The 7th Armoured Brigade, aka the Desert Rats (not to be confused with the 7th Armoured Division, which was also known as the Desert Rats, of WWII), are to be the last major British force sent to Afghanistan.
The Rats will be responsible for packing away forces' equipment ahead of the final British pullout next year.
A ceremony took place at Camp Bastion on Thursday for the 1st Mechanized Brigade to formally hand over to the Germany-based Desert Rats.
The UK presence in Afghanistan will be almost halved by the end of this year to 5,200.
444 British troops have so far died in the conflict, more than the rest of the EU put together.
Final major Afghanistan deployment begins for UK troops
BBC News
10th October 2013
British soldiers will be involved in packing equipment for return to the UK
The last major British force to be sent to Helmand in southern Afghanistan has begun its deployment after a formal handover ceremony.
The 7th Armoured Brigade, the Desert Rats, will be responsible for packing away forces' equipment ahead of the final British pullout next year.
A ceremony took place at Camp Bastion on Thursday for the 1st Mechanized Brigade to formally hand over to the Germany-based Desert Rats.
Troops are not expected to be involved in regular fighting as Afghan forces will now take the lead.
But some will remain in the country for nine months, rather than the usual six.
Taking control
Around 100 soldiers from both incoming and outgoing brigades gathered to take part.
BBC Afghanistan correspondent David Loyn, reporting from the ceremony, described it as a "handover like no other" as British troops arrive "to do not much more than packing to go home."
A large part of the force is made up of engineers as attention turns to bringing back equipment and disposing of what cannot be returned.
Afghan forces will take the lead on all operations, but British troops have enough army and infantry for combat.
444 British troops have so far been killed in the conflict, more than the rest of the EU put together
All combat operations in the country are expected to be over by the end of next year, leaving Afghan forces fully in control.
The UK presence in Afghanistan will be almost halved by the end of this year to 5,200.
British troops are now placed at five bases - down from a peak of more than 130 - and rarely go on patrol.
The outgoing commander, Brig Rupert Jones, said he is confident Afghan forces are capable of taking control as UK troops step back.
He defended the role that Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) has played in Afghanistan.
BBC News - Final major Afghanistan deployment begins for UK troops
The Rats will be responsible for packing away forces' equipment ahead of the final British pullout next year.
A ceremony took place at Camp Bastion on Thursday for the 1st Mechanized Brigade to formally hand over to the Germany-based Desert Rats.
The UK presence in Afghanistan will be almost halved by the end of this year to 5,200.
444 British troops have so far died in the conflict, more than the rest of the EU put together.
Final major Afghanistan deployment begins for UK troops
BBC News
10th October 2013
British soldiers will be involved in packing equipment for return to the UK
The last major British force to be sent to Helmand in southern Afghanistan has begun its deployment after a formal handover ceremony.
The 7th Armoured Brigade, the Desert Rats, will be responsible for packing away forces' equipment ahead of the final British pullout next year.
A ceremony took place at Camp Bastion on Thursday for the 1st Mechanized Brigade to formally hand over to the Germany-based Desert Rats.
Troops are not expected to be involved in regular fighting as Afghan forces will now take the lead.
But some will remain in the country for nine months, rather than the usual six.
Taking control
Around 100 soldiers from both incoming and outgoing brigades gathered to take part.
BBC Afghanistan correspondent David Loyn, reporting from the ceremony, described it as a "handover like no other" as British troops arrive "to do not much more than packing to go home."
A large part of the force is made up of engineers as attention turns to bringing back equipment and disposing of what cannot be returned.
Afghan forces will take the lead on all operations, but British troops have enough army and infantry for combat.
444 British troops have so far been killed in the conflict, more than the rest of the EU put together
All combat operations in the country are expected to be over by the end of next year, leaving Afghan forces fully in control.
The UK presence in Afghanistan will be almost halved by the end of this year to 5,200.
British troops are now placed at five bases - down from a peak of more than 130 - and rarely go on patrol.
The outgoing commander, Brig Rupert Jones, said he is confident Afghan forces are capable of taking control as UK troops step back.
He defended the role that Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) has played in Afghanistan.
BBC News - Final major Afghanistan deployment begins for UK troops
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