Handover in Helmand as 3 Cdo Brigade replace 3 PARA

[big bad john]

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/HandoverInHelmandAs3CdoBrigadeReplace3Para.htm

Handover in Helmand as 3 Cdo Brigade replace 3 PARA
9 Oct 06
The Paras of 16 Air Assault Brigade are returning home after fulfilling their mission in Afghanistan and will be replaced by the Marines of 3 Commando Brigade.


The deployment of 3 Commando Brigade, led by Brigadier Jerry Thomas, includes 42 Commando, 45 Commando, 29 Commando Royal Artillery, the Command Support Group (a dedicated logistics unit), and 800 Naval Air Squadron (which replaces 4 Squadron RAF). 3 Commando Brigade is a core component of the UK's Joint Rapid Reaction Force, and is based in the south-west of England.

16 Air Assault Brigade is returning to Britain, as originally planned, in a staged withdrawal due to be completed by the end of October. Speaking from Kandahar, UK spokesman for the British Forces, Lieutenant Colonel Andy Price, said that during their six-month tour, the troops had faced "pretty much hell".

Asked to define the threat Andy Price said simply:

"Murder, attempted murder and incitement to murder."

He continued:

"We are here at the behest of the local government, assisting the Afghan National Army to bring governance to the place. On the opposite side is a considerable number of Taliban who are determined to bring this country back into a lawless state."

Andy Price said that the task faced by British servicemen and women has been "incredibly tough". The campaign has been described as the forces' most intense period of fighting since Korea. "I've no doubt that's true," he said.

Taking on the Taliban in recent months has resulted in British deaths and injuries. Lieutenant Colonel Price said the type and scale of attacks has varied depending on the location and role of units:

"At the HQ base camp in Kandahar, there have been daily rocket attacks. For those based in platoon houses, you're talking about rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) and small arms attacks. Troop transport helicopters can be attacked by RPGs and missiles. It very much depends on what you're doing."

But he pointed out that morale remains high:

"They've gone through pretty much hell at various stages of this deployment. They've lost some fine men, and very close friends and colleagues. But they've soldiered on and maintained the ethos that you would expect from 16 Air Assault Brigade."

He was keen to point out that 700-strong 3 Para is just one part of the British force. There are 4,500 British personnel in theatre, and the demands and dangers are shared with other, sometimes less obvious, units:

"Don't forget we've also got the RAF and Navy providing Harrier GR7s. We had pilots flying helicopters daily into gunfire and on the ground we have gunners, engineers and support staff, including chefs and engineers. We could not cope without any of them."

This article, by Lorraine McBride, was produced for the October 2006 issue of Focus - the newspaper for people in defence.

 

[big bad john]

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/ChangingOfTheGuardOutgoingCommanderPaysTributeToexceptionalBritishForces.htm

Changing of the guard - outgoing Commander pays tribute to 'exceptional' British Forces
11 Oct 06
The outgoing Commander of the British Task Force in southern Afghanistan has spoken of his "immense pride" in the work of the force over the last six months.


From left, Brigadier Jerry Thomas, commander of 3 Commando Brigade, takes over from Brigadier Ed Butler, commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade in southern Afghanistan
[Picture: Press Information Centre Kandahar]
Brigadier Ed Butler, commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade, said the performance and bravery of all the soldiers, airmen and aviators had been "quite exceptional and unsurpassed in every respect."

Speaking after handing over command to Brigadier Jerry Thomas, commander of 3 Commando Brigade, he said the Task Force had achieved over and above what he had planned for:

"What the Task Force has delivered over the last six months has been quite exceptional in every respect," he said. "Every one of them should feel hugely proud and rightly so.

"When we were preparing to come here we knew there would be rocky times ahead and that things would get harder before they got easier. That has certainly been the case, but I judge we have turned a corner.

"The troops have been living in very austere conditions, but what has shone through is the resilience, resolve and raw courage of all the British soldiers, airmen and aviators. The Taleban under-estimated what they were capable of."

Brigadier Butler also expressed deep sympathy to the families, friends and colleagues whose lives had been devastated by the loss of a loved one:

"We have lost brave friends, heroes every one of them, who have paid the ultimate sacrifice," he said. But we have achieved a huge amount. We know the Taleban are running short of supplies and ammunition. They are having trouble evacuating their casualties and their morale is extremely low."

"A lot has already been achieved in Afghanistan, but we must build on that over the next six months."
Brigadier Jerry Thomas
The Task Force had also helped ordinary Afghans to free their areas from Taleban control:

"We have given confidence to the elders, mullahs and people to stand up to the Taleban for the first time in years," Brig Butler said. "The significance of this should not be underestimated."

As well as fighting the Taleban, the Task Force had been able to make progress in reconstruction efforts:

"British engineers are now in southern Afghanistan, working alongside the Afghan, implementing a variety of reconstruction projects. It is slow but steady progress, but it is all in the right direction."

Brigadier Thomas, the new commander of the British Task Force, said he was looking forward to the challenges of the next six months:

"A lot has already been achieved in Afghanistan, but we must build on that over the next six months," Brig Thomas said. "I recognise there will be significant challenges ahead, but I am confident we will deal with them effectively. Our priority remains assisting the legitimate Government of Afghanistan to move forward with reconstruction and the development of democracy across the country."