Afstan: Pity the Canadian Forces have no helicopters

Not that Gen. Hillier has not been trying. But they're on the shopping list. Matthew Fisher reports (full text not online):

...halfway through the first rotation of combat troops to southern Afghanistan, the army is grappling with the reality that lives are sometimes put at risk when convoys set out to resupply troops fighting the Taliban because Canada has no helicopters capable of carrying out such sustainment missions.

"It is quite possible it has cost limbs, if not more, because we have had to sustain on the ground," said Lt.-Col. Ian Hope, who commands the Canadian battle group. "That has produced a risk that would be reduced if we could take helicopter flights...

Lt.-Col. John Conrad, Canada's senior logistician in Kandahar, is responsible for the resupply convoys, which set out from the Kandahar Airfield for remote forward-operating bases. They're located along roads and dirt tracks where the Taliban often sends suicide bombers, or places mines and other explosives because American, British and Dutch Chinook transport helicopters are seldom available for such missions.

"The convoys are now in harm's way almost daily because ... supplies have to follow the infantry and we have had to send those supplies by land," Lt.-Col. Conrad said.

"We bid on air, but it is like coming to a potluck. Everyone brings a dish and instead of potato salad we come with a jug of water. They (the coalition) help us when they can, but we are at the end of the list."

However, both colonels stressed that when Canadian troops require close air support for combat operations or have wounded who need to be taken to hospital, coalition fighter jets, bombers, assault and medevac helicopters are always on call to help them.

"We can rely on our allies to come to our aid if we are in trouble," Lt.-Col. Hope said. "There is no question. They come as soon as possible."

The Harper government has been urgently reviewing the helicopter question...