thedrifter
02-06-03, 11:18 AM
I received this from 3BadgeMarine......
I thought it was a good read.......
Thanks JR.........
On June the 25th,President Kassem of Iraq claimed that Kuwait was part of his country,and announced that he was going to annex it.On the 27th of June the Amir of Kuwait appealed for help to both Britain and Saudi Arabia for aid,the C IN C middle east, Air Marshal Sir Charles Elworthy,made ready to send it, with the loan of spearhead units from the Far East and near, reports indicated that Kassem was assembling an Armoured Brigade for a swift dash to Kuwait.
42 Command Royal Marines were already on their way from the Far East in their Carrier HMS Bulwark,scheduled to carry out hot weather trials in the area
at the time of the threat to Kuwait, HMS Bulwark was visiting Karachi, allowing the men some shore leave. HMS Bulwark set off from Karachi on the morning of June the 29th,steaming at 24 knots,and was off Kuwait on the morning of Sat July the 1st.C troop 42 Commando landed at Kuwait’s uncompleted aerodrome during a sand storm,spiralled down in their helicopters at about 1130 hrs,and were followed almost at once by a squadron of RAF hunters,who were somewhat supprised when they found a formation of helicopters landing out of the swirling sand storm.
The 2nd Parachute Battalion from Cyprus were to have joined 42 commando,but they were delayed from flying by a refusual to grant air space by Turkey. 45 RM Commando were summoned from Aden,this meant bringing in their frontier detachment from Dhala,a journey normally taking two days compressed into less than one day by the fine piece of driving by the RASC,the men were ready by the Saturday morn, and had to wait untill the afternoon till planes were available,and only reaching Kuwait by nightfall. Meanwhile two companies of the 2nd Coldstream Guards, on detachment in Bahrain were flown at short notice to Kuwait during the afternoon to make the aerodrome secure against attack. A half-squadron of the 3rd Dragoon Guards (or Caribiniers ) were already afloat with their Centurians in HMS Striker,the tanks were disgorged at a landing place found by 42 Cdo.By the night of July 1st,more than half a brigade group,with powerfull air support was ready for action.The key feature to be held was the Mutla ridge,some 25 miles from the aerodrome and 5 miles short of the Iraq border,the first move to the Ridge was made during the night.Using a variety of vehicles, A troop 42 Cdo took possesion of part of the Ridge near to the road; 45 Cdo took a feature 15 miles to the left of 42 Cdo,the Ridge some 400 ft high,despite sudden fluries of sandstorms the Marines of 42Cdo RM’, 45 Cdo RM’ and the detachment of Royal Marines from HMS Loch -Alvie,During the day the temprature rose to 125 degrees Fahrenheit,slit trenches dug out of rock and sand,hessian sacking covering to keep out the worst of the sun,Water was flown in by the helicopters from HMS Bulwark,it was reported that the average water consumption per man was about 20 pints per day,the heat was at its most savage in July,there was no shade on Mutla Ridge.A battery of the 33rd Para field Reg RA,11th Hussars with Ferret scout cars,The Carabiniers with their Centurions,2nd Para began to arrive freed from the ban on flying over Turkey.On July the 4th the 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and the 34th Field Squadron arrived from Kenya,the Inniskillings took over from 42 Cdo on the 6th of july.and on the 7th the 1st King’s (Manchester and Liverpool) relieved 45 Cdo, Further reinforcements came from the UK.
During this period the Arab League had mustered sufficient forces to take over the protection of Kuwait,and by October 19th the British withdrawal was complete,and at least there could be no complaints about the speed of the response.And by 1965 the Middle East Command was fully committed to the defence of Aden.
Sempers,
Roger
I thought it was a good read.......
Thanks JR.........
On June the 25th,President Kassem of Iraq claimed that Kuwait was part of his country,and announced that he was going to annex it.On the 27th of June the Amir of Kuwait appealed for help to both Britain and Saudi Arabia for aid,the C IN C middle east, Air Marshal Sir Charles Elworthy,made ready to send it, with the loan of spearhead units from the Far East and near, reports indicated that Kassem was assembling an Armoured Brigade for a swift dash to Kuwait.
42 Command Royal Marines were already on their way from the Far East in their Carrier HMS Bulwark,scheduled to carry out hot weather trials in the area
at the time of the threat to Kuwait, HMS Bulwark was visiting Karachi, allowing the men some shore leave. HMS Bulwark set off from Karachi on the morning of June the 29th,steaming at 24 knots,and was off Kuwait on the morning of Sat July the 1st.C troop 42 Commando landed at Kuwait’s uncompleted aerodrome during a sand storm,spiralled down in their helicopters at about 1130 hrs,and were followed almost at once by a squadron of RAF hunters,who were somewhat supprised when they found a formation of helicopters landing out of the swirling sand storm.
The 2nd Parachute Battalion from Cyprus were to have joined 42 commando,but they were delayed from flying by a refusual to grant air space by Turkey. 45 RM Commando were summoned from Aden,this meant bringing in their frontier detachment from Dhala,a journey normally taking two days compressed into less than one day by the fine piece of driving by the RASC,the men were ready by the Saturday morn, and had to wait untill the afternoon till planes were available,and only reaching Kuwait by nightfall. Meanwhile two companies of the 2nd Coldstream Guards, on detachment in Bahrain were flown at short notice to Kuwait during the afternoon to make the aerodrome secure against attack. A half-squadron of the 3rd Dragoon Guards (or Caribiniers ) were already afloat with their Centurians in HMS Striker,the tanks were disgorged at a landing place found by 42 Cdo.By the night of July 1st,more than half a brigade group,with powerfull air support was ready for action.The key feature to be held was the Mutla ridge,some 25 miles from the aerodrome and 5 miles short of the Iraq border,the first move to the Ridge was made during the night.Using a variety of vehicles, A troop 42 Cdo took possesion of part of the Ridge near to the road; 45 Cdo took a feature 15 miles to the left of 42 Cdo,the Ridge some 400 ft high,despite sudden fluries of sandstorms the Marines of 42Cdo RM’, 45 Cdo RM’ and the detachment of Royal Marines from HMS Loch -Alvie,During the day the temprature rose to 125 degrees Fahrenheit,slit trenches dug out of rock and sand,hessian sacking covering to keep out the worst of the sun,Water was flown in by the helicopters from HMS Bulwark,it was reported that the average water consumption per man was about 20 pints per day,the heat was at its most savage in July,there was no shade on Mutla Ridge.A battery of the 33rd Para field Reg RA,11th Hussars with Ferret scout cars,The Carabiniers with their Centurions,2nd Para began to arrive freed from the ban on flying over Turkey.On July the 4th the 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and the 34th Field Squadron arrived from Kenya,the Inniskillings took over from 42 Cdo on the 6th of july.and on the 7th the 1st King’s (Manchester and Liverpool) relieved 45 Cdo, Further reinforcements came from the UK.
During this period the Arab League had mustered sufficient forces to take over the protection of Kuwait,and by October 19th the British withdrawal was complete,and at least there could be no complaints about the speed of the response.And by 1965 the Middle East Command was fully committed to the defence of Aden.
Sempers,
Roger