16 Air Assault Brigade - Operation Herrick VIII
14.04.2008
Operation Herrick VIII, the latest installment in Britain's continuing war against the Taliban, is now underway in Afghanistan. The commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade officially took over from his 52 Infantry Brigade counterpart on April 9th. Operation Herrick VIII is scheduled to last from April to October 2008. At the core of the Brigade, are the 2 regular Parachute Regiment Battalions, 2 and 3 PARA, along with elements of 4 PARA, the regiment's reserves. With 1 PARA, also deployed in Afghanistan, at the core of the Special Forces Support Group, this marks the first time that all of the Parachute Regiment's strength will be deployed on the same battlefield together. Op Herrick VIII also sees 3 PARA return to Afghanistan, following their previous deployment during Herrick IV (May-November 2006)
The Brigade's reconnaissance force, the Pathfinder Platoon, were amongst the first elements deployed and have been reportedly using the new MWMIK vehicle, as detailed here.
16 Air Assault Brigade - Order Of Battle
The forces under 16 AA Bde for Operation Herrick VIII include:
- 16 Air Assault Brigade Headquarters and 216 Signal Squadron
- 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment
- 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment
- Elements of 4th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment
- The Pathfinder Platoon
- Elements of 845 Naval Air Squadron
- Elements of 846 Naval Air Squadron
- Elements of 847 Naval Air Squadron
- 3 Regiment Field Squadron Royal Air Force (RAF Regiment)
- 7th Parachute Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
- 23 Engineer Regiment (Air Assault)
- 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 The Ulster Defence Regiment)
- 6 Supply Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
- 13 Air Assault Support Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
- 16 Close Support Medical Regiment
- 7 Air Assault Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
- 156 Independent Provost Company, Royal Military Police
- Elements of The Household Cavalry Regiment
- Elements of 3rd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
- Elements of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys)
- Elements of The Queen's Royal Lancers
- Elements of 5th Regiment, Royal Artillery
- Elements of 32nd Regiment, Royal Artillery
- Elements of 39th Regiment, Royal Artillery
- Elements of 47th Regiment, Royal Artillery
- Elements of 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal)
- Elements of 63 Works Group Royal Engineers
- Elements of 42 Engineer Regiment (Geographic)
- Elements of 170 (Infrastructure Support) Engineer Group
- Elements of 10th Signal Regiment, The Royal Corps of Signals
- Elements of 14th Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare), The Royal Corps of Signals
- Elements of 16th Signal Regiment, The Royal Corps of Signals
- Elements of 21st Signal Regiment (Air Support), The Royal Corps of Signals
- Elements of The Highlanders, 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland
- Elements of 3 Regiment, Army Air Corps
- Elements of 4 Regiment, Army Air Corps
- Elements of 5 Regiment, Army Air Corps
- Elements of 9 Regiment, Army Air Corps
- Headquarters 104 Logistic Brigade
- Elements of 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
- Elements of 2 Logistic Support Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
- Elements of 7 Transport Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
- Elements of 24 Postal Courier and Movement Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
- Elements of 27 Transport Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
- Elements of 29 Postal Courier and Movement Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
- Elements of 2 Close Support Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
- Elements of 104 Military Working Dog Support Unit, Royal Army Veterinary Corps
- Elements of 1 Military Intelligence Brigade
- Elements of Joint Civil Military Co-operation (CIMIC) Group
- Elements of 15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group
- Elements of 4th Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's, Lancashire and Border)
- Elements of 4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th and 33rd/75th Foot)
- Elements of 2nd Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment (27th [Inniskilling], 83rd, 87th and The Ulster Defence Regiment)
- Elements of 148 Expeditionary Forces Squadron, The Royal Logistic Corps (Volunteer)
- Hospital Squadron formed from 203 (Welsh) Field Hospital (Volunteers) and 204 (North Irish) Field Hospital (Volunteers)
- 904 Expeditionary Air Wing Royal Air Force
- 1 Force Protection Wing Headquarters Royal Air Force
- Elements of 1 Squadron Royal Air Force
- Elements of 4 Squadron Royal Air Force
- Elements of 18 Squadron Royal Air Force
- Elements of 27 Squadron Royal Air Force
- Elements of 30 Squadron Royal Air Force
- Elements of 39 Squadron Royal Air Force
- Elements of 47 Squadron Royal Air Force
- Elements of 70 Squadron Royal Air Force
- Elements of 1 Air Movements Wing Royal Air Force
- Elements of 85 (Expeditionary Logistic) Wing Headquarters, Royal Air Force
- Tactical Supply Wing Royal Air Force
- Joint Helicopter Support Unit
- Elements of 1 Air Control Centre Royal Air Force
- Elements of 90 Signals Unit Royal Air Force
- Elements of 2 Motor Transport Squadron, Royal Air Force
- Elements of 5001 Squadron, Royal Air Force
- Elements of Mobile Catering Support Unit
- Elements of Tactical Medical Wing
- Elements of Tactical Armament Squadron
- Elements of Tactical Imagery Intelligence Wing
Further reading:
16 Air Assault Brigade to replace 52 Infantry Brigade
(MOD Defence News)
