Operation Panther's Claw
Encyclopedia
Operation Panchai Palang, or Panther's Claw, was a British
-led military operation
of the Afghan War
in Helmand Province
in southern Afghanistan
. It aimed to secure various canal and river crossings to establish a permanent International Security Assistance Force
(ISAF) presence in the area. The Commander of the operation declared the first stage of the operation as a success on July 27, 2009.
took root in Afghanistan
large tracts of Helmand Province
came under Taliban control. Of all of Afghanistan's provinces, Helmand "has been the most difficult" for coalition forces, according to BBC News
foreign correspondent
Ian Pannell, and holds the largest Taliban presence.
British forces deployed to Helmand in 2006, formally assuming responsibility for security in the province from US forces on May 1, 2006.
In Helmand, described as "the centre of the Taliban insurgency",
they faced heavy combat and regular attacks by Taliban fighters.
According to Pannell, the "latest figures" show that more than 10 attacks took place each day in Helmand Province as of July 2009, and most of the nearly 170 British forces fatalities in Afghanistan since 2001 prior to Panther's Claw were caused by the Taliban in Helmand.
Operation Zafar, launched on 27 April, lasted one week and involved more than 200 troops of the Afghan National Army
(ANA) and Afghan National Police
, supported by elements of the Mercian Regiment
and The Royal Gurkha Rifles, respectively.
The operation succeeded in clearing the Taliban from several villages around Basharan in central Helmand, killing "many Taliban insurgents" according to the Ministry of Defence
(MoD) at a cost of only "handful" of ANA and British casualties.
Zafar 2, launched on May 19, and lasting four days, saw British troops deployed to secure an area so that a checkpoint—to be manned by Afghan forces—could be built on a key route into the provincial capital Lashkar Gah. On 29 May, soldiers from the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
engaged and drove out Taliban fighters near the village of Yatimchay, south of Musa Qala
.
Lt Col Nick Richardson, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, credited the arrival of additional American
forces in Helmand with increasing the operational capability of International Security Assistance Force
(ISAF) forces in the province and helping to open the way for Panther's Claw.
on June 19, 2009 with the stated aim of securing control of various canal
and river
crossings and establishing a lasting ISAF presence in an area described by Lt Col Richardson as "one of the main Taliban strongholds" ahead of the 2009 Afghan presidential election
.
In what the Ministry of Defence described as "one of the largest air operations in modern times", according to BBC News
, more than 350 troops from The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion
, Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS), transported by twelve Chinook helicopters, deployed into Bābājī Faşal, northwest of the provincial capital Lashkar Gah, in Helmand Province
. The operation, which involved thirteen other aircraft—including Apache and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, Harriers, unmanned aerial vehicle
s, and an AC-130H Spectre gunship—involved both British and American
air power, and was supported by more than 150 ground forces from the Black Watch and Royal Engineers
.
Taliban fighters in the area launched multiple attacks against British forces, all of which were repelled, and 3 SCOTS secured three key crossings—the Lui Mandey Wadi crossing, the Nahr e-Burgha canal and the Shamalan canal—by June 23. To restrict movement by Taliban forces, British troops also constructed several checkpoints to be manned by 3 SCOTS but eventually ceded to the Afghan National Police
.
of the Black Watch, 3 SCOTS established a "firm foothold" in the area of the operation despite encountering resistance. Lt Col Richardson reported that British forces killed several insurgents during the course of the operation, which was dubbed the "Battle of Babaji" by a number of news media outlets.
On June 23, the MoD reported that British troops involved in Panther's Claw discovered 1.3 tonnes of poppy seed
the day before, as well as improvised explosive devices (IEDs)—which they disabled—and anti-personnel
land mine
s. Analysis of a sample of the crop by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations
in Kabul
, however, revealed the haul to be of mung bean
s.
In the third phase of Panther's Claw, more than 700 British soldiers from the Light Dragoons and 2nd Battalion, Mercian Regiment
(Worcesters and Foresters) supported by soldiers of the Danish Battle Group,
launched a ground offensive, backed by fire support
, against Taliban-held areas north of Lashkar Gah.
The assault was timed to coincide with Operation Khanjar, or Strike of the Sword, launched on July 2, by American
forces against Taliban strongholds in the Helmand River
valley.
The BBC reported that British troops had by July 3, "taken some key towns", but that their progress was impeded by insufficient resources. By July 4, British forces had encountered "little resistance"
—in contrast to American and Afghan forces to the south participating in Khanjar who were engaged in "fierce" fighting against the Taliban.
As of 5 July, around 3,000 Task Force Helmand
troops from the United Kingdom, Denmark, Estonia, and Afghan government forces were involved in Panther's Claw, with the British MoD reporting close quarters combat with Taliban fighters.
On July 5, Danish Daily Politiken
reported that between 55-65 soldiers or nearly half the corps, of the Danish Special Forces
unit Jægerkorpset
had been deployed in the operation, with the primary objective to aid regulars of the Danish Army secure 13 bridges over a major irrigation
canal in the area. It's one of the largest known deployments of Danish special forces on foreign soil, and the largest since 2002.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-led military operation
Military operation
Military operation is the coordinated military actions of a state in response to a developing situation. These actions are designed as a military plan to resolve the situation in the state's favor. Operations may be of combat or non-combat types, and are referred to by a code name for the purpose...
of the Afghan War
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
in Helmand Province
Helmand Province
Helmand is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. It is in the southwest of the country. Its capital is Lashkar Gah. The Helmand River flows through the mainly desert region, providing water for irrigation....
in southern Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. It aimed to secure various canal and river crossings to establish a permanent International Security Assistance Force
International Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
(ISAF) presence in the area. The Commander of the operation declared the first stage of the operation as a success on July 27, 2009.
British forces in Helmand
Soon after the Taliban insurgencyTaliban insurgency
The Taliban insurgency took root shortly after the group's fall from power following the 2001 war in Afghanistan. The Taliban continue to attack Afghan, U.S., and other ISAF troops and many terrorist incidents attributable to them have been registered. The war has also spread over the southern and...
took root in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
large tracts of Helmand Province
Helmand Province
Helmand is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. It is in the southwest of the country. Its capital is Lashkar Gah. The Helmand River flows through the mainly desert region, providing water for irrigation....
came under Taliban control. Of all of Afghanistan's provinces, Helmand "has been the most difficult" for coalition forces, according to BBC News
BBC News
BBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
foreign correspondent
Foreign correspondent
Foreign Correspondent may refer to:*Foreign correspondent *Foreign Correspondent , an Alfred Hitchcock film*Foreign Correspondent , an Australian current affairs programme...
Ian Pannell, and holds the largest Taliban presence.
British forces deployed to Helmand in 2006, formally assuming responsibility for security in the province from US forces on May 1, 2006.
In Helmand, described as "the centre of the Taliban insurgency",
they faced heavy combat and regular attacks by Taliban fighters.
According to Pannell, the "latest figures" show that more than 10 attacks took place each day in Helmand Province as of July 2009, and most of the nearly 170 British forces fatalities in Afghanistan since 2001 prior to Panther's Claw were caused by the Taliban in Helmand.
Taking and holding ground
Panther's Claw was preceded by several other operations carried out by British and Afghan government forces with the purpose of "taking and holding ground" in Helmand Province.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) and Afghan National Police
Afghan National Police
The Afghan National Police - ANP - is the primary national police force in Afghanistan. It serves as a single law enforcement agency all across the country. The Afghan police force was first created with the establishment of the Afghan nation in the early 18th century...
, supported by elements of the Mercian Regiment
Mercian Regiment
The Mercian Regiment is an infantry regiment of the British Army, formed by the amalgamation of three existing regiments on 1 September 2007.The regiment has three regular army battalion's and one Territorial Army or reserve battalion...
and The Royal Gurkha Rifles, respectively.
The operation succeeded in clearing the Taliban from several villages around Basharan in central Helmand, killing "many Taliban insurgents" according to the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
(MoD) at a cost of only "handful" of ANA and British casualties.
Zafar 2, launched on May 19, and lasting four days, saw British troops deployed to secure an area so that a checkpoint—to be manned by Afghan forces—could be built on a key route into the provincial capital Lashkar Gah. On 29 May, soldiers from the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers is an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Queen's Division.The regiment was formed on April 23, 1968, as part of the reforms of the army that saw the creation of the first 'large infantry regiments', by the amalgamation of the four English fusilier...
engaged and drove out Taliban fighters near the village of Yatimchay, south of Musa Qala
Musa Qala
Musa Qala is a town and the district center of Musa Qala District in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, at and at 1043 m altitude in the valley of Musa Qala River in the central western part of the district. Its population has been reported in the British press to be both 2,000 and 20,000...
.
Lt Col Nick Richardson, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, credited the arrival of additional American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
forces in Helmand with increasing the operational capability of International Security Assistance Force
International Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
(ISAF) forces in the province and helping to open the way for Panther's Claw.
Airborne assault
Panther's Claw was launched around midnightMidnight
Midnight is the transition time period from one day to the next: the moment when the date changes. In the Roman time system, midnight was halfway between sunset and sunrise, varying according to the seasons....
on June 19, 2009 with the stated aim of securing control of various canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
and river
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
crossings and establishing a lasting ISAF presence in an area described by Lt Col Richardson as "one of the main Taliban strongholds" ahead of the 2009 Afghan presidential election
Afghan presidential election, 2009
The 2009 presidential election in Afghanistan was characterized by lack of security, low voter turnout and widespread ballot stuffing, intimidation, and other electoral fraud....
.
In what the Ministry of Defence described as "one of the largest air operations in modern times", according to BBC News
BBC News
BBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
, more than 350 troops from The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion
Black Watch
The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The unit's traditional colours were retired in 2011 in a ceremony led by Queen Elizabeth II....
, Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS), transported by twelve Chinook helicopters, deployed into Bābājī Faşal, northwest of the provincial capital Lashkar Gah, in Helmand Province
Helmand Province
Helmand is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. It is in the southwest of the country. Its capital is Lashkar Gah. The Helmand River flows through the mainly desert region, providing water for irrigation....
. The operation, which involved thirteen other aircraft—including Apache and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, Harriers, unmanned aerial vehicle
Unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
s, and an AC-130H Spectre gunship—involved both British and American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
air power, and was supported by more than 150 ground forces from the Black Watch and Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
.
Taliban fighters in the area launched multiple attacks against British forces, all of which were repelled, and 3 SCOTS secured three key crossings—the Lui Mandey Wadi crossing, the Nahr e-Burgha canal and the Shamalan canal—by June 23. To restrict movement by Taliban forces, British troops also constructed several checkpoints to be manned by 3 SCOTS but eventually ceded to the Afghan National Police
Afghan National Police
The Afghan National Police - ANP - is the primary national police force in Afghanistan. It serves as a single law enforcement agency all across the country. The Afghan police force was first created with the establishment of the Afghan nation in the early 18th century...
.
Outcome
According to Lt Col Stephen Cartwright, Commanding OfficerCommanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
of the Black Watch, 3 SCOTS established a "firm foothold" in the area of the operation despite encountering resistance. Lt Col Richardson reported that British forces killed several insurgents during the course of the operation, which was dubbed the "Battle of Babaji" by a number of news media outlets.
On June 23, the MoD reported that British troops involved in Panther's Claw discovered 1.3 tonnes of poppy seed
Poppy seed
Poppy seed is an oilseed obtained from the opium poppy . The tiny kidney-shaped seeds have been harvested from dried seed pods by various civilizations for thousands of years...
the day before, as well as improvised explosive devices (IEDs)—which they disabled—and anti-personnel
Anti-personnel mine
Anti-personnel mines are a form of land mine designed for use against humans, as opposed to anti-tank mines, which are designed for use against vehicles...
land mine
Land mine
A land mine is usually a weight-triggered explosive device which is intended to damage a target—either human or inanimate—by means of a blast and/or fragment impact....
s. Analysis of a sample of the crop by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
, however, revealed the haul to be of mung bean
Mung bean
The mung bean is the seed of Vigna radiata. It is native to the Indian subcontinent.-Description:They are small, ovoid in shape, and green in color...
s.
Insurgent supply line cut off
On June 25, 1st Battalion Welsh Guards pushed up Shamalan canal securing 14 more crossing points, cutting off the insurgents' supply route and thus preventing more Taliban fighters coming into the Babaji area.Third wave
Mercian Regiment
The Mercian Regiment is an infantry regiment of the British Army, formed by the amalgamation of three existing regiments on 1 September 2007.The regiment has three regular army battalion's and one Territorial Army or reserve battalion...
(Worcesters and Foresters) supported by soldiers of the Danish Battle Group,
launched a ground offensive, backed by fire support
Fire support
Fire support is long-range firepower provided to a front-line military unit. Typically, fire support is provided by artillery or close air support , and is used to shape the battlefield or, more optimistically, define the battle...
, against Taliban-held areas north of Lashkar Gah.
The assault was timed to coincide with Operation Khanjar, or Strike of the Sword, launched on July 2, by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
forces against Taliban strongholds in the Helmand River
Helmand River
The Helmand River is the longest river in Afghanistan and the primarily watershed for the endorheic Sistan Basin....
valley.
The BBC reported that British troops had by July 3, "taken some key towns", but that their progress was impeded by insufficient resources. By July 4, British forces had encountered "little resistance"
—in contrast to American and Afghan forces to the south participating in Khanjar who were engaged in "fierce" fighting against the Taliban.
As of 5 July, around 3,000 Task Force Helmand
Task Force Helmand
Task Force Helmand is the name given to a military unit of the International Security Assistance Force in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Task Force Helmand is currently part of Regional Command Southwest and consists of military forces from countries such as Estonia and the U.K....
troops from the United Kingdom, Denmark, Estonia, and Afghan government forces were involved in Panther's Claw, with the British MoD reporting close quarters combat with Taliban fighters.
On July 5, Danish Daily Politiken
Politiken
Politiken is a Danish daily broadsheet newspaper, published by JP/Politikens Hus.The newspaper comes third among Danish newspapers in terms of both number of readers and circulated copies ....
reported that between 55-65 soldiers or nearly half the corps, of the Danish Special Forces
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
unit Jægerkorpset
Jægerkorpset
The Jaeger Corps is the special forces unit of the Royal Danish Army stationed at Aalborg Air Base.-Insignia and status :Jægerkorpset wears the maroon beret with a brass emblem depicting a hunter's bugle on a black felt liner. The beret is issued after completion of an 16 week selection...
had been deployed in the operation, with the primary objective to aid regulars of the Danish Army secure 13 bridges over a major irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
canal in the area. It's one of the largest known deployments of Danish special forces on foreign soil, and the largest since 2002.
Second stage
After declaring the first stage of the operation a success on July 27, 2009, UK forces commenced the second stage - which will focus on holding ground won from the Taliban in previous weeks.Casualties
- June 19: On the first day of the operation, one British soldier, a Major from the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, was killed in an explosion near Lashkar Gah.
- June 23: Lt Col Richardson of Task Force Helmand reported that British forces killed several Taliban fighters during operations in the vicinity of Bābājī Faşal.
- July 1: Two British soldiers—Lt Col Rupert ThorneloeRupert ThorneloeLieutenant Colonel Rupert Stuart Michael Thorneloe MBE was a British Army officer who was killed in action on 1 July 2009 near Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan. , Thorneloe is the highest-ranking British Army officer to be killed in action since Lt Col 'H'...
, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Welsh GuardsWelsh GuardsThe Welsh Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division.-Creation :The Welsh Guards came into existence on 26 February 1915 by Royal Warrant of His Majesty King George V in order to include Wales in the national component to the Foot Guards, "..though the order...
and Tpr Joshua Hammond of the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment2nd Royal Tank RegimentThe 2nd Royal Tank Regiment is an armoured regiment of the British Army. It is part of the Royal Tank Regiment, itself part of the Royal Armoured Corps...
—died, and six were wounded, near Shamalan Canal, at Lashkar Gah, when an IED exploded under their BvS 10 VikingBvS 10The BvS 10 is an All Terrain Armoured Vehicle produced by BAE Systems Land Systems Hagglunds of Sweden. This vehicle, referred to as the All Terrain Vehicle - ATV or VIKING by the UK forces, was originally developed as a collaboration between industry - Hägglunds Vehicle AB - and the UK Ministry...
armoured vehicle. Lt Col Thorneloe is the highest-ranking British officer to be killed in actionKilled in actionKilled in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
since Lt Col 'H'. Jones in the Falklands WarFalklands WarThe Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
and the highest-ranking to die in Afghanistan. - July 4: Two more British soldiers were killed, one from 2nd Battalion, Mercian Regiment by a rocket-propelled grenade and a second from the Light Dragoons, by an IED, near GereshkGereshkGereshk is a town in Gerishk District in Helmand province on the Helmand River in central Afghanistan, some northwest of Kandahar at 817 m altitude. Gereshk is the centre of a rich agricultural region with the Kajakai dam upriver diverting water to the Boghra Irrigation Canal. Gereshk was...
. - July 5: A member of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards was killed in an explosion near Lashkar Gah.
- July 7: A member of the Light Dragoons was killed in an explosion near Gereshk.
- July 9–10: The Ministry of Defence announced that eight British soldiers had died within a 24-hour period, bringing the total number of fatalities of British Forces personnel in Afghanistan since 2001 to 184. Another 30 soldiers were wounded during that 24-hour period. Three of these soldiers were killed while supporting operation Panther's Claw.
- July 16: A member of 2nd Battalion, The Rifles, was killed in an explosion near Gereshk.
See also
- Military operations of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)Military operations of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)Since October 7, 2001 following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the United States has been engaged in a war in Afghanistan.-Background:From May 1996, Osama bin Laden had been living in Afghanistan along with other members of al-Qaeda, operating terrorist training camps in a loose alliance with the...
- Operation KhanjarOperation Strike of the SwordOperation Strike of the Sword or Operation Khanjar was a US-led offensive in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan. About 4,000 Marines from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade as well as 650 Afghan troops were involved, supported by NATO planes. The operation began when units moved into the...