"ANP Hill, Now Zad"

by David Rowlands
Giclee Print
Size 58 x 38 cm


In July 2006, A Company Group, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers was sent into Now Zad with the mission of defending the compound and the Afghan National Police (ANP) force. From the moment they arrived, the soldiers of A Company were attacked daily with mortars, 107mm Chinese rockets, rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and small arms. They held their post for 105 days, fighting more than 150 engagements with the Taliban.

The Fire Support Group (FSG) was based on ANP Hill. Upon this wind-swept, barren, rocky hilltop was a building likened to a chapel or shrine, the floor of which was below ground level. It had a door at each end, one of which faced toward the enemy. There were two 81mm mortars behind the ‘chapel’. The ammunition was neatly stored in camouflaged bays behind the mortars.

The A Company Commander was Major Jonathan Swift RRF. During the tour, the new Osprey body armour was issued, replacing the ECBA (Enhanced Combat Body Armour). The soldiers on the hill often wore brown tee-shirts, but when the OC arrived at the hill he ordered them to wear their combat shirts, with sleeves fully rolled down.

In this painting, our view is looking toward the south-east. A soldier with ammunition boxes runs toward the slit trenches where Fusiliers are firing General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) in the sustained fire (SF) mode. Sergeant-Major Pugh (kneeling) is directing the GPMGs, spotting the fall of shot and adjusting them onto targets as necessary. (The slit trenches were later covered by camouflage netting). The civilians had fled from the town (which is to the left), and an aircraft is dropping bombs on the Taliban positions. At right is a Scimitar of the Household Cavalry, with its 30mm cannon.