Alasay. At 7:00, elements of the Afghan Army arrived on BMP vehicles. One hour later, construction of the outposts began.
Vert 20 and 30 departed around 14:00.