News story

12th Mechanized Brigade to replace 20th Armoured Brigade in Helmand

12th Mechanized Brigade will replace 20th Armoured Brigade in April 2012 as the lead formation of British troops in Helmand province, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond announced on Tuesday 7 February 2012.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government
Soldier from 12 Mechanized Brigade taking part in a training exercise (stock image)

Soldier from 12 Mechanized Brigade taking part in a training exercise (stock image) [Picture: Corporal Paul Morrison LBIPP, Crown Copyright/MOD]

The current number of 9,500 British troops in Afghanistan will be maintained with the next roulement of troops taking place in April 2012.

Volunteer and regular members of the Reserve Forces will continue to deploy to Afghanistan as part of our integrated force package, and we expect to issue around 300 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 six or so months. As part of this commitment, we expect up to six members of the sponsored reserves to be in theatre at any one time.

The units deploying include:

  • 12th Mechanized Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron (228)
  • Elements of 19th Light Brigade Headquarters
  • Headquarters102 Logistic Brigade
  • 857 Naval Air Squadron
  • The King’s Royal Hussars
  • The Light Dragoons
  • Elements of 1st Royal Tank Regiment
  • Elements of The Royal Wessex Yeomanry
  • 19th Regiment Royal Artillery
  • Elements of 5th Regiment Royal Artillery
  • Elements of 12th Regiment Royal Artillery
  • Elements of 16th Regiment Royal Artillery
  • Elements of 32nd Regiment Royal Artillery
  • Elements of 39th Regiment Royal Artillery
  • Elements of 40th Regiment Royal Artillery
  • 26 Engineer Regiment
  • Elements of The Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia)
  • Elements of 21 Engineer Regiment
  • Elements of[33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal)
  • Elements of 36 Engineer Regiment (Search)
  • Elements of 38 Engineer Regiment
  • Elements of 42 Engineer Regiment (Geographical)
  • Elements of The Military Stabilisation Support Group
  • Elements of 170 (Infrastructure Support) Engineer Group
  • 16th Signal Regiment
  • Elements of 10th Signal Regiment
  • Elements of 14th Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare)
  • Elements of 21st Signal Regiment (Air Support)
  • 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards
  • 1st Battalion The Welsh Guards
  • 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment
  • 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment
  • 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh
  • 3rd Battalion The Rifles
  • Elements of The London Regiment
  • Elements of 3rd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment
  • Elements of 4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment
  • Elements of 3rd Battalion The Royal Welsh
  • Elements of 6th Battalion The Rifles
  • Elements of 3 Regiment Army Air Corps
  • Elements of 4 Regiment Army Air Corps
  • Elements of 6 Regiment Army Air Corps
  • Elements of 9 Regiment Army Air Corps
  • Elements of Joint Helicopter Support Squadron
  • Elements of Allied Rapid Reaction Corps
  • 4 Logistic Support Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
  • 10 The Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment
  • 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 24 Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
  • Elements of 27 Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
  • Elements of 29 Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
  • Elements of 88 Postal and Courier Regiment (Volunteers), The Royal Logistic Corps
  • Elements of 148 Expeditionary Force Institute Squadron (Volunteers), The Royal Logistic Corps
  • Elements of 152 Transport Regiment (Volunteers), The Royal Logistic Corps
  • Elements of 159 Supply Regiment (Volunteers), The Royal Logistic Corps)
  • Elements of 62 Movement Control Regiment (Volunteers), The Royal Logistic Corps
  • Elements of 166 Supply Regiment (Volunteers), The Royal Logistic Corps
  • Elements of 151 Transport Regiment (Volunteers), The Royal Logistic Corps
  • Elements of the Catering Support Regiment (Volunteers), The Royal Logistic Corps
  • Elements of the Operational Headquarters Support Group (Volunteers), The Royal Logistic Corps
  • 4 Medical Regiment
  • 22nd Field Hospital
  • Elements of 254 Medical Regiment (Volunteers)
  • 4th Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
  • Elements of 104 Force Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
  • 174 Provost Company Royal Military Police
  • Elements of 160 Provost Company Royal Military Police
  • Elements of Special Investigations Branch United Kingdom
  • Elements of The Military Provost Staff
  • Elements of 1st Military Working Dog Regiment
  • Elements of 1st Military Intelligence Battalion
  • Elements of 2nd Military Intelligence Battalion
  • Elements of 3rd Military Intelligence Battalion
  • Elements of 4th Military Intelligence Battalion
  • Elements of 5th Military Intelligence Battalion
  • Elements of The Defence Cultural Specialist Unit
  • Elements of 15 Psychological Operations Group
  • 604 Tactical Air Control Party
  • 614 Tactical Air Control Party
  • 621 Tactical Air Control Party
  • 632 Tactical Air Control Party
  • II (Army Cooperation) Squadron, Royal Air Force
  • Elements of 24 Squadron, Royal Air Force
  • Elements of 30 Squadron, Royal Air Force
  • 12 (Bomber) Squadron, Royal Air Force
  • Elements of 5 (Army Cooperation) Squadron, Royal Air Force
  • Elements of 32 Squadron, Royal Air Force
  • Elements of 28 Squadron, Royal Air Force
  • Elements of 216 Squadron, Royal Air Force
  • Elements of 101 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
  • 617 Squadron, Royal Air Force
  • Elements of 99 Squadron, Royal Air Force
  • Elements of 78 Squadron, Royal Air Force
  • Number 5 Royal Air Force, Force Protection Wing Headquarters
  • Elements of Number 2 Royal Air Force Police Wing
  • Elements of Number 3 Royal Air Force Police Wing
  • 51 Squadron, Royal Air Force Regiment
  • Elements of the Tactical Supply Wing, Royal Air Force
  • Elements of 1 Air Mobility Wing, Royal Air Force
  • Elements of 1 Air Control Centre, Royal Air Force
  • Elements of 90 Signals Unit, Royal Air Force
  • Elements of 2 (Mechanical Transport) Squadron, Royal Air Force
  • Elements of 5001 Squadron, Royal Air Force
  • Elements of 3 Mobile Catering Squadron
  • Elements of Tactical Medical Wing
  • Elements of 1 (Expeditionary Logistics) Squadron
  • Elements of 93 (Expeditionary Armaments) Squadron
  • Elements of Tactical Imagery-Intelligence Wing
  • Elements of 5131 (Bomb Disposal) Squadron

Updates to this page

Published 9 February 2012