Chapter 3

The closer we got to the Taliban camp the louder the rocket launchers sounded. we came to a bend in the track. We could see the camp and the last three rocket launcher trucks. As we knelt down one of the rucks fired its rockets. The noise was deafening but I knew the lads that these were aimed at would be getting the shitty end of the stick.

“Right, it’s time to split up,” Guns said, “Rosie gets yourself into a good snipping position over on the right-hand side of the valley, when you are ready let us know and we will attack from the left.”

“Roger that boss” I replied.

“And stay safe. We will see you back at the RVP.” Guns told me.

“Roger that Boss” I replied.

We all bumped fists and I jogged off to the right and the others jogged to the left. It was a good plan; the lads would draw the fire of the Taliban which would make it easier for me to target the rocket launchers.

I jogged along, ensuring I was hidden from any guards that might be patrolling the back end of the camp. After a hundred or so yards I saw a natural curtain of rock that hid a goat track that led up the side of the valley. I scampered up it and soon found a nice flat area that overlooked the camp. It was a nice, raised position.

Then I commando crawled on the flat rock that was sticking out of the valley wall. It was a great angle that meant I would be well hidden. There did not seem to be any guards on this of the camp. Sloppy was the only word for it. But it gave us the upper hand.

I put my H&K down and put the spare mags next to it. Next to it, I lay my L119A1/A2, and its spare mags and grenades. I also laid my water bottle close by. I used the scope to have a look into the camp. I then Loaded the L119A1/A2’s grenade launcher.

The three rocket trucks were positioned five yards apart. I noticed they were jacked up on blocks. That would make life easier as they could not drive off once the action started. I guess they used the blocks to stabilise the trucks or maybe to aim them.

One of the GMPG trucks was parked behind them and a gunner was standing in the bed of the truck. The GMPG was facing the back of the camp. It would be a problem for the rest of the team as they were in its field of fire. That would be my first target. I could see I had a clear shot at its fuel tank.

I scanned the camp; I lost count at thirty combatants. It was becoming more and more obvious that the intel the Yanks had been given was bullshit, pure BS. As I scanned the camp the rocket launchers all fired.

Then I saw men running around reloading them. The rockets were being stored in tents a few yards away from the trucks. In my head, I wondered where they had managed to get hold of such high-value kit.

I heard a crackle in my earpiece.

“Rosie mate we need to get stuck in, “Guns said, “head shed is telling us the Yanks are getting caned out there.”

“Okay, boss go on my first shot yea?” I asked.

“Roger that,” Guns said.

I picked up my water bottle and took a long swig. Placed it down and picked up the H&K I used the scope and when I had centred in the GMPG truck’s fuel tank I held my breath, checked my aim, and slowly squeezed the trigger.

The truck exploded killing the man who was standing in its bed. I put the H&K down and picked up the L119A1/A2 and took aim at the rocket launcher furthest from me. I fired its grenade and reloaded as the round was in the air. It landed fire yards short.

I corrected my aim and fired again. I could hear small arms firing from the far side of the camp. Then I heard and saw the rocket truck explode as my grenade found its target.

Men were running around like headless chickens. They were armed and running toward the rest of the brick. I loaded and fired at the second Rocket truck, this time my aim was true, and the second truck exploded. I saw men being thrown off its bed. Secondary explosions told me that rockets were being stored on the truck.

I reloaded and fired at the third rocket truck.

Missed Reloaded and fired.

Direct hit ... the explosion was loud, and the flames leapt into the sky. That was all three rocket trucks out of the game.

I saw what looked like a fuel dump, I reloaded aimed and fired. Even before the round had hit home, I had the H&K tucked onto my shoulder and I centred the scope on a bearded Taliban, he was waving his arms and shouting. He must have been some sort of officer.

My first shot hit his chest, and the second split his head open.

I found another target, held my breath, centred the scope, and fired. Leg shot. I held my breath, centred the scope, and fired. Chest shot. Man down.

I searched for another target, held my breath, centred the scope, and fired, Chest shot, Man down, I saw him reach for his AK that had fallen from his hands. held my breath, centred the scope, and fired Headshot, another man out of the game.

The fuel dump exploded, and I saw men flying through the air and some men rolling on the floor as burning fuel flew all over the place.

I could hear the other guys firing and I could see men dropping to the floor. I lined up a few more targets and some I hit and some I missed. It was hard with so much going on, men running around, flames and smoke all over the camp.

Then I heard the chatter of a large bore machine gun. It was headed into the camp mounted on a four-by-four truck. It stopped behind a group of rocks.

The gunner was firing toward the rest of the brick and for a few seconds, their firing died down. He had either killed them or hopefully had them pinned down.

I aimed at the gunner, held my breath, centred the scope, and fired. Headshot the man went down. Seconds later I heard the lads firing again. There were three other men around the GPMG truck, and I fired at them. I killed two but one rolled under the truck before I could get a good shot at him.

A Taliban officer was running around, it was obvious he was telling his men to take cover. He had an AK74 in his hands. He stopped and fired at the brick. I aimed and fired but he was up and moving before my round got to him.

I found another target, held my breath, centred the scope, and fired. A shoulder shot. I held my breath, centred the scope, and fired. Chest shot. Man down.

The officer was still running around the camp and his men were now doing as he said. He had to go...

I held my breath, centred the scope, and fired. Leg shot. I held my breath, centred the scope, and fired. Headshot and he was dead before he hit the deck.

I kept scanning but it was now harder to find targets and I was still taking pot-shots just to keep the enemy honest. Every now and then one of the Taliban would make a run for cover and I made sure they did not get to their chosen place.

“Head shed have reported that now the rockets launchers are not firing the Taliban are retreating as the Yanks have now got their act into gear. NY base is still under attack but the snippers that were keeping the backup force pinned down have been neutralized by Charlie and Delta.” I heard Curly saying in my ear.

“Looks like we have started to make an impact.” Guns replied.

“Davis has been asked to take Charlie and Delta back to the NY base to try to sort out the Mortar crews,” Curly told us,” The Taliban are still charging the gates.”

We all knew that the men defending the base would be fifty-odd marines plus the backroom guys and logistics guys, the Yanks had put all of their eggs in one basket when it came to this operation. If the Taliban worked this out, they could overrun the base. That was a really big issue as they would be able to get their hands on some serious firepower.

“That makes sense.” I heard Guns reply.

The big bore GPMG started to chatter away again.

I held my breath, centred the scope, and fired. A shoulder shot. I held my breath, centred the scope, and fired. Chest shot. Man down.

Then I saw out of the corner of my eye a black-robed, bearded warrior with an RPG. He fired before I had time to shoot.

“Incoming!!” I heard Doc shout into his microphone.

I held my breath, centred the scope, and fired at the RPG guy, missed!

Fuck ... fuck ... fuck if he was fast ... luckily for us he was not!!

Again, I held my breath, centred the scope, and fired. Chest shot. Man down.

Three more Taliban broke cover.

I aimed fired, chest shot man down, I am fired leg shot the guy raised his AK to his shoulder, I aimed fire headshot man down, the third bearded warrior dropped to one knee. I aimed, fired, chest shot. Man down.

I saw that a group of Taliban had bedded down behind a group of rocks. I started to fire on them trying to keep their heads down.

Then I heard what sounded like a grenade exploding.

I kept firing, we needed to keep the rounds going into the camp.

“Shit ... I have been hit “I heard Curly say into the mic, his voice was even and level.

“Doc get over to him” I heard Guns say, “Rosie covering fire mate.”

“Roger that Boss” I replied.

I swapped the H&K for the L119A1/A2. I started to fire three-round bursts. Guns was doing the same.

We now only had two men shooting and it would not take long for the Taliban to work that out. Once they did, I was sure they would make a move.

I kept up a great rate of fire heading into the Taliban camp. Fire switch target fire switch fire switch fire.

There was a crackle in my earpiece.

“Okay we have two problems” I heard Doc say, “Curly has a leg wound and needs to be evacuated and the main radio set has been smashed by shrapnel.”

“Fuck fuck fuck” I heard Guns say.

The rate of fire from the base increased and I heard the chatter of the GMPG.

I swapped the L119A1/A2 for the H&K, the L119A1/A2 would keep their heads down but the H&K was a pinpoint killing machine. I headshot the gunner and as he went down another bearded warrior jumped onto the back of the truck. I fired twice and he went down.

I then fired at the tyres to make sure they could not move it.

I saw three guys running toward the truck, it was obvious they wanted to get the GMPG firing again.

I adjusted my aim and fired. It took five rounds to kill the three guys but at least it put anyone else trying to get to the big gun.

Guns and I kept up a great rate of fire and anyone moving in the camp did so at their peril. Guns and I were both great shots, and we made our rounds count.

The rate of fire coming from the camp seemed to increase and we saw two trucks carrying troops drive into the camp and many men jump from the back of them. I saw at least twenty black-robed men jump from the back of the truck nearest to me. The odds that had been moving in our favour were not going the other way.

I kept trying to chip away at their numbers. Aiming firing shifting my aim firing...

“Right guys, it looks like the Taliban are retreating and so the Yanks must be pressing forward but that means we are soon going to be totally outnumbered,” Guns said.

“Curly can just about walk,” Doc said.

“Can he fire?” Guns asked.

“Too fucking right, I can “I heard Curly reply.

“Right, you and Doc retreat around Fifty yards, “Guns said, “Set up firing points and let us know when you are ready, and we will come back to you.”

“Roger that” I heard both guys say.

It was time to put some worry into the minds of the enemy and the H&K was the perfect weapon for the job.

I found a target held my breath, centred the scope, and fired. Shoulder shot. I did not worry about a second killing shot, my job now was to worry the enemy, to make them keep their heads down.

I found another target and held my breath, centred the scope, and fired. Headshot and he was dead before he hit the deck.

I heard an engine and saw a truck pull up on the far side of the camp. It was an old flatbed, I fired twice into the radiator. I needed to put it out of action, the last thing we needed was the Taliban racing after us in it. Steam was coming out of the engine compartment, so I switched my aim to the men on the back. there were at least two dozen of them.

“Right, we have a fire point ready” I heard Doc say in my ear.

“Rosie let’s give them another five minutes and then run for it!” I heard guns say.

I started to work the H&K harder.

I held my breath, centred the scope, and fired. Stomach hot. I held my breath, centred the scope, and fired. Headshot. I kept working and kept the Taliban soldiers down.

I could hear Guns letting off three-round bursts. I unclipped three grenades from my webbing and at the same time, something moved to my right. Call it a sixth sense, call it intuition, call it luck but I was sure I had company.

I put the H&K down and picked up the Glock. Two bearded men with AKs ran around a rock ten yards to my right. I put three rounds into each man before they could raise their guns. They were dead.

I picked up the H&K.

I found another target and held my breath, centred the scope, and fired. Headshot and he was dead before he hit the deck. I found another target and held my breath, centred the scope, and fired. Chest shot and he was dead before he hit the deck.