CASR

Canadian
American
Strategic
Review

Canadian Forces  –  Southern Afghanistan  –  Priority Purchases  –  June 2006 Canadian  soldiers  urgently  need  Supply  Helicopters: Lt-Colonel Ian Hope,  Commander  of  'Task Force Orion' Edited excerpts  of  a  report  by  Matthew  Fisher  for  CanWest  News Canadian [Land Forces]  Commanders have,  in general, been delighted  with the quality of  [their  issued]  gear. [They are now conducting] Canada's first major combat mission in more than half a century.  However,  halfway through the  first rotation of combat troops to southern Afghanistan,  the army is grappling with [a grim] reality. Lives are sometimes  put  at risk  when convoys set out to  resupply  troops  [in  remote  areas].  Canada  has no helicopters capable of carrying out [resupply] missions. "It is quite possible  [this  lack of  transport  helicopters] has  cost  limbs,  if  not  more,  because we  have  had  to sustain [resupply  troops in remote areas using vehicles] on the  ground," said  Lt-Col  Ian Hope,  who  commands [Task Force Orion]. "That has produced a risk that would be reduced if we could take helicopter flights.  It does not take a military tactician  to know this.  We have mitigated the risks. Losses have been reduced, but not yet to zero." Lt-Col John Conrad, Canada's senior logistician in Kandahar, is responsible for the resupply convoys, which set out from the Kandahar Airfield for remote forward- operating bases. [These FOB bases are] located  along   roads   and   dirt   tracks where  the Taliban often  sends  suicide bombers,   or   places  mines  and   other explosives  because  American ,  British , and   Dutch  [ Boeing  CH-47 ]  Chinook [ medium-lift ]  transport  helicopters  are seldom   available   for   such   missions. "The convoys are now in harm's way almost daily because supplies have to follow the  infantry  and  we  have  had  to  send  those  supplies  by  land," Conrad  said. "We bid on [available coalition helicopter support], but it  is  like coming  to a potluck.   Everyone  brings a dish and,  instead  of  potato salad,  we  come  with a  jug  of  water. [ Canada's  coalition  allies ]  help  us  when  they can,  but  we  are  at  the  end  of   [ their  priority ]  list." However,  both  colonels stressed  that when Canadian troops  require close air support  for combat operations or  have wounded  who need  to be taken to hospital, coalition  fighter jets, bombers, assault and  'medevac' [ for rapid  medical evacuation of the wounded ,  right ]  helicopters are always on call  to help them. "We can rely  on  our allies  to  come  to our aid  if  we  are in trouble,"  Hope said. "There  is  no  question.   They  come  as  soon  as  possible." The  Harper government  has been  urgently  reviewing the helicopter question.  The lack of  robust helicopters suitable  for use  in combat  environments  has  dogged the military  for  many  years. [ Ed: Particularly since the CF's CH-147 Chinooks were sold off in 1991. Gen Hillier moved medium-lift helicopters into a priority position in 2005. The Harper government pushed these helicopters onto the backburner in order to free-up funds for C-17s. Obviously,  LCol  Hope regards  medium-lift helicopters as the pressing priority.  CASR 's position on C-17s has already been made clear. ] Canada purchased about 85 Griffon helicopters in the mid-1990s, [Ed: 100 CH-146 Griffons were delivered to the CF beginning in 1995, 85 of these utility helicopters remain in service] but they have not been deployed to Afghanistan because they can't operate in combat situations. [Ed: CH-146s lack the ability to lift both armour protection and useful loads in Kanadahar's hot-and-high operating environment.] [CASR  comment:  Canadians owe a debt of gratitude to LCol  Hope for broaching the subject of  the CF's urgent operational need for support helicopters in Afghanistan at this crucial time. First Liberal and then a Conservative government have turned away from an obvious medium- lift helicopter requirement.  While the medevac situation may be satisfactory for now,  it is worth noting that  this service is provided by our allies utility helicopters. After medium-lift  has been addressed, the CF must replace its undeployable utility Griffons.  This only begins to tackle the gaping CF capability holes. There is much work to do before considering vanity projects like the C-17s.]