Reformed within a redesigned 16th Air Assault Brigade, parachute battalions were obliged to enact their Utrinque Paratus – ‘Ready for Anything’ motto becoming involved in new security operations in evolving and uncertain operational theatres in Afghanistan and Iraq.
After 11 September, and much political and military indecision, 2 PARA and supporting elements from 16 Air Assault Brigade started to deploy to Afghanistan on 30 December on Op FINGAL, as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Unfor...
‘Hot spot’ battle areas were around the towns of Now Zad, Musa Qala, Sangin and Gereshk. Fighting might last six to eight hours with paratroopers operating with 70lbs of ‘fighting order’ in temperatures of up to 50 degrees centigrade. During ...
HQ 16 Air Asslt Bde became HQ Task Force Harvest with a multinational force of 15 nations under command. Their mission was to deploy to collect and dispose of NLA weapons and ammunition in order to restore stability in the FYROM. As the NLA operated ...
This was the first time the brigade had deployed complete on an operation since its inception in September 1999. Within days of the invasion of Iraq, 1 and 3 PARA with the air-mobile 1 Royal Irish battle group had occupied and secured the Rumaylah oilfi...
2 PARA operated as Battle Group North operating from five Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) in the Upper Sangin Valley. These were situated in the area of the ‘Green Zone’ fertile farmland stretching one kilometre either side of the Helmand River. They...
To mark the change, which signified the start of Operation HERRICK 13, a 'friendship feast' was held at the headquarters of the Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Lashkar Gah, which was attended by Afghan and British dignitaries. The event ...
After a 6 month tour 16 Air Assault Brigade handed control of Task Force Helmand to the Royal Marines. This was epitomised by the handover at Patrol Base Shazad, where responsibility for the Nad-e-Ali North District was transferred from 3 PARA to 42 ...
Airborne Assault Museum