Royal Marines from Arbroath-based 45 Commando have now taken charge of Nad-e Ali South in war-torn Afghanistan.
The marines are settling into camp at the start of their six-month tour. The unit, deployed as part of 3 Commando Brigade on Operation Herrick 14, have now assumed responsibility of Combined Force Nad-e Ali South, which they will command until September.
A ceremony to mark the transfer of authority from 1 Royal Irish, which has completed its tour of duty, took place at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Shawqat over the weekend.
During the service, the 1 Royal Irish flag was lowered and the colours of 45 Commando were raised and the commanding officer of 1 Royal Irish, Lieutenant Colonel Colin Weir, formally handed over to the commanding officer of 45 Commando, Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Lee.
Col Lee said his men are ready for the task ahead.
“Throughout the build-up to our deployment, our training has been superb and everyone is extremely well prepared,” he said. “This has been enhanced further by an excellent week of final acclimatisation in Afghanistan.”
The night before the handover, ISAF forces hosted a dinner at FOB Shawqat for members of the local Afghan national army and Afghan national police and the district governor of Nad-e-Ali South, Habbibula Khan.
During the meal, Mr Khan spoke about the recent improvements to security and praised the contribution and sacrifice made by the 1 Royal Irish Battle Group as well as ISAF and Afghan forces.
He also welcomed 45 Commando to the area.
Col Lee stressed the value of getting to know the people.
“This exposure has left me even more strongly of the view that this is an area of great progress and presents a real opportunity for 45 Commando to make a difference for the better,” he said.
“Our predecessors have done a first-class job, provided us with a tight handover and therefore set us up for success. The rest is up to us, and I know that we are equal to the challenge.”
The marines’ duties will include patrolling, protecting reconstruction teams, supporting the Afghan national army and police and denying insurgents freedom of movement.
The first military operation in Afghanistan in 2002 was led by the marines as part of the International Security Assistance Force.
There were deployments in 2006 and 2008, but this deployment is a first as 45 Commando has never been on a summer tour, or been based at Nad-e Ali South.
This is regarded as a critical year by coalition commanders as they prepare for the full handover to Afghan control at the end of 2014.
During 45 Commando’s last tour in the country, which began in October 2008, 32 service personnel lives were lost.
In December that year 45 Commando suffered its single largest loss of life since the Falklands campaign when three of its marines died as a result of two explosions on the same day.