Operation Gritrock

Operation Gritrock
Part of Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa
RFA Argus returning from Sierra Leone.
Location	Sierra Leone
Planned by	David Cameron (PM) Michael Fallon (Secretary of State for Defence)
Objective	Eradicate Ebola
Date	30 October 2014 - 13 November 2015 (1 year and 2 weeks)
Executed by	Royal Air Force Royal Navy British Army Irish Defence Forces Canadian Armed Forces
Outcome	Sierra Leone declared Ebola free.

Operation Gritrock was the code name given to the British, Irish and Canadian participation in the fight against the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa. In November 2015, Sierra Leone was officially declared Ebola free.[1] More than 50 members of British Army's 5 Armoured Medical Regiment were presented with operational medals for their duties in Sierra Leone during the crisis. Members of the Irish Army Medical Corps were awarded the International Operational Service Medal by the Irish government.

Deployed forces

British Army

• HQ 104 Logistic Support Brigade, Commander - Brigadier Stephen McMahon CBE (Late Royal Logistic Corps).[2]
• 5 Armoured Medical Regiment.[3]
• 22 Field Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC).[4]
• 34 Field Hospital, RAMC.[5]
• 30th Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals.
• 170 Infrastructure Support Group.[6]

Royal Air Force

• Boeing C-17A Globemaster III.[7]

Royal Navy

• RFA Argus (A135).[7]
• 820 Naval Air Squadron with 3 x AgustaWestland Merlin HM.2.[7]

Irish Army

• Medical Corps
  • Two teams from the Central Medical Unit (CMU)[8]

References

1. "Sierra Leone Declared Ebola Free". Retrieved 12 November 2015.
2. "Brigadier Stephen McMahon CBE". British Army. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
3. "Medics Honoured As Sierra Leone Is Declared Ebola Free". Forces TV. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
4. "Armed Forces Minister visits military medics fighting Ebola". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
5. "Medals for ebola medics". British Army. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
6. "SSgt Adam Marshall MBE". British Army. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
7. AirForces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. December 2014. p. 33.
8. "Irish Army medical team return home". Defence Forces Ireland. Retrieved 18 February 2017.