Task Force Helmand was the name given to a military unit of the
International Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was a multinational military mission in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014. It was established by United Nations Security Council United Nations Security Council Resolution 1386, Resolution 1386 pursua ...
in
Helmand Province
Helmand (Pashto/Dari: ; ), also known as Hillmand, in ancient times, as Hermand and Hethumand, is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, in the south of the country. It is the largest province by area, covering area. The province contains 13 ...
,
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bord ...
. Task Force Helmand was part of
Regional Command Southwest and consisted primarily of personnel from the
British Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces, also known as His Majesty's Armed Forces, are the military forces responsible for the defence of the United Kingdom, its Overseas Territories and the Crown Dependencies. They also promote the UK's wider interests, ...
, as well as contribution from NATO allies Denmark and Estonia. It was established in April 2006, which coincided with the deployment of
Operation Herrick 4
Operation or Operations may refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media
* Operation (game), ''Operation'' (game), a battery-operated board game that challenges dexterity
* Operation (music), a term used in musical set theory
* Operations (magazine ...
.
During August 2013 the Headquarters of Task Force Helmand moved from
MOB Lashkar Gah
MOB Lashkar Gah is a former International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Main Operating Base located in Lashkargah District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
The base was formerly used by Task Force Helmand HQ until 9 August 2013 and was contr ...
to
Camp Bastion
Camp Shorabak (formerly Camp Bastion) is a former British Army airbase, located northwest of the city of Lashkargah in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. The camp was situated in a remote desert area, far from population centres.
The camp was buil ...
.
On 1 April 2014 the command was disbanded and its responsibilities were turned over to
Regional Command Southwest.
Commanders
* Brigadier
Ed Butler (April 2006 – October 2006)
* Brigadier
Jerry Thomas (October 2006 – April 2007)
* Brigadier
John Lorimer (April 2007 – October 2007)
* Brigadier
Andrew MacKay
Andrew James MacKay (born 27 August 1949) is a British Conservative Party politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Birmingham Stechford from 1977 to 1979, East Berkshire from 1983 to 1997 and for Bracknell in Berkshire fro ...
(October 2007 – April 2008)
* Brigadier
Mark Carleton-Smith (April 2008 – October 2008)
* Brigadier
Gordon Messenger (October 2008 – April 2009)
* Brigadier
Tim Radford
Tim Radford (born 1940) is a British–New Zealand freelance journalist, born in New Zealand in 1940 and educated at Sacred Heart College, Auckland. At 16, he joined ''The New Zealand Herald'' as a reporter. He moved to the United Kingdom in 1 ...
(April 2009 – October 2010)
* Brigadier
James Cowan (October 2009 – April 2010)
* Brigadier
Richard Felton (April 2010 – October 2010)
* Brigadier
James Chiswell (October 2010 – April 2011)
* Brigadier
Ed Davis (April 2011 – October 2011)
* Brigadier
Patrick Sanders (October 2011 – April 2012)
* Brigadier
Douglas Chalmers (April 2012 – October 2012)
[
* Brigadier Bob Bruce (October 2012 – April 2013)]
See also
* Operation Herrick order of battle
References
Citations
Bibliography
*
*{{cite book , last1=Southby-Tailyour , first1=E , title=3 Commando Brigade – Helmand Assault , year=2010 , publisher= Ebury Press , location= UK , isbn=978-0-09193-776-8
Ad hoc units and formations of the British Army