22 NAVY NEWS, OCTOBER 2010 Picture: Sarah Yuen, DMOC


‘In our though Picture: Sarah Yuen, DMOC Picture: Sarah Yuen, DMOC


THE Royal Marines of 40 Commando have passed the responsibility for security in Sangin over to their American comrades as part


of a shake-up


of the Coalition effort in Afghanistan.


The transfer of authority,


first announced by Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox in July, is the last piece in the jigsaw which has seen a rebalancing of ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) personnel


across Helmand Province. It follows an increase in ISAF


Picture: LA(Phot) Si Ethell


and Afghan security forces in Helmand over recent months and will ensure an equal distribution of ISAF forces amongst the Afghan population living there. Handing over Sangin will


allow UK forces to focus their effort in central Helmand, where they will continue to mount counterinsurgency


● Clockwise from top left: Two Royal Marines from 40 Cdo cool off in a compound during an operation in Sangin; B Coy 40 Cdo operating with armoured vehicles in the desert outside Sangin; a Royal from Delta Coy, 40 Cdo, greets a local boy with a high fi ve in Sangin during a joint ANA-ISAF operation to clear insurgents from a Taliban stronghold; a patrol by the Police Mentoring Troop, including an American Female Engagement Team and an Army infl uence offi cer, pass a school in Sangin – and pick up an extra member; one of the Police Mentoring Team catches up with news back home; a member of the Police Mentoring Troop greets a colleague from the Afghan National Police during a routine patrol around the Sangin bazaar


operations,


working alongside the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). British forces have been in a


Sangin, key economic and


transport hub, since 2006, helping to provide security against the Taliban insurgency on behalf of the Government of Afghanistan – duty which came at a price in terms of lives lost. The Royals of 40 Cdo, currently with


deployed 4 Mechanised


Brigade, passed on the baton to the US Marine Corps. Dr Fox said: “British forces have


served in Sangin over the last four years and should be very proud of the achievements they have made in one of the most challenging areas of Afghanistan. “The level of sacrifice has been high and we should never forget the many brave troops who have lost their lives in the pursuit of success in an international mission rooted firmly in our own national security in the UK. “The handover


of Sangin by Picture: LA(Phot) Si Ethell


UK forces represents sound military rationale and reflects the increase of both ISAF and Afghan forces across Helmand over the course of the past year. “British troops will redeploy to


central Helmand, in support of ISAF’s main effort, where they will continue to lead the fight against the insurgency and assist in building a stable and secure Afghanistan that can stand on its own two feet.”


Maj Gen Gordon Messenger Picture: LA(Phot) Si Ethell


RM, the Chief of the Defence Staff’s Strategic Communications Officer, said: “British troops redeploying from Sangin are handing over a strong, forward-looking operation which has, over the last four years, ensured that the authority of the Afghan Government exists even in an area that the Taleban regard as their heartland. “Our troops operating in Sangin have been taking the fight to the


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48