Mazar-i-Sharif (Jul 2nd) -
Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) has ended Tiger attack helicopter operations
in northern Afghanistan. As the force reported Tuesday on its news page the
deployment ended with a ceremony at Mazar-i-Sharif airfield (MZR) on June 30th.
All four gunships belonging to Kampfhubschrauberregiment (Attach Helicopter
Regiment) 36 “Kurhessen” have reportedly already seized flight operations a few
days earlier in the process of ISAF re-deployment until the end of 2014.
In the brief period since January 30th 2013 the four machines conducted some 260 sorties and scored nearly 1.860 flight hours. Most of the time the Tiger helicopters were escorting convoys or supporting low intensity ground operations as well as assisting in humanitarian efforts. Bundeswehr pointed out that not a single shot was fired by the gunships during all of these missions. For a long time there had been discussions about the Tiger's abilities to support the Afghan mission. Especially the lack of a chin-gun and problems with the avionics suite were often cited. After all Germany hesitated much longer than France to bring the Tiger to the Hindu Kush.
The re-deployment of the choppers to their home at Fritzlar AAF in northern Hessen is to be completed until the end of August this year. It is the second German air asset completely re-deployed from the theatre. Besides proven C-160 Transall transport planes the German forces in the southern Asian country rely on the NHI NH-90 and the veteran Sikorski CH-53 GS 'Stallion' utility helicopters for transport, medevac and other support purposes.
AU/pvk
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| Tiger in Afghanistan. Pic: einsatz.bundeswehr.de |
In the brief period since January 30th 2013 the four machines conducted some 260 sorties and scored nearly 1.860 flight hours. Most of the time the Tiger helicopters were escorting convoys or supporting low intensity ground operations as well as assisting in humanitarian efforts. Bundeswehr pointed out that not a single shot was fired by the gunships during all of these missions. For a long time there had been discussions about the Tiger's abilities to support the Afghan mission. Especially the lack of a chin-gun and problems with the avionics suite were often cited. After all Germany hesitated much longer than France to bring the Tiger to the Hindu Kush.
The re-deployment of the choppers to their home at Fritzlar AAF in northern Hessen is to be completed until the end of August this year. It is the second German air asset completely re-deployed from the theatre. Besides proven C-160 Transall transport planes the German forces in the southern Asian country rely on the NHI NH-90 and the veteran Sikorski CH-53 GS 'Stallion' utility helicopters for transport, medevac and other support purposes.
AU/pvk
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