Sabzak Pass (II)

In view of the increasing number of attacks in Sabzak, it was decided to carry out an operation that could provide safety and calm to its inhabitants. This mission was assigned to the Tactical Group in Support of the Elections/Grupo Táctico Español de Apoyo a las Elecciones (GTAPOEL). Two companies take 4-6 hour turns for the execution of this mission—one from the 50th Infantry Regiment ‘Tenerife’ and other from the 49th ‘Tenerife’.

With the colours painted by fate and the dice being rolled on the future, the morning of 2 September 2009, the company from the 49th Infantry Regiment ‘Tenerife’, more concretely from its Battalion ‘Albuera’, receives notice of settling in the area.

They smell the dust—a smell that will now remain recognisable for their senses forever. They see the smoke—always present in places trapped by violence— making grey blots in the landscape. The mountains surround them in a feeling of height and danger that will pursue them for the next two days.

Captain San Miguel is in control of Company ‘Albuera’. With its wide deployment, it has the mission of controlling both the hill of Sabzak Pass and the mines area, located 4 kilometres east.

Heavy fire from gunfire and missiles soon starts, initially in the south, over the 1st Section and the Command Post, and then spreads to the Weapons Section. Movement and fire break straightaway.

The First Section manoeuvres trying to neutralise the origin of the fire. Meanwhile, the Weapons Section is told to occupy positions to support the section in the worst position that has already been declared as TIC (Troops in Contact). Nobody is oblivious to the sensations that surround a soldier when contact with the enemy is declared. Then, all the previous training becomes brief. All of a sudden, tension brings to mind all the theory and practice exercised in manoeuvres for so long, that now comes to light as a sum of instinctive reactions.

 

After about two hours and a half combatting, the First Section takes advantageous positions and the enemy leaves the area. Likewise, the surroundings are examined in order to find a viable path between north and south.

The radio waves are filled with nicknames, those that—when broadcast—provide the confidence of always having somebody nearby, and guarantee joint action: 5V, 1A, EA, Arandela, Kent, Tánatos, Animal, Kiriki, Sparring, Barni, Ompare, Apache, Pony, Gato, Reyes, Pumu, Pumba, Dragon…

Ammunition consumption starts to be high, and in view of the steep ground and the enemy’s persistence, 5V decides to attack their positions in order to dislodge them. They are about to cross several red lines, both mentally and physically—that particular Rubicon every soldier willing to be victorious must face. Nevertheless, the strength and determination of the members of the company—that can be seen in their faces—and their permanent attitude makes the weight of decisions lighter. They are the most valuable members of the unit and also the best mental and physical fighting force one could have. ‘If the soldiers who come with me cannot do it, no one can’— Captain San Miguel claims—. ‘They are capable of anything.’ They deploy, remaining firm in their decision, confronting the fire from the enemy, as they keep shooting. They find it very hard to identify the origin of the fire, as they are stuck to the ground, wrapped up in blankets covered with sand. They occupy excellent positions, however, they must be dislodged.

 

They fix the north area with fire. Bullets keep whistling everywhere. The first RPGs fall—one very close to V5’s vehicle. Pumba, soldier Jorge—the shooter—hears it coming and bends down just in time, saying: ‘Here it comes, here it comes!’ Immediately, he takes his heavy machine gun again to counter the enemy with all his might.

1A and Barni quickly locate at both sides of the vehicle that Cristo drives with the expertise and composture provided by his seniority and many hours of driving. Pumu—from 1A’s VAMTAC vehicle—manipulates his primary weapon with skill and precision, and little by little, they manage to advance, taking positions to the east of the pass. ‘Come on, let’s keep supporting the fire area!’ Pony and Gato are there. All the vehicles in the A group move very slowly, shooting at the enemy positions. Shooters of the primary weapon are the main protagonists of the day—both them, and the hearts that guide them.

At this point, 5V declares the are as TIC and orders group B to move south as much as they can, whereas group A fixes the enemy from the north and east areas.

Kent—followed by Tánatos— moves with energy along heavy fire that comes from hidden and prepared positions. Bullets whistle everywhere. Kiriki, Animal, Ompare, Dragón, Pelayo… they all act coordinated, as a single combat element. They move further and further, until they eventually reach positions in the south.

Those who have landed—since there is no assault without landing— hear their enemies’ voices and stick to the ground, shooting only what is necessary to dislodge them with their positions. The insurgents can also hear them, and they know they will soon be close to them. This morning they have discovered that these soldiers do not take fighting as a joke.

The primary weapons of the vehicles support those who have landed on a sustained basis, despite receiving precise and concentrated enemy fire. The shooters from the vehicles are crucial today. Some of their ballistic shields have even suffered four impacts. These centimetres separate the holes from their hearts—the ones that really hold the weapons and shoot tirelessly to silence the enemy, who is increasingly shier.

Spanish soldiers acknowledge the expertise and commendable courage of their enemy. However, it finally gives up before the determined drive of the First Company of Battalion ‘Albuera’. They are defeated, leaving ‘Albuera’ as the owner of the battlefield, having conquered the heights above them, even before the arrival of the aerial means. They are exhausted, and know that the combat will still last for a few hours, almost until sunset. Now they take the initiative, and the enemy is combatting from positions which are hard to defend.