Operation Herrick order of battle

This is the Operation Herrick ground order of battle, which lists any British ground forces that have taken part in the duration of Operation Herrick between 2002 and 2014.

Operation Herrick 0-10

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). In January 2006, the Government announced that, due to the worsening situation in the south of Afghanistan, a brigade sized formation numbering approximately 3,300, Task Force Helmand, would be deployed to Helmand Province.[1]

Operation Herrick

April 2004 - September 2004:

Operation Herrick I

October 2004 - March 2005:

Operation Herrick II

April 2005 - September 2005:

Operation Herrick III

October 2005 - March 2006:

Operation Herrick IV

April 2006 – September 2006:

  • Deputy Commander, Combined Force Command, Afghanistan: Major-General Christopher Wilson (April 2006 to September 2006)[2]
  • HQ, 16 Air Assault Brigade[1]
  • Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps Support Battalion
    • British Forces Transport Troop

Principal Manoeuvre Units

ANA & ANP Mentoring

Logistics HQ

Other units

Royal Artillery

Royal Engineers

Royal Logistic Corps

Royal Signals

Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

Royal Army Medical Corps

Royal Military Police

Theatre Reserve Battalion

Operation Herrick V

October 2006 - April 2007:[10]

ANA & ANP Mentoring

Logistics HQ

Other units

Operation Herrick VI

April 2007 – October 2007:[13]

Principal Manoeuvre Unit

ANA & ANP Mentoring

Other units

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

November 2007 - April 2008:[15][16]

ANA & ANP Mentoring

Other units

Attached to Right flank as dismounted infantry

Operation Herrick VIII

May 2008 – October 2008:[27]

ANA Mentoring

ANP Mentoring

  • Police Reform Cell
  • Royal Military Police - Police Mentoring Team (PMT)

Other units

*Elements of the Theatre Reserve Battalion, B Company, 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh (Royal Welch Fusiliers), then 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

November 2008 - April 2009:[30]

Principal Manoeuvre Units

ANA Mentoring

ANP Mentoring

Other units

Operation Herrick 10-20

Operation Herrick X

May 2009 – October 2009:[38]

Principal Manoeuvre Units

ANA Mentoring

ANP Mentoring

Other units

Operation Herrick XI

November 2009 - April 2010:[42][43]

Principal Manoeuvre Units

ANA Mentoring

ANP Mentoring

Other units

In October 2009, the total force was increased to 9,000 personnel with the addition of several other units:

Operation Herrick XII

May 2010 - October 2010:[45]

Principal Manoeuvre Units

ANA Mentoring

ANP Mentoring

Other units

Operation Herrick XIII

November 2010 - April 2011:[48]

Principal Manoeuvre Units

ANA Mentoring

ANP Mentoring

Other units

Operation Herrick XIV

May – October 2011:[50][51]

Principal Manoeuvre Units

ANA Mentoring

ANP Mentoring

Other units

Operation Herrick XV

November 2011 - April 2012:[59][60]

  • Deputy Commander, International Security Assistance Force: Major-General Adrian Bradshaw (November 2011 to April 2012)[2]
  • HQ 20th Armoured Brigade
  • Brigade Reconnaissance Force
    • Elements of 1st Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment
    • Elements of 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards

Principal Manoeuvre Units

ANA Mentoring

ANP Mentoring

  • PMAG
  • 1st Battalion, The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment

Other units

Operation Herrick XVI

May 2012 - October 2012:[62]

  • Deputy Commander, International Security Assistance Force: Major-General Adrian Bradshaw (May 2012 to September 2012)[2]
  • Deputy Commander, International Security Assistance Force: Major-General Nick Carter (September 2012 to October 2012)[2]
  • HQ 12 Mechanised Brigade

Principal Manoeuvre Units

1st Battalion The Royal Welsh

    • Prince Wales’s Company of 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards (Working as the operations company attached to the 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment)
  • 1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment[63]
    • A (Norfolk) Company
    • B (Suffolk) Company
    • C (Essex) Company
  • Brigade Operations Company (BOC)
    • No. 3 Company, 1st Battalion Welsh Guards

ANA Mentoring

  • BAG

ANP Mentoring

  • PMAG
    • 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards[63] at MOB Lashkar Gah [67]
      • No. 2 Company
      • Support Company
      • LD Sqn
      • QOGLR Sqn
    • 174 Provost Company, Royal Military Police.[63]
    • 7 (Royal Air Force Police) Squadron

BRF

Other units

Operation Herrick XVII

November 2012 - April 2013:[75]

  • Deputy Commander, International Security Assistance Force: Major-General Nick Carter (November 2012 to April 2013)[2]
  • HQ 4th Mechanized Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron (204)
  • HQ 104 Logistic Support Brigade

Principal Manoeuvre Units

ANA Mentoring

ANP Mentoring

Other units

  • 1st Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles
  • Elements of The Honourable Artillery Company
  • Elements of The Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry
  • Elements of 6th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland
  • Elements of 3rd Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment
  • Elements of 4th Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment
  • Elements of 4th Battalion The Mercian Regiment
  • Elements of The London Regiment

Royal Artillery

Royal Engineers

  • 21 Engineer Regiment RE
  • Elements of 28 Engineer Regiment
  • Elements of 36 Engineer Regiment (Search)
  • Elements of 42 Engineer Regiment (Geographic)
  • Elements of 75 Engineer Regiment
  • Elements of 101 (City of London) Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal)
  • Elements of 170 (Infrastructure Support) Engineer Group

Royal Logistic Corps

Royal Signals

Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

Medical

  • 3 Medical Regiment
  • Elements of 204 (Northern Irish) Field Hospital
  • Elements of 243 (Wessex) Field Hospital
  • Elements of Tactical Medical Wing, RAF

Law enforcement

  • 150 Provost Company, Royal Military Police
  • Elements of 101 Provost Company Royal Military Police
  • Elements of 5th Regiment Royal Military Police
  • Elements of Special Investigations Branch (United Kingdom)
  • Elements of The Military Provost Staff

Other units

  • Elements of 1st Military Working Dog Regiment
  • Elements of 1 Military Intelligence Battalion
  • Elements of 2 Military Intelligence (Exploitation) Battalion
  • Elements of 4 Military Intelligence Battalion
  • Elements of The Military Stabilisation and Support Group
  • Elements of 15 Psychological Operations Group
  • Elements of The Defence Cultural Specialist Unit
  • Elements of 90 Signals Unit, Royal Air Force
  • Elements of 1 Air Control Centre, Royal Air Force
  • Elements of 33 (Engineering) Squadron, Royal Air Force
  • Elements of Tactical Supply Wing, Royal Air Force
  • Elements of 1 Air Mobility Wing, Royal Air Force
  • Elements of 2 (Mechanical Transport) Squadron, Royal Air Force
  • Elements of 93 (Expeditionary Armaments) Squadron, Royal Air Force
  • Elements of Engineering and Logistics Wing, Royal Air Force Odiham

Operation Herrick XVIII

May 2013 – October 2013:[76][77]

Principal Manoeuvre Units

ANA Mentoring

ANP Mentoring

Other units

Operation Herrick XIX

November 2013 - June 2014:[89]

Operation Herrick XX

June 2014 - December 2014:[90]

Kabul Support Unit

Logistic Support

Supporting the UK force is HQ Joint Force Support (Afghanistan)(JFSp(A)). This 1* headquarters has commands the:

  • Theatre Logistics Group
    • Joint Movements Unit
    • Reverse Supply Chain Squadron
    • Reverse Support Chain Squadron
    • Transport Troop
    • Vehicle Replenishment Section
  • Theatre Provost Group
  • Theatre Medical Group
  • Theatre Equipment Support Group
    • Joint Helicopter Support Unit
    • Equipment Support Company
    • Redeployment Platoon

Stabilisation Teams

  • Military Stabilisation Support Team[93]
    • Lashkar Gah District Stabilisation Team[93]

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "3 Para soldiers on their way to Afghanistan". Ministry of Defence. 3 May 2006. Archived from the original on 3 May 2006.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa "Army Commands" (PDF). Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d "Operation Herrick: Campaign study" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  4. ^ Fairweather 2014, p. 195.
  5. ^ a b Uloth 2008, p. 127.
  6. ^ Bishop 2009, p. 2.
  7. ^ a b c d McNab 2009, p. 7.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Easy Company is withdrawn from Musa Qala, Helmand". The Royal Irish. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  9. ^ Uloth 2008, p. 124.
  10. ^ "Handover in Helmand as 3 Cdo Brigade replace 16 Air Assault Brigade". Ministry of Defence. 9 October 2006.
  11. ^ "Light Dragoons gear up for Afghan deployment". Ministry of Defence. 22 September 2006.
  12. ^ Southby-Tailyour 2010, p. 29.
  13. ^ "12 Mechanized Brigade to replace 3 Commando Brigade". Ministry of Defence. 1 February 2007. Archived from the original on 5 February 2007.
  14. ^ a b "Tour of duty - the troops return". The Daily Telegraph. 26 September 2007.
  15. ^ "52 Infantry Brigade to replace 12 Mechanized Brigade in Afghanistan". Ministry of Defence. 19 July 2007. Archived from the original on 24 July 2007.
  16. ^ "Afghanistan: Roulement". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. 19 July 2007.
  17. ^ Tim Ripley, "UK infantry brigade to get Afghan role," Jane's Defence Weekly, 15 November 2006, p.7.
  18. ^ a b Coldstream 2016, p. 59.
  19. ^ Uloth 2008, p. 27.
  20. ^ Thornton 2013, p. 13.
  21. ^ a b c d e Thornton 2013, p. 15.
  22. ^ Thornton 2013, p. 22.
  23. ^ Coldstream 2016, p. 66.
  24. ^ Coldstream 2016, p. 55.
  25. ^ Coldstream 2016, p. 44.
  26. ^ Coldstream 2016, p. 70.
  27. ^ "16 Air Assault Brigade to replace 52 Infantry Brigade". Ministry of Defence. 6 February 2008. Archived from the original on 12 February 2008.
  28. ^ a b Bishop 2009, p. 41.
  29. ^ Coldstream 2016, p. 81.
  30. ^ "3 Commando Brigade to replace 16 Air Assault in Afghanistan". Ministry of Defence. 8 July 2008. Archived from the original on 8 July 2008.
  31. ^ a b c Southby-Tailyour 2010, p. 49.
  32. ^ a b c d e f g Southby-Tailyour 2010, p. 48.
  33. ^ Southby-Tailyour 2010, p. D4.
  34. ^ a b c Southby-Tailyour 2010, p. 47.
  35. ^ a b Southby-Tailyour 2010, p. D5.
  36. ^ a b Southby-Tailyour 2010, p. D1.
  37. ^ Southby-Tailyour 2010, p. 50.
  38. ^ "19 Light Brigade to replace 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines, in Afghanistan". Ministry of Defence. 16 December 2008. Archived from the original on 17 December 2008.
  39. ^ a b Fairweather 2014, p. 312.
  40. ^ Fairweather 2014, p. 314.
  41. ^ "Abingdon woman soldier back from Afghanistan features in television documentary on the 'Road Warriors'". Herald Series. 11 March 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  42. ^ "11 Light Brigade to replace 19 Light Brigade in Afghanistan". Ministry of Defence. 15 July 2009. Archived from the original on 16 July 2009.
  43. ^ "Afghanistan". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. 15 July 2009. col. 79–82.
  44. ^ "VIDEO: ITV News in Afghanistan – resupply mission to remote Patrol Base". MoD. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  45. ^ "4th Mechanized Brigade to replace 11 Light Brigade in Helmand". Ministry of Defence. 21 January 2010. Archived from the original on 18 January 2011.
  46. ^ a b c d "Royal Marines speak of 'horrible' reality of life on patrol in Afghanistan". The Guardian. 17 November 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  47. ^ "40 Commando Royal Marines Cross Afghan Desert in Jackal Vehicles". Defence Images. 29 September 2010. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  48. ^ "16 Air Assault Brigade to replace 4th Mechanized Brigade in Helmand". Ministry of Defence. 14 July 2010.
  49. ^ Hill 2015, p. 67.
  50. ^ "3 Commando Brigade Take Command Of Task Force Helmand". Ministry of Defence. 11 April 2011.
  51. ^ "3 Commando Brigade to replace 16 Air Assault Brigade in Helmand". Ministry of Defence. 17 December 2010.
  52. ^ a b Hill 2015, p. 195.
  53. ^ Hill 2015, p. 233.
  54. ^ Hill 2015, p. 192.
  55. ^ Hill 2015, p. 157.
  56. ^ "John Irvine reports for ITVNews from a patrol base with 42 Commando". MoD. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  57. ^ a b Hill 2015, p. 193.
  58. ^ "First HERRICK 14 unit leaves Afghanistan". Ministry of Defence. 30 August 2011.
  59. ^ "20th Armoured Brigade takes command of Task Force Helmand". Ministry of Defence. 10 October 2011.
  60. ^ "20th Armoured Brigade to replace 3 Commando Brigade in Helmand". Ministry of Defence. 13 July 2011.
  61. ^ "YORKS soldiers on patrol in Helmand". MoD. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  62. ^ "12th Mechanised Brigade to replace 20th Armoured Brigade in Helmand". Ministry of Defence. 9 February 2012.
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  69. ^ "WAR STORY: STUDIES OF CAMP BASTION AND MAIN OPERATING BASE LASHKAR GAH DURING OPERATION HERRICK XVI, AUGUST 2012". IWM. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
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  75. ^ "4th Mechanized Brigade to replace 12th Mechanized Brigade in Helmand". Ministry of Defence. 11 July 2012.
  76. ^ "1st Mechanized Brigade takes over in Helmand". Ministry of Defence. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  77. ^ "Units to deploy as part of Herrick 18 announced". Ministry of Defence. 12 February 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  78. ^ Jones 2013, p. 9.
  79. ^ Jones 2013, p. 54.
  80. ^ Jones 2013, p. 67.
  81. ^ Jones 2013, p. 26.
  82. ^ Jones 2013, p. 68.
  83. ^ Jones 2013, p. 14.
  84. ^ Jones 2013, p. 48.
  85. ^ Jones 2013, p. 45.
  86. ^ Jones 2013, p. 28.
  87. ^ Jones 2013, p. 19.
  88. ^ Jones 2013, p. 66.
  89. ^ "Op Herrick 19 - 7th Armoured Brigade in Helmand". Defence Viewpoints. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  90. ^ "UK forces in theatre (from June 2014)". MoD. 19 January 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  91. ^ "Operation Herrick XX: Operational Guide" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  92. ^ Coldstream 2016, p. 189.
  93. ^ a b "Newly Refurbished School Opened in Helmand". Defence Images. 15 September 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2020.

Bibliography

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  • Fairweather, J (2014). The Good War. UK: Jonathan Cape. ISBN 978-0-224-09736-9.
  • Guards, Coldstream (2016). 10 Years in Afghanistan. UK: Coldstream Guards.
  • Hill, C (2015). Combat Camera. UK: Alma Books. ISBN 978-1-84688-353-8.
  • Jones, R (2013). Reflections: Soldiers' Art In Helmand. UK: J. Salmon Ltd.
  • March, P (2008). The Royal Air Force Yearbook 2008. Fairford, UK: The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises.
  • McNab, A (2009). Spoken from the front. London, UK: Transworld Publishers. ISBN 9780593064795.
  • Southby-Tailyour, E (2010). 3 Commando Brigade - Helmand Assault. UK: Ebury Press. ISBN 978-0-09193-776-8.
  • Thornton, P (2013). Helmand - Diaries of Front-Line Soldiers. UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78096-906-0.
  • Uloth, R (2008). Excellence In Action: A Portrait Of The Guards. UK: Third Millennium Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-903942-68-0.