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Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Answer

The following table shows the operational tour details for each unit deployed to Afghanistan in the last 12 months, as 11 November 2009, and the date of their previous deployment to illustrate their tour intervals.

Infantry
	Latest information	Previous information
Unit deployed	End date	Last operational deployment (as a unit)	Start date	Previous operational deployment (as a unit)	End date	Last unit tour interval (months)
l(st) Battalion Grenadier Guards	—	Afghanistan	October 2009	Afghanistan	October 2007	24
l(st) Battalion Coldstream Guards	—	Afghanistan	October 2009	Afghanistan	March 2007	30
l(st) Battalion Welsh Guards	October 2009	Afghanistan	April 2009	Balkans	April 2007	24
3(rd) Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland	October 2009	Afghanistan	April 2009	Iraq	January 2005	51
2(nd) Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers	October 2009	Afghanistan	April 2009	Northern Ireland	November 2003	64
3(rd) Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment¹	—	Afghanistan	October 2009	Iraq	May 2005	52
l(st) Battalion The Royal Welsh	—	Afghanistan	October 2009	Cyprus	April 2008	18
2(nd) Battalion The Royal Welsh²	—	Afghanistan	October 2009	Iraq	November 2007	23
2(nd) Battalion The Mercian Regiment	October 2009	Afghanistan	April 2009	Afghanistan	November 2007	17
l(st) Battalion The Rifles³	March 2009	Afghanistan	October 2008	Iraq	November 2006	23
2(nd) Battalion The Rifles	October 2009	Afghanistan	April 2009	Iraq	May 2007	23
3rd) Battalion The Rifles	—	Afghanistan	October 2009	Iraq	February 2007	31
4(th) Battalion The Rifles	October 2009	Afghanistan	April 2009	Iraq	November 2007	17
2(nd) Battalion The Royal Gurkha Regiment	April 2009	Afghanistan	October 2008	Afghanistan	October 2005	36
¹ 3 Yorks have elements of the Battalion deploying on HERRICK 10 and HERRICK 11. ² Royal Welsh have elements of the Battalion deployed on HERRICK 10 and HERRICK 11 and are due to deploy a further element on HERRICK 13. ³ 1 RGBW and 1 DDLI amalgamated in March 2007 to form 1 RIFLES. 1 RIFLES has deployed for the first time as a formed unit in October 2008 on Herrick 9.

Royal Armoured Corps
Unit deployed	End date	Last operational deployment (as a unit)	Start date	Previous operational deployment (as a unit)	End date	Last unit tour interval (months)
HCR	April 2008	Afghanistan	October 2007	Iraq	October 2004	36
QDG	April 2009	Afghanistan	October 2008	Iraq	November 2006	23
LD	October 2009	Afghanistan	April 2009	Afghanistan	October 2007	18
2 RTR	October 2009	Afghanistan	April 2009	Iraq	August 2003	67

Royal Artillery (6)
	End date	Last operational deployment (as a unit)	Start date	Previous operational deployment (as a unit)	End date	Last unit tour interval (months)
1 RHA	—	Afghanistan	October 2009	Iraq	December 2007	21
7 PARA RHA	October 2008	Afghanistan	April 2008	Afghanistan	October 2006	18
29 Cdo Regt RA	April 2009	Afghanistan	October 2008	Afghanistan	April 2007	18
40 Regt RA	October 2009	Afghanistan	April 2009	Iraq	May 2007	23

'Unit' is defined as any regiment deploying with a regimental headquarters and more than two sub units and 'deployment' as any unit deploying for four months or more.The Army's Harmony Guidelines recommend that Army units achieve 24 months between each six-month operational tour. While there are necessary exceptions for certain trades and units, the situation continues to improve and we are generally succeeding in this aim.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

499 c690-2W; 300086

Session

2008-09

Subjects

Peacekeeping operations Afghanistan

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk