Task Force Helmand
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Task Force Helmand
| image =
| caption =
| branch =
| dates = April 2006-1 April 2014
| countries = {{unbulleted list|
|{{flag|United Kingdom}}
|{{flag|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}
|{{flag|Denmark}}
|{{flag|Estonia}}
|{{flag|Jordan}}
|{{flag|Tonga}}
}}
| allegiance =
| command_structure = Regional Command Southwest
| size =
| type =
| garrison = Kandahar Airfield
(April – November 2006){{sfn|Southby-Tailyour|2010|p=42}}
MOB Lashkar Gah
(November 2006{{sfn|Southby-Tailyour|2010|p=42}} – August 2013)
Camp Bastion
(August 2013 – April 2014)
| battles = War in Afghanistan
* Helmand province campaign
| role = Combat forces
| notable_commanders =
| decorations =
}}
Task Force Helmand was the name given to a military unit of the International Security Assistance Force in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Task Force Helmand was part of Regional Command Southwest and consisted primarily of personnel from the British Armed Forces, 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.
During August 2013 the Headquarters of Task Force Helmand moved from MOB Lashkar Gah to Camp Bastion.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24356024 |title=UK in Afghanistan transformed country, says commander|publisher=BBC|access-date=28 February 2014}}
On 1 April 2014 the command was disbanded and its responsibilities were turned over to Regional Command Southwest.{{cite web|url=http://web202.ssvc.com/news/articles/army/2502 |title=Ceremony Marks End of Task Force Helmand |publisher=British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) |access-date=2 April 2014 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407081415/http://web202.ssvc.com/news/articles/army/2502 |archive-date= 7 April 2014 }}
Commanders
- Brigadier Ed Butler (April 2006 – October 2006){{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29714738|title=UK military 'made wrong calculations' on Afghanistan|date=23 October 2014|publisher=BBC|access-date=24 July 2016}}
- Brigadier Jerry Thomas (October 2006 – April 2007){{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6259969.stm|title=MoD names two dead UK servicemen|date=15 January 2007|publisher=BBC|access-date=24 July 2016}}
- Brigadier John Lorimer (April 2007 – October 2007){{cite web|url=http://www.nato.int/isaf/docu/pressreleases/2007/04-april/pr070413-304.html|title=Shura held in Sangin District Centre yesterday|date=13 April 2007|publisher=NATO|access-date=30 April 2014}}
- Brigadier Andrew MacKay (October 2007 – April 2008){{cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/keeping-us-in-picture-on-afghan-conflict-1-1191826|title=Keeping us in picture on Afghan conflict|date=10 October 2009|publisher=The Scotsman|access-date=24 July 2016}}
- Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith (April 2008 – October 2008){{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/onthefrontline/3139702/War-in-Afghanistan-cannot-be-won-British-commander-Brigadier-Mark-Carleton-Smith-warns.html|title=War in Afghanistan cannot be won, British commander Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith warns|publisher=The Telegraph|date=5 October 2008|access-date=30 April 2014}}
- Brigadier Gordon Messenger (October 2008 – April 2009){{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/jun/01/military.afghanistan1|title=British troops put Taliban 'on the run'|date=1 June 2008|publisher=The Guardian|access-date=30 April 2014}}
- Brigadier Tim Radford (April 2009 – October 2010){{cite book|title=Dead Men Risen: The Welsh Guards and the Real Story of Britain's War in Afghanistan|first=Toby|last=Harnden|year=2011|publisher=Quercus|isbn=978-1849164238|page=54}}
- Brigadier James Cowan (October 2009 – April 2010){{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/structure/9655.aspx |title=11 Light Brigade |work=mod.uk |access-date=8 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709044248/https://www.army.mod.uk/structure/9655.aspx |archive-date= 9 July 2015 }}
- Brigadier Richard Felton (April 2010 – October 2010){{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8613389.stm|title=Brigadier Richard Felton takes over Task Force Helmand|date=10 April 2010|publisher=BBC|access-date=30 April 2014}}
- Brigadier James Chiswell (October 2010 – April 2011){{cite web|url=http://www.paradata.org.uk/people/james-r-chiswell |title=Major-General James Chiswell|publisher= Paradata|access-date=24 July 2016}}
- Brigadier Ed Davis (April 2011 – October 2011){{cite web|url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/PetraeusVisitsRoyalMarinesInHelmand.htm |title=Petraeus visits Royal Marines in Helmand|publisher= Defence News|date= 6 June 2011|access-date=24 July 2016}}
- Brigadier Patrick Sanders (October 2011 – April 2012){{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/12-mechanized-brigade-takes-command-of-task-force-helmand--2|title=12 Mechanized Brigade has taken command of Task Force Helmand in Afghanistan, officially marking the start of Operation HERRICK 16|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=24 July 2016}}
- Brigadier Douglas Chalmers (April 2012 – October 2012)
- Brigadier Bob Bruce (October 2012 – April 2013){{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/1st-mechanized-brigade-takes-over-in-helmand|title=1st Mechanized Brigade takes over in Helmand|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=24 July 2016}}
- Brigadier Rupert Jones (April 2013 – October 2013)
- Brigadier James Woodham (October 2013 – April 2014)
See also
References
{{Commons category}}
=Citations=
{{Reflist}}
=Bibliography=
- {{cite book |last1=Guards |first1=Coldstream |title=10 Years in Afghanistan |year=2016 |publisher=Coldstream Guards |location= UK|ref= {{harvid|Coldstream|2016}} }}
- {{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}}