Will Laidlaw: Apache over Libya

AAA(Anti Aircraft Artillery, also known as Triple-A). Typically ZU-23-1 and 2, and ZPU-4, 23mm calibre weapons designed to shoot down aircraft. They have a 400 rounds per minute rate of fire, a muzzle velocity of about 1000m per second and are effective up to 4,500ft and out to 4km. They replaced the older 14.5mm ZPU-1 and 2, which have a slower (approximately 150 rounds per minute) rate of fire and a shorter range. These weapons were prolific in Libya and were often mounted on the back of pickup trucks. AAA mounted on pickup trucks are known as ‘technicals’. In Libya they were also used directly against ground forces.

American lady in the wing. Better known as ‘bitchin’ Betty’, this calmly enunciating voice tells us when things go wrong. Her real name is Erica Lane and she’s from Alabama. The software-triggered voice announcements gain the attention of aircrew and alert them to what is going wrong. She informs us of everything from a missile being launched at us to an engine failure.

AWACS(Airborne Warning and Control System). The flying command and control centres, with a large disc-shaped radar in front of the tail. These aircraft provided round-the-clock coordination for all NATO activity in the air.

AWS(Area Weapon System). The 30mm gun on the Apache that can fire off-axis and can be controlled by any of the aircraft’s sights, including the pilot’s helmet, allowing rapid lethal engagements. Each of the 30mm rounds has a High Explosive Dual Purpose warhead, which delivers both a fragmentation and armour-piercing effect.

Back-seater. Also known as rear-seater. The Apache has a tandem, dualcontrol cockpit, with the pilot sitting in the rear seat.

BDA(Battle Damage Assessment). The assessment of the effect of their strike conducted by the aircrew after an engagement.

Bingo. A fuel state expressed as the fuel required to get you back to Mother with the minimum left in the tank to land. Once your fuel is at bingo you must to return to Mother; there is no spare fuel for any more target time or diversions.

BM21. Also known as the ‘Grad’, the BM21 is a Russian-made multilaunch rocket system mounted on the rear of a truck. Depending on its configuration, 20 to 30 tubes each fire a rocket reaching out to 20km.

BZ(Bravo Zulu). A naval signal, originally conveyed by flags, meaning ‘well done’. To receive a BZ is high praise, and it is given sparingly.

Callsign. All aircraft have a callsign, a name to be recognized by on the radio. ‘Machete’ is one of the 656 Squadron callsigns. Over Libya we diversified into several different callsigns – ‘Prodigy’, ‘Jilted’ and ‘Underdog’ were among our favourites. They were all official NATO designations and were dropped as soon as the operation was over.

CAOC(Combined Air Operations Cell). The CAOC was located in Poggio Renatico, near Bologna in Italy. This is where the NATO air campaign was planned and managed.

CDE(Collateral Damage Estimate). Every weapon has CDE implications. When writing the MISREP, aircrew were to describe any CD issues. CD is also considered when conducting BDA.

CIVCAS. Civilian Casualties.

CO(Commanding Officer). In the Army CO relates specifically to the command of a Regiment.

CPG(Co-Pilot Gunner), also known as front-seater. The CPG has control of the sights, sensors and weapons. He is usually the aircraft commander too. Although the Apache has dual controls and can be flown from either cockpit, the front-seater is usually too busy finding and engaging targets to have his hands on the flight controls.

CSAR(Combat Search and Rescue). The people who come and pick you up if you end up on the run having been forced to land. For the first three weeks of our work the NATO CSAR was at five hours notice to move. In late June the 56th Rescue Squadron from the United States Air Force joined us on HMS Ocean . They sat at thirty minutes notice to move, but well-honed drills meant that they would usually be off the deck in around seven minutes. Consequently, morale went up among the Apache crews.

CTR(Conversion To Role). Following CTT ( see below ), newly trained Apache pilots embark on the eight-month CTR teaching them attack helicopter military Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs). On completion, a pilot is ready to join a front-line Attack Helicopter Squadron.

CTT(Conversion to Type). The eight-month training course teaching already qualified military pilots how to fly and operate the British Apache.

Delta Hotel. Direct hit. When a fired munition goes exactly where the gunner wants it to go. Over Libya every one of our Hellfire shots was a Delta Hotel.

Dunker. The Under Water Escape Trainer. A module used to practise escape from a ditched helicopter.

Ellamy. The name of the UK military operation in Libya in 2011.

FCR(Fire Control Radar). Mounted above the main rotor blades the FCR senses objects in the same way as conventional radar. The aircrew can then visually interrogate those objects with the FLIR.

Feet-wet/feet-dry. Terms used to describe when the aircraft is over the sea (feet-wet) or over the land (feet-dry).

FLF(Free Libyan Forces). Initially, those who took part in the uprising against Gaddafi were known as ‘rebels’. As they became more distinctly organized they were recognized as the Free Libyan Forces.

Flip-flop. The Air Group planning compartment in HMS Ocean . During Operation Ellamy 656 Squadron were allowed sole use of the lower flip-flop. The squadron conducted all its planning and debriefing in the flip-flop.

FLIR(Forward Looking Infra Red, but now commonly used for any infrared system). The Apache infrared sighting system can be rotated in azimuth and elevation to provide a wide axis of view and was the most commonly used Apache sighting system in Libya. It is part of the Target Acquisition and Designation System (TADS).

Flyco(Flying Control). Where flying is coordinated on a ship, akin to an air traffic control and located on the bridge.

FMC(Flight Management Computer). The FMC makes the ten-tonne Apache stable in flight, giving the aerodynamic stability needed to engage targets.

Fragged. Once launched from HMS Ocean , the Apache would check in with the airborne command and control aircraft and describe its mission number, callsign and timings. If these were unchanged from the original fragmentary order that directed the mission, the commander would simply say, ‘launched as fragged’.

Front-seater. The front seat pilot, also known as co-pilot gunner. The front-seater is usually the aircraft commander. He controls the sights, sensors and weapons. Dual controls also allow the front-seater to fly the aircraft.

Hellfire. An air-to-ground missile used by the Apache. Other platforms such as the Predator drone also fire Hellfire.

Herrick. Operation Herrick was the name of the UK military operation in Afghanistan 2002–14.

H-hour. This is the time on a mission that the first shot is fired. H-hour is a datum specified as both a time and an activity upon which all subsequent events are anchored.