The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Philip Hammond)
The next roulement of UK forces in Afghanistan is due to take place in October 2012. The UK’s current framework Brigade in Helmand, 12th Mechanised Brigade, will be replaced by 4th Mechanised Brigade. The forces deploying include1:
4th Mechanised Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron (204) |
Headquarters 104 Logistic Support Brigade |
40 Commando Royal Marines |
Elements of 847 Naval Air Squadron |
857 Naval Air Squadron |
The Royal Dragoon Guards |
The Queen’s Royal Lancers |
4th Regiment Royal Artillery |
Elements of 5th Regiment Royal Artillery |
Elements of 16th Regiment Royal Artillery |
Elements of 32nd Regiment Royal Artillery |
Elements of 39th Regiment Royal Artillery |
21 Engineer Regiment |
Elements of 28 Engineer Regiment |
Elements of 36 Engineer Regiment (Search) |
Elements of 42 Engineer Regiment (Geographical) |
Elements of 101 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) |
Elements of 170 (Infrastructure Support) Engineer Group |
2nd Signal Regiment |
Elements of 10th Signal Regiment |
Elements of 14th Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare) |
Elements of 15th Signal Regiment (Information Support) |
Elements of 21st Signal Regiment (Air Support) |
1st Battalion Scots Guards |
The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland |
1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment |
1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment |
1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles |
Elements of 1 Regiment Army Air Corps |
Elements of 3 Regiment Army Air Corps |
7 Theatre Logistic Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps |
Elements of 6 Theatre Logistic Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps |
12 Logistic Support Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps |
Elements of 9 Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps |
Elements of 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps |
Elements of 17 Port and Maritime Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps |
Elements of 23 Pioneer Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps |
Elements of 29 Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps |
3rd Medical Regiment |
1st Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers |
Elements of 7 Air Assault Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers |
Elements of 101 Force Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers |
150 Provost Company Royal Military Police |
Elements of 101 Provost Company Royal Military Police |
Elements of Special Investigations Branch (United Kingdom) |
Elements of The Military Provost Staff |
Elements of 1st Military Working Dogs 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 The Honourable Artillery Company |
Elements of The Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry |
Elements of 101st (Northumbrian) Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers) |
Elements of 75 Engineer Regiment (Volunteers) |
Elements of 32nd Signal Regiment (Volunteers) |
Elements of 52nd Lowland, 6th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland |
Elements of 3rd Battalion The Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment |
Elements of 4th Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment |
Elements of 4th Battalion The Mercian Regiment |
Elements of The London Regiment |
Elements of 148 Expeditionary Force Institute Squadron, The Royal Logistic Corps (Volunteers) |
Elements of 150 (Yorkshire) Transport Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps (Volunteers) |
Elements of 159 Supply Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps (Volunteers) |
Elements of 204 (Northern Irish) Field Hospital (Volunteers) |
Elements of 243 (The Wessex) Field Hospital (Volunteers) |
Elements of 102 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (Volunteers) |
Elements of 103 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (Volunteers) |
Elements of 5th Regiment Royal Military Police |
2 (Army Co-operation) Squadron, Royal Air Force |
31 Squadron, Royal Air Force |
9 (Bomber) Squadron, Royal Air Force |
15 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment |
Number 7 Force Protection Wing Headquarters, Royal Air Force |
Number 2 Tactical Police Squadron, Royal Air Force |
Elements of 47 Squadron, Royal Air Force |
Elements of 30 Squadron, Royal Air Force |
Elements of 5 (Army Co-operation) Squadron, Royal Air Force |
Elements of 32 (The Royal) Squadron, Royal Air Force |
Elements of 28 Squadron, Royal Air Force |
Elements of 216 Squadron, Royal Air Force |
Elements of 39 Squadron, Royal Air Force |
Elements of 27 Squadron, Royal Air Force |
Elements of 18 Squadron, Royal Air Force |
Elements of 99 Squadron, Royal Air Force |
Elements of 78 Squadron, Royal Air Force |
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 Tactical Medical 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 |
In addition to the list of formed units, individual augmentees from each of the services will continue to deploy as part of this integrated force package. In total we expect 1,138 individual augmentees to deploy on operations. This will be comprised of 168 Royal Navy personnel; 344 Army personnel and 626 Royal Air Force personnel.
Volunteer and ex-regular members of the reserve forces will continue to deploy to Afghanistan as part of this integrated force package, and we expect to issue around 575 call-out notices. On completion of their mobilisation procedures, the reservists will undertake a period of training and, where applicable, integration with their respective receiving units. The majority will serve on operations for around six months. As part of this commitment, we expect up to six members of the sponsored reserves to be in theatre at any one time.
In accordance with previous statements the UK’s conventional force level will draw down by 500 in 2012.
I shall make a further statement on 4th Mechanised Brigade’s planned replacement formation, 1st Mechanised Brigade, nearer the time of their deployment.
1Where the contribution is 10 personnel or more.