CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - The Marines dubbed it the “Mega Convoy,” a rolling wall of armored vehicles and load trucks that stretched for more than a mile.
An armada of roughly 30 vehicles and 80 Marines with Combat Logistics Regiment 2, Regional Command (Southwest), departed their motor pool here in the pre-dawn hours of Aug. 22, embarking on one of the largest logistics patrols since their arrival in Afghanistan in mid-July.
The massive line of Mine Resistant, Ambush Protected vehicles and Logistics System Vehicle Replacement tractors moved its way along paved desert highways and off-road paths. Clouds of dust made it nearly impossible to view the entire length of the convoy as the vehicles pushed north.
The multipronged combat logistics patrol pooled the defensive capabilities of two separate convoys in a consolidated effort to resupply Forward Operating Bases Shir Ghazi and Shukvani in Helmand province.
The “Mega Convoy” split into two sections. By mid-afternoon, both groups of Marines reached their respective FOBs, conducted offload operations and hunkered down for a night of rest. The two sections reintegrated the following day for the return trip to Camp Leatherneck.
In addition to resupplying FOBs Shir Ghazi and Shukvai, the convoy hauled numerous vehicles back to Camp Leatherneck as part of continuing retrograde operations in the province.
The entire operation took less than two days to complete. It will serve as a model for future convoy operations supporting the various outposts and FOBs throughout the area.