- Operation Herrick order of battle
-
This is the Operation Herrick order of battle, which lists the British forces that have taken part in Operation Herrick since it began in 2002.
Contents
Ground Forces
Kabul
Operation Herrick began in 2002 on the end of Operation Fingal, which saw Britain hand command of the ISAF force to Turkey. At that point, the deployment was scaled back from 2,100 to approximately 300, primarily concerned with security in Kabul, and manning the UK Afghan National Army Training Team (UKANATT).
In 2003, the deployment in Kabul was expanded to battalion size when two Provincial Reconstruction Teams were established, along with a rapid reaction force, based around a light role infantry battalion, the Afghanistan Roulement Infantry Battalion (ARIB).
ARIB Deployments
- October 2003-April 2004: 2nd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles
- April 2004-October 2004: 1st Battalion, The Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment)
- October 2004-April 2005: 1st Battalion, The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment (29th/45th Foot)
- April 2005-October 2005: 2nd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles
- October 2005-April 2006: 1st Battalion, The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry
- April 2006-October 2006: 2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment
- October 2006-April 2007: 45 Commando, Royal Marines
- April 2007-October 2007: 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards
- October 2007-April 2008: 1st Battalion, The Royal Welsh (Royal Welch Fusiliers)
Helmand
In January 2006, the Government announced that, due to the worsening situation in the south of Afghanistan, a brigade sized formation numbering approximately 3,000 would be deployed to Helmand.
Current Deployment
- Operation Herrick XV (October 2011-April 2012)
- HQ 20th Armoured Brigade
- 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards
- The Queen's Royal Hussars (Queen's Own and Royal Irish)
- The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland
- 1st Battalion, The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires)
- 1st Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
- 2nd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment (Worcesters & Foresters)
- 2nd Battalion, The Rifles
- 5th Battalion, The Rifles
- 35 Engineer Regiment, Corps of Royal Engineers+ 11 Fd Sqn 38 Engr Regt
- 1 Logistic Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
- 1 Medical Regiment
- 3 Close Support Battalion, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers
- [[110 Prov Coy RMP
- Elements 33 Engineer Regiment(EOD)
- Elements 170 Infra Sp Engr Gp Royal Engineers
- HQ 20th Armoured Brigade
Previous Deployments
- Operation Herrick IV (May-November 2006)[1]
- HQ, 16 Air Assault Brigade
- Household Cavalry Regiment - 1 sqn
- 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment
- Elements of 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling), 83rd, 87th and Ulster Defence Regiment)
- 7th (Parachute) Regiment Royal Horse Artillery - 1 bty
- 9th Regiment, Army Air Corps
- 32nd Regiment Royal Artillery - 1 bty
- 39 Regiment, Royal Engineers
- 23 Engineer Regiment (Air Assault), Royal Engineers
- Elements of 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Royal Engineers
- Elements of 11 EOD Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Royal Logistic Corps
- 29 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
- 13 (Air Assault) Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
- 7th Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
- 16 Close Support Medical Regiment
- 5th Regiment Royal Artillery - 1 Battery (STA)
- HQ, 16 Air Assault Brigade
- Operation Herrick V (November 2006-April 2007)[2]
- HQ, 3 Commando Brigade
- The Light Dragoons - 1 sqn
- 45 Commando, Royal Marines
- 42 Commando, Royal Marines
- 32nd Regiment Royal Artillery - 1 bty of UAVs
- 29th Commando Regiment Royal Artillery
- 9th Regiment, Army Air Corps
- 28 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers
- 59 Independent Commando Squadron, Royal Engineers
- Elements of 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Royal Engineers
- Elements of 11 EOD Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Royal Logistic Corps
- Commando Logistic Regiment
- 27 Transport Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
- 29 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
- 22 Field Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps
- HQ, 3 Commando Brigade
- Operation Herrick VI (April-October 2007)[3]
- HQ, 12 Mechanised Brigade
- The Light Dragoons
- 2nd Royal Tank Regiment - 1 Sqn
- 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards
- 1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment
- 1st Battalion, The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment (29th/45th Foot)*
- 19th Regiment Royal Artillery
- 32nd Regiment Royal Artillery - 1 bty of UAVs
- 39th Regiment Royal Artillery - 1 Troop of MLRS
- 3rd Regiment, Army Air Corps
- 9th Regiment, Army Air Corps
- 26 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers
- Elements of 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Royal Engineers
- Elements of 11 EOD Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Royal Logistic Corps
- 4 Logistic Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
- 4 General Support Medical Regiment
- 212 Field Hospital (V), Royal Army Medical Corps
- HQ, 12 Mechanised Brigade
In February 2007, it was announced that an additional 1,400 troops would be deployed to Afghanistan, primarily formed as a battlegroup around a light infantry battalion, the 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh (Royal Welch Fusiliers).
*Renamed as 2nd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters) 01/09/07- Operation Herrick VII (October 2007-April 2008)[4]
- HQ 52 Infantry Brigade
- The Household Cavalry Regiment - 1 sqn
- 40 Commando, Royal Marines
- 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards
- 2nd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th and 33rd/76th Foot) (Green Howards)
- 1st Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles
- 4th Regiment Royal Artillery
- 32nd Regiment Royal Artillery - 1 bty of UAVs
- 39th Regiment Royal Artillery - 1 Troop of MLRS
- 36 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers
- Elements of 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Royal Engineers
- Elements of 170 (Infra Sp) Engineer Group, Royal Engineers
- Elements of 11 EOD Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Royal Logistic Corps
- 27 Transport Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
- 5 General Support Medical Regiment
- 1st Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
- 101 Provost Company, Royal Military Police
- HQ 52 Infantry Brigade
- Operation Herrick VIII (April-October 2008)[5]
- HQ 16 Air Assault Brigade
- The Household Cavalry Regiment - 1 sqn
- The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland
- The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland
- 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling), 83rd, 87th and Ulster Defence Regiment)
- 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment
- 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment
- 7th (Parachute) Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
- 32nd Regiment Royal Artillery - 1 bty of UAVs
- 39th Regiment Royal Artillery - 1 Troop of MLRS
- 23 (Air Assault) Regiment, Royal Engineers
- Elements of 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Royal Engineers
- Elements of 170 (Infra Sp) Engineer Group, Royal Engineers
- Elements of 11 EOD Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Royal Logistic Corps
- 13 (Air Assault) Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
- 6 Supply Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
- 16 Close Support Medical Regiment
- 7th Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
- HQ 16 Air Assault Brigade
*Elements of the Theatre Reserve Battalion, 2nd Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires) were deployed in support of both 16 Air Assault Brigade and 3 Commando Brigade
- Operation Herrick IX (October 2008-April 2009)[6]
- HQ 3 Commando Brigade
- 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards - 1 sqn
- 42 Commando, Royal Marines
- 45 Commando, Royal Marines
- 1st Battalion, The Rifles
- 1st Battalion, The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires) - 1 Coy
- 2nd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles
- 29 (Commando) Regiment Royal Artillery
- 32nd Regiment Royal Artillery - 1 bty of UAVs
- 39th Regiment Royal Artillery - 1 Troop of MLRS
- 24 (Commando) Regiment, Royal Engineers
- 77 Armoured Engineer Squadron, 35 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers
- Elements of 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Royal Engineers
- Elements of 170 (Infra Sp) Engineer Group, Royal Engineers
- Elements of 11 EOD Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Royal Logistic Corps
- Commando Logistic Regiment, Royal Marines
- 3rd Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
- HQ 3 Commando Brigade
- Operation Herrick X (April-October 2009)[7]
- HQ 19 Light Brigade
- The Light Dragoons
- 2nd Royal Tank Regiment - 1 Sqn
- 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards
- The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland
- 2nd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters)
- 2nd Battalion, The Rifles
- 40 Regiment Royal Artillery
- 32nd Regiment Royal Artillery - 1 bty of UAVs
- 39th Regiment Royal Artillery - 1 Troop of MLRS
- 38 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers
- Elements of 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Royal Engineers
- Elements of 170 (Infra Sp) Engineer Group, Royal Engineers
- Elements of 11 EOD Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Royal Logistic Corps
- 19 Combat Service Support Battalion
- 4th Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
- 2 Medical Regiment
- 5th Regiment Royal Artillery - 1 Battery (STA)
- NORMANDY Coy, 4th (V) Battalion, The Mercian Regiment
- HQ 19 Light Brigade
*Elements of the Theatre Reserve Battalion, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers were deployed in support of 19 Light Brigade and 11 Light Brigade
- Operation Herrick XI (October 2009-April 2010)[8]
- HQ 11 Light Brigade
- The Household Cavalry Regiment
- 1st Royal Tank Regiment - D Sqn
- 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards
- 3rd Battalion, The Rifles
- 1st Battalion, The Royal Welsh (Royal Welch Fusiliers)
- 2nd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th & 33rd/76th Foot) (Green Howards)
- 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
- 28 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers
- Elements of 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Royal Engineers
- Elements of 101 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Royal Engineers
- Elements of 170 (Infra Sp) Engineer Group, Royal Engineers
- Elements of 11 EOD Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Royal Logistic Corps
- 104 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
- 10 Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment
- 261 Signals Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals
- 1 Battery from 5th Regiment Royal Artillery
- HQ 11 Light Brigade
In October 2009, the total force was increased to 9,000 personnel with the addition of several other units:
- 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards
- 1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment - 3 coy
- 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's, Lancashire & Border) - 1 coy
- 1st Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland - 1 coy
- Operation Herrick XII (April 2010-October 2010)[9]
- HQ 4 Mechanized Brigade
- Royal Dragoon Guards - 1 sqn
- Queen's Royal Lancers - 1 sqn
- 40 Commando, Royal Marines
- 1st Battalion, Scots Guards
- The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland
- 1st Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's, Lancashire and Border)
- 1st Battalion, The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire)
- 1st Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles
- 4th Regiment Royal Artillery
- 21 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers
- Elements of 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Royal Engineers
- Elements of 11 EOD Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Royal Logistic Corps
- 3 Medical Regiment
- 34 Field Hospital
- 1st Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
- 101st Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
- Theatre Logistics Group - 6,8,12 AND 159 Regiments (Royal Logistic Corps)
- HQ 4 Mechanized Brigade
- Operation Herrick XIII (October 2010-April 2011)[10]
- HQ, 16 Air Assault Brigade
- Household Cavalry Regiment - 1 Sqn
- 2nd Royal Tank Regiment - 3 Sqn, HQ Elements
- 1st Battalion, Irish Guards
- The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland
- The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland
- 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling), 83rd, 87th and Ulster Defence Regiment)
- 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment
- 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment
- Elements of 4th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment
- Elements of 4th Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment
- 5th Regiment Royal Artillery Z Battery STA
- 7th (Parachute) Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
- 32nd Regiment Royal Artillery - 1 bty of UAVs
- 39th Regiment Royal Artillery - 1 Troop of MLRS
- 23 (Air Assault) Regiment, Royal Engineers
- Elements of 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Royal Engineers
- Elements of 101 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Royal Engineers
- Elements of 170 (Infra Sp) Engineer Group, Royal Engineers
- Elements of 11 EOD Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Royal Logistic Corps
- 13 (Air Assault) Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
- 6 Supply Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
- 16 Close Support Medical Regiment
- 7th Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
- HQ, 16 Air Assault Brigade
- Operation Herrick XIV (April-October 2011)[11]
- HQ 3 Commando Brigade
- The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys)
- The 9th/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales')
- 30 Commando (IX), Royal Marines
- 42 Commando, Royal Marines
- 45 Commando, Royal Marines
- 1st Battalion, The Rifles
- The Highlanders, 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland
- 3rd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment (Staffords)
- 2nd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles
- 29 (Commando) Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 24 (Commando) Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers,
- 32 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers
- Elements of 33 EOD Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Royal Engineers
- Elements of 11 EOD Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Royal Logistic Corps
- Commando Logistic Regiment, Royal Marines
- 2 Close Support Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
- HQ 3 Commando Brigade
Future Deployments
- Operation Herrick XVI (April 2012-October 2012)
- HQ 12 Mechanized Brigade
- Operation Herrick XVII (October 2012-April 2013)
- HQ 4 Mechanized Brigade
Logistic Support
Supporting the UK force is HQ Joint Force Support (Afghanistan)(JFSp(A)). This 1* headquarters commands the Theatre Logistics Group, Theatre Provost Group, Theatre Medical Group and Theatre Equipement Support Group. These are split between Kandahar Airfield and Camp Bastion. JFSp(A) is a joint command and currently the HQ is made up of 101 Logistic Brigade staff and augmentees.
Air Forces
The air component of British forces assigned to Operation Herrick is based at Kandahar and comes under the overall command of 904 Expeditionary Air Wing. In August 2004, Britain announced that 6 Royal Air Force Harrier GR7 jets from No. 3 Squadron would deploy to Afghanistan, marking the first time RAF ground-attack jets have been deployed to the country. They fully arrived in September.
- Tornado detachment - Eight Tornado GR4 aircraft are stationed at Kandahar tasked with providing close air support to British, Coalition and ISAF ground forces. These replaced the Joint Force Harrier aircraft - eight Harrier GR9
- Hercules detachment - Five C-130 Hercules transport aircraft from RAF Lyneham are also stationed at Kandahar to provide troop and supply movement capability in Helmand and wider Afghanistan. Three aircraft are C-130K models and two are C-130J, with crews taken from all four RAF Hercules squadrons:
- No. 1310 Flight RAF - The support helicopter force consists of 8 Chinook HC2 helicopters with crews rotated from the three RAF squadrons:
- No. 1419 Flight RAF - The support helicopter force consists of 5 Merlin HC3 helicopters with crews rotated from the two RAF squadrons:
Also under the command of 904 EAW are a number of ground based units of both the Army and RAF:
- RAF Regiment - A field squadron assigned to Kandahar to provide ground defence for the airfield.
- June 2006 - October 2006 No. 34 Squadron RAF Regiment
- October 2006 - April 2007 No. 2 Squadron RAF Regiment
- April 2007 - October 2007 No. 51 Squadron RAF Regiment
- October 2007 - April 2008 No. 15 Squadron RAF Regiment
- April 2008 - October 2008 No. 3 Squadron RAF Regiment
- 1 Air Mobility Wing - The 1 AMW is a specialist unit of the RAF trained in the loading and unloading of transport aircraft. This unit operates in conjunction with the Hercules detachment.
- Tactical Medical Wing - The TMW provides RAF medical services to all forces, and is particularly adept in the field of aeromedical evacuation.
- Mobile Meteorological Unit - Providing weather forecasting and reporting services to aircrew and commanders.
- 47 Air Despatch Squadron, Royal Logistic Corps - 47 AD Squadron is a specialist unit trained in the receipt, loading and preparing of stores by both helicopter and fixed wing aircraft.
References
- ^ 3 Para soldiers on their way to Afghanistan Ministry of Defence
- ^ Handover in Helmand as 3 Cdo Brigade replace 16 Air Assault Brigade Ministry of Defence
- ^ 12 Mechanized Brigade to replace 3 Commando Brigade in Afghanistan Ministry of Defence
- ^ 52 Infantry Brigade to replace 12 Mechanized Brigade in Afghanistan Ministry of Defence
- ^ 16 Air Assault Brigade to replace 52 Infantry Brigade Ministry of Defence
- ^ 3 Commando Brigade to replace 16 Air Assault in Afghanistan Ministry of Defence
- ^ 19 Light Brigade to replace 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines, in Afghanistan Ministry of Defence
- ^ 11 Light Brigade to replace 19 Light Brigade in Afghanistan Ministry of Defence
- ^ 4th Mechanized Brigade to replace 11 Light Brigade in Helmand Ministry of Defence
- ^ 16 Air Assault Brigade to replace 4th Mechanized Brigade in Helmand Ministry of Defence
- ^ 3 Commando Brigade Take Command Of Task Force HelmandMinistry of Defence
Categories:- War on Terror orders of battle
- Military units and formations of the United Kingdom in the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.