The Cold War
The Cold War
Whilst in Belfast as a Section Commander I was given the task of attempting to capture a wanted Irish Republican Army terrorist. The general idea was that my section would be dropped off from a vehicle and creep forward in the dark across a wide stretch of open ground. From there we could observe the front door of a public house. Part of my section under my second in command, Bob would cover our rear.
The usual preparations were made, and I remember that we wore socks over our DMS boots, to lessen the sound of our approach. I carried an IWS (Individual Weapon Sight) attached to my Self Loading Rifle. This and the IWS made for a rather heavy but not uncomfortable weight. This IWS caught whatever light in the sky and the result was a magnified green tinted view. I collected two batteries one as a spare for the IWS before leaving base. I also carried a Pye radio with an earpiece, and would be on the Company net contact with not only Company HQ but also Bob who also carried a radio.
The armoured Pig slowed down a stopped long enough for my section to scramble out the back. We could then hear the vehicle quite clearly drive
all the way back to the Mill. It struck me, the whole of Belfast could hear the Pig and would have heard us dismount.
We crept through the dark and Bob and his group dropped off at the prearranged spot and my little group crawled as quietly as possible forward
across open groups. The grass beneath us was short and cropped like a lawn. Our objective, the public house said to be frequented by prominent members of the IRA was had a doorman who spoke to all who entered.
We settled in for a long wait, feeling safe with Bob fifty yards to our rear. The "Snatch Squad" and I lay facing the pub. The plan was, when I
recognised a wanted person we would leap to our feet rush forward about thirty yards and arrest the culprit.
After a very short time I ran into three problems. Firstly, I could not remember what the main IRA target looked like. His image had completely
gone from my mind's eye. Secondly on looking through the IWS sight I could not with the best will in the world distinguish between one person and another, even if I could recognise a wanted person! Thirdly despite the extra clothing I had put on for this operation I was bloody freezing!
I had anticipated laying in this ambush for about four hours, but within minutes my teeth were chattering with cold. After fifteen minutes I was shivering and feeling very depressed. At regular and short intervals I switched on the IWS to watch the pub door.
Three shadowy figures approached the pub and I observed they were woman. My IWS went blank. I tested the switch, to find it was "On". Swearing under my breath I removed the battery from its housing and then replaced it, but to no avail. I had drawn up two fresh batteries, perhaps the CQMS had issued me with a duff one by mistake. I struggled to remove the spare battery from the breast pocket of my combat jacket, beneath my flack jacket. On replacing the battery my IWS sprang into life and I could observe shadowy green figures moving about at the entrance of the pub. I was very cold.
Taking great care I whispered and explained to my "Snatch Team" what had happened to the IWS. We lay on the ice-cold ground, and listened to
snatches of conversation and laughter from the pub. Although I could not distinguish one patron from another at least I could observe.
It crossed my mind that if I were to claim to see a wanted man, we could dash forward and just grab anyone! The colder I became the more that idea became an inviting prospect.
My feet were like blocks of ice and my ears burned with cold. I struggled on and watched the security doorman - then the IWS went blank! Again I
checked the on/off switch but it would not come to life.
I went through the same procedure as before changing batteries. The IWS flickered into life for a few seconds and went off again. Apparently these batteries were affected by the cold.
I had been in touch with Call Sign 3 (Company HQ) throughout the first dreadful hour. I realised that no one there would believe that my IWS
batteries had gone flat due to cold. I would be accused of not ensuring I had spares. As tears caused by the agony of cold trickled down my cheeks I decided to let them know of my tactical problem.
"Hello 3, this is 31B!" I whispered into the microphone, "My IWS has packed in, permission to return to base?" I realised I should not have asked for permission to "bug out" so soon. Inevitably the watch keeper in his snug warm operations room would not or could not sanction the cancellation of the operation.
I was bloody freezing, and by that time quite frankly didn't care two hoots about capturing some god forsaken IRA yob! The idea of bugging out had captured my imagination!
My mind tried to weigh up the options of selecting the next person to approach the pub for arrest. For a period of perhaps five minutes (ten
hours it felt like) no one appeared. What was the point of remaining when I couldn't see any people due to having no working IWS? It also dawned on me that both my legs were stiff with cold, and there was a possibility that I would be unable to stand up, let alone run forward and make an arrest. This was a common phenomenon that most infantry soldiers have encountered after laying for a long period in an ambush position. I could only guess that the other member of my ambush crew were in the same plight and me. Low groans and muttering caused me to believe they too were suffering.
Whispering into the radio I asked Call Sign 3 for permission to bug out as I had no IWS and was unable to identify any targets. After asking for the second or third time, they graciously informed me that I should wait ten minutes and then withdraw. Ten minutes! That was an eternity! Using field signals I indicated to my group we were moving back to Bob's position immediately. Having lain motionless in one position for about two
hours our legs wouldn't work! As we started to crawl back with pains like exaggerated pins and needles attacked our calves and thighs. I could here the groans of my crew above my own.
As we approached Bob's position he challenged us, and I answered quickly, because I had bugged out too early, Bob might think we were IRA creeping up on him! Bob was in a sheltered hollow and was amazed at our condition. Some of my blokes were crying with the pain in their legs and the cold.
It was that night I learned I was not and never would be SAS material! |
