Royal Marines Commandos deploy to Afghanistan

[big bad john]

Royals are back in Afghanistan.


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

Royal Marines Commandos deploy to Afghanistan
14 Feb 06
150 Royal Marines Commandos left Britain on 14 February 2006, headed for Helmand, Afghanistan where they will provide support and protection for the UK personnel who are building a base.


Royal Marines, from 42 Commando, prepare for deployment to Afghanistan
[Picture: LA Phot Shaun Barlow].
The Marines, from 42 Commando Royal Marines, are the first combat troops to deploy to southern Afghanistan following the decision announced in January to commit around 3,300 British troops as part of NATO's planned expansion.

The Marines form part of an 850-strong advance party deploying to Afghanistan this month which will also include engineers from 39 Regiment, Royal Engineers and three CH-47 Chinook helicopters. The Marines will carry out the vital function of protecting Army and RAF personnel as they build the infrastructure critical for the follow-on deployment of 16 Air Assault Brigade in the summer.

The Commanding Officer of 42 Commando Royal Marines, Lieutenant Colonel Ged Salzano, said:

"This deployment is typical of the expeditionary nature of Royal Marines business. The Company Group will be the first British combat troops into the Helmand area as part of the NATO expansion and is robust enough to look after itself and protect the engineers. Conditions are expected to be tough but 42 Commando are well prepared for the task."


The full deployment in the summer will see the creation of a new British-led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) at Lashkar Gar, the capital of Helmand province, which will be staffed and protected by 16 Air Assault Brigade.

As in the North, the PRT will be based on a triumvirate of the British military commander and officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development. This will provide Afghanistan with a seamless package of democratic, political, developmental and military assistance in Helmand. This is necessary to ensure that international terrorism never again has a base in Afghanistan.

Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram said:

"I pay tribute, once again, to the commitment and versatility of 42 Commando who have just returned from Pakistan on humanitarian relief work. 42 Commando will now deploy to Afghanistan with the crucial role of supporting the set up of a base in anticipation of UK Forces fulfilling ISAF's mission in Helmand."

Photo 1)  Royal Marines from "J Company" line up for a group photograph
[Picture: LA Phot Shaun Barlow].

 

[muffin]

OMG Some of those guys look so young!

muffin

 

[big bad john]

18 and up.

 

[big bad john]

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/FullSpeedAheadAnAfghanistanInpicturesSpecial.htm

Full speed ahead: an Afghanistan in-pictures special
3 Mar 06
Personnel from the UK are continuing the military build-up in southern Afghanistan. Elements from the Royal Marines, specialist engineers from 39 Engineer Regiment and RAF helicopter crews and support personnel are all at the forefront of the deployment.


Map showing the status of UK military commitments in Afghanistan
Royal Marines of 42 Commando Brigade are providing security for elements of the Royal Engineers engaged in building Camp Bastion which is beginning to rise up from the desert and which will soon be the principle Forward Operating Base.

Meanwhile Chinooks and crews from RAF Odiham-based 18 Squadron have been playing their part in the movement and support of British Marines and Army engineers based at three bases in southern Afghanistan.

Based at Kandahar the Joint Helicopter Force (Afghanistan) Headquarters is being led by Wing Commander Carl Scott. In addition a qualified helicopter instructor, Squadron Leader Peter Ward, is deployed with the detachment. He said:

"In order to carry out the full range of tasks that we will be faced with, it has been imperative to reacquaint ourselves with a number of skills."

"Whatever the difficulties and risks of this deployment, those risks are nothing compared to the dangers to our country and our people of allowing Afghanistan to fall back into the hands of the Taliban and the terrorists."

Secretary of State for Defence John Reid
Three Chinooks are currently based at Kandahar for the initial airlift. The helicopters are transported from the UK inside giant C-17 aircraft. The journey is made without their huge rotors, which are refitted on arrival. The Chinook engineers have been working around the clock to prepare them for the first troop moves.

Operation Herrick, now in its third phase, is bringing the creation of a 9,000-strong Multi-National Brigade (South),led by the Canadians, which will be centred around the southern Afghan province of Helmand. Other contributing nations include Estonia, Romania, and the United States, who will eventually withdraw to concentrate on other operations.

Speaking in January following the announcement that an additional 3,300 British forces would be deploying to the south of Afghanistan, Secretary of State for Defence John Reid said:

"Whatever the difficulties and risks of this deployment, those risks are nothing compared to the dangers to our country and our people of allowing Afghanistan to fall back into the hands of the Taliban and the terrorists. We will not allow that. And the Afghan people will not allow that."

Photo 1)  Royal Marines of 42 Commando at Kandahar, Afghanistan, are providing security for elements of the Royal Engineers building Camp Bastion in Helmand Province [Picture: Corporal Rob Knight, RLC]