Presence Alone Usually Discourages Hostiles -- But When It
Doesn't...
Two Longbow Apache helicopters provided air-to-ground support to
American soldiers by blasting enemy vehicles during action in
western Baghdad Sunday, US officials reported.
The flight of choppers from Multinational Division Baghdad's
Combat Aviation Brigade teamed up to assist US ground forces from
the division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division.
The combined effort resulted in one terrorist killed, four captured
and two terrorist's vehicles destroyed, officials said.
The Apache crews were conducting a combat air patrol mission
when they received the call to assist. At about 4:45 p.m., the
pilots noticed two abandoned vehicles near where the attack was
reported.
"The vehicles were
staged for the (terrorists), who tried to engage the infantry
guys," explained Army Maj. Byron Needum, one of the Apache pilots
assigned to the CAB's 1st Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment. "When
we got there, the infantry had already got the best of them and
detained three."
"They were still looking for more (terrorists)," Needum
continued. "That's when we found the vehicles, and vehicles didn't
fit the situation."
Apache teams rarely have to engage the enemy once they arrive on
the scene, Needum said.
"Normally when we get there, people don't want to 'play'
anymore," he explained. "Even if we don't engage the enemy, our
presence alone helps the ground guys out."
Helicopter crews have a picture-window view of enemy activity on
the ground, Needum said. That advantage, he said, is often used to
support US ground forces.
"We have a different vantage point, and we can see farther than
you can on the ground," said Needum, who is also the company
commander for his battalion's Headquarters and Headquarters
Company. "I don't think they would have seen those (enemy) vehicles
without us."
According to Chief Warrant Officer Scott Quaife, who piloted the
second of the two Apaches, his team spotted the two vehicles upon
arrival to the location, but could not engage without receiving
confirmation that they belonged to the terrorists.
"We spotted the two Bradleys, and they had already opened fire
on the canal with their 25 mm guns," Quaife explained. "They said
there were two possible (terrorists) running in the canal, but we
didn't find anybody."
Then, Needum's helicopter crew noticed the two vehicles, Quaife
recalled, "so we investigated the vehicles. We called the (ground
unit) and told them we thought the vehicles were the enemy's."
Quaife said the ground unit sent personnel to investigate, and
once confirmation was given, the helicopters attacked the enemy
vehicles.
"The ground unit's leadership approved the Apaches to destroy
the vehicles to keep its soldiers safe," Quaife said. The ground
unit reported that the two vehicles contained loaded AK-47s, he
said, and possible improvised explosive device-making
materials.
The Apache team fired on the vehicles with at least 150 rounds
from its 30 mm machine guns and shot four rockets, Quaife said. The
barrage, he said, destroyed both vehicles.
"The lead vehicle blew up and caught on fire after being engaged
by Needum's helicopter," Quaife said, noting his chopper crew "shot
two rockets to help destroy the other vehicle."
Officials said a post-engagement assessment showed that the
ground unit had killed a terrorist, wounded another and detained
three. The soldiers also found a weapons cache containing four
rocket-propelled-grenades, two RPG launchers, an AK-47 rifle, three
machine guns with 100 rounds, a pair of flares and numerous rounds
of 7.62 mm ammunition.
(Aero-News salutes Sgt. 1st Class Reginald Rogers, 4th
Infantry Division Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs
Office.)