Whose Name We Share

64 original farm was now an expansive and defensive strongpoint. The FOB boasted battlements, sangars, accommodation, gun positions, an aid post and a helicopter pad. In 2008, under the name RAA Troop – Afghanistan 1 st , were embedded into I Parachute Battery (Bulls Troop RHA) and deployed to FOB Armadillo in Helmland Province, Afghanistan. They would become the Direct Support Battery to Battlegroup Centre. FOB Armadillo left a lot to be desired, no accommodation outside of hesco shelters, kitchens and toilets were plastic bags and the temperatures soared to 55 degrees regularly. For the first three months all was quiet and the only support required was the occasional illumination mission. The “fighting season” began in June and everything changed very quickly – most of all the tempo. Danger close and counter battery fire became a daily occurrence. The troop fired 2,911 rounds during 153 fire missions over the course of their tour. They fired in support to Patrol Base Attal, held by Royal Irish Operational Mentoring Team, as close as 60m from troops who had no overhead protection in order to provide final protective fire – on several occasions. The Troop returned to Australia via the UK in October 2008. Figure 27 Soldiers of 1 Field Regiment, RAA at FOB Armadillo (later renamed Budwan). As photographed, it can be observed that the FOB left a lot to be desired. Courtesy of the Australian War Memorial, awm.gov.au