Afghanistan War order of battle

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Spc. Ronald Turner, from the 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, provides security for fellow soldiers who are searching for insurgents and weapons in Mianashin, Afghanistan, in October 2005.

Units from both the U.S. Army and Marines have deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. NATO-led forces also are playing a larger role in fighting resurgent Taliban in the south of the country. Below is a list of deployed major units, known as the Order of Battle (ORBAT). NATO-led forces also form the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the Provincial reconstruction teams to facilitate security and reconstruction in Afghanistan (see their pages for more details).

This list covers current coalition forces in Afghanisan. See the article Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan: Allies for coalition support for Operation Enduring Freedom from October 2001 to 2003.

For coalition forces involved in NATO combat operations in southern Afghanistan in 2006, see the article Coalition combat operations in Afghanistan in 2006. And the article International Security Assistance Force for coalition forces in Afghanistan as part of ISAF.

1 Overall Command and Control
- 1.1 International Security Assistance Force
- 1.2 U.S.-led Coalition
2 United States
3 Australia
4 United Kingdom
5 Canada
6 Denmark
7 Germany
8 France
9 Lithuania
10 Netherlands
11 New Zealand
12 Italy
13 Norway
14 Romania
15 Estonia
16 Upcoming deployments
17 References

[edit] Overall Command and Control

This description of Command and Control within a US chain of command is incomplete at this time. It refers to Operation Enduring Freedom that includes some other "coalition" members, but is essentially American. However, there is also an expanding NATO structure that covers much of Afghanistan, including the Southern provinces that are the birth place of the Taliban and where the most serious fighting seen since 2001 took place in August and September 2006. This structure reports through the NATO chain of command, which in October 2006 formally took full responsibility for the whole of Afghanistan. CFC-A will disband after 30 Nov 06, and CJTF 76 has already joined the ISAF structure as large chunks of RC East. ComCJTF 76 now is also ComRCEast.

Many of the contingents listed in this article are part of the NATO ISAF rather than the US Operation Enduring Freedom. For example the British, Canadian and Dutch contingents in the South are NATO ISAF forces, rather than those of Operation Enduring Freedom. Some coalition units though, such as ground attack aircraft, support Operation Enduring Freedom, ISAF and the Provisional Reconstruction Teams.

The final completion of the transfer of authority from OEF to ISAF will in some ways not change coalition leadership realities much. The United States will remain dominant in the coalition structure, with a U.S. four-star general arriving to take command in early 2007. U.S. forces hunting the Taliban in eastern Afghanistan will also remain under U.S. control.

[edit] International Security Assistance Force

The overall command of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force starts from Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe at Casteau, Belgium. The overall command is vested in Joint Force Command Brussum at Brussum in the Netherlands, then the Commander ISAF, who has five regional commands, Capital, at Kabul, North, South, East, and West reporting to him.

Regional Command (Capital)
- Kabul Multi-National Brigade
  - Hungary has deployed one reconnaissance company that serves as part of ISAF's Battle Group 3 in Kabul.
  - A Latvian explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) unit is deployed as part of ISAF's Battle Group 3 in Kabul.

Regional Command (South)
- Headquarters Regional Command (South) is based on the Netherlands 43 Mechanized Brigade with augmentation from the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Australia, Denmark, Estonia and other partner countries. The United Kingdom 6th Division Headquarters will take responsibility for Regional Command (South) as of May 2007. Regional Command (South) is a divisional organization composed of four provincial task forces (three equivalent to brigades) and regional troops.
  - Task Force Uruzgan -- Composed mainly of a Netherlands mechanized battle group (including self-propelled artillery and engineers) and Tarin Kowt PRT, and the Australian Reconstruction Task Force. Equipment includes the YPR-765 AIFV, the Patria AMV, the Bushmaster, and the Panzerhaubitze 2000.
  - Task Force Helmand -- The mainly British ground force commanded by 12 Mechanised Brigade as of April 2007, composed of elements of the 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters, the Grenadier Guards, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, the Light Dragoons, the Royal Tank Regiment, the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers. Task Force Helmand also includes the Lashkar Gah PRT and companies from Denmark and Estonia.
  - Task Force Kandahar -- A mainly Canadian force composed of the 2nd Battalion The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group (including towed artillery, a surveillance and reconnaissance squadron and combat engineers), various national support elements and the Kandahar PRT.
  - Task Force Zabul -- A battalion-sized combined force of a Romanian infantry battalion and American elements, supporting the American PRT at Qalat.
  - Aviation Task Forces from the United States, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, employing AH-64 Apache, UH-60 Black Hawk, CH-47 Chinook, Westland Lynx and Eurocopter Cougar helicopters.
  - Multi-national Field Hospital located at Kandahar Airfield

Regional Command (East)/Combined Joint Task Force 76
- Task Force Spartan -- The 3rd Brigade Combat Team (BCT) from the 10th Mountain Division heads up Task Force Spartan, a U.S.-led task force in the central and eastern regions of Afghanistan.
- Task Force Fury -- The 4th Brigade Combat Team (BCT) from the 82nd Airborne Division makes up the majority of this task force, which shares its area of responsibility in central and eastern Afghanistan with Task Force Spartan.
  - Provincial Reconstruction Team Bamiyan/New Zealand Task Group Crib
  - Other Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Asadabad, Gardez, Ghazni, Jalalabad, Khowst, Parwan, Mehtar Lam and Sharona.
Regional Command (North) (Mazar-e-Sharif)
- PRTs
Regional Command (West) (Herat)
- PRTs

[edit] U.S.-led Coalition

The overall command of the U.S. led coalition effort in Afghanistan is under Combined Forces Command Afghanistan at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, which reports to United States Central Command. CFC-A is to inactivate sometime after 30 November 2006, and is transitioning from an operational fighting command to an administration apparatus. Its two major commands are Combined Joint Task Force 76, and the Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan (CSTC-A). With the Stage IV transition of authority to ISAF, the status of the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade/Task Force Falcon, which handles all the helicopter combat aviation duties in Afghanistan, is uncertain, along with the exact status of Combined Task Force Sword, the engineer task force, and the Combined Joint SO Task Force.

Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan

This command is responsible for training the Afghan National Army through Task Force Phoenix (see US 41st Brigade below), and also interacts with the German led project training the Afghan National Police.
41st Brigade Combat Team, Oregon Army National Guard
- More than 900 Oregon National Guard soldiers are deployed with the 41st Brigade Combat Team, which serves as the headquarters for Task Force Phoenix. The 41st BCT relieved the 53rd Infantry Brigade of the Florida Army National Guard in June (2006). The task force is in charge of training the Afghan National Army. The rest of the task force is made up of National Guard and Reserve personnel from 42 states, Marine Corps reservists, active duty representatives from the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, and soldiers assigned from France, Germany, Romania, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

[edit] United States

Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force

This Task Force covers special operations missions across the country. Elements of nearly every major U.S. special operations unit have served in Afghanistan. Units that have deployed to Afghanistan in the past have included U.S. Army Special Forces teams, elements of the 75th Ranger Regiment, Navy Seals, units from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, squadrons from the Army's covert 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment - Delta, commonly known as Delta Force, and air commandos from the Air Force Special Operations Command. CIA paramilitary teams also have served in Afghanistan.

Special operations units from coalition countries also have served in Afghanistan, including members of Great Britain's famed Special Air Service (SAS) and Special Boat Service (SBS), troopers from the Australian Special Air Service Regiment (SASR), Germany's KSK (Kommando Spezialkraefte), and soldiers from Canada's Joint Task Force Two (JTF2). In 2005, the entire Special Air Service of New Zealand was deployed to Afghanistan. Soldiers from Sweden's Särskilda Skyddsgruppen (Special Protection Group) have served in Afghanistan and two SSG troopers were killed by a roadside bomb in late 2005. Norwegian Special Forces units also have deployed to Afghanistan.

4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division

The 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division makes up the majority of Task Force Fury, which was supposed to replace Task Force Spartan, headed by the 3rd BCT, 10th Mountain Division. But the Pentagon delayed the return of the 3rd BCT to provide more combat power for an expected spring offensive . The two brigades will operate in the same area of eastern Afghanistan. The 4th BCT includes the following units:

- 1st Battalion 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment (formerly 3-504)
- 2nd Battalion 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment (formerly 3-325)
- 4th Battalion 73rd Cavalry Regiment
- 2nd Battalion 321st Airborne Field Artillery Regiment
- 782nd Brigade Support Battalion
- 4th BCT Special Troops Battalion

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

The deployment is the division's third to Afghanistan since the Taliban government was overthrown in 2001. The 3rd BCT includes the following units:

- Headquarters and Headquarters Company
- 1st Battalion 32nd Infantry Regiment
- 2nd Battalion 87th Infantry Regiment
- 3rd Squadron 71st Cavalry Regiment
- 4th Battery 25th Field Artillery Regiment
- 710th Brigade Support Battalion
- 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion

4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

The entire 4th BCT was scheduled to deploy but the Pentagon revised that decision in December 2004. Instead, one battalion-sized task force consisting of an infantry battalion and attached fire-support, communications and logistics elements will deploy to assist transition of the coalition operations to the NATO International Security Assistance Force in southern Afghanistan. The non-deploying elements of the brigade will remain prepared to deploy within 15 days. According to a news relase from Fort Drum, New York, where the division is based, more than 1,000 soldiers from the 4th BCT have deployed to Afghanistan. The soldiers are expected to return to Fort Drum in spring 2007. The force, known as Task Force Boar, consists of elements of the following units:

- A reinforced battalion-sized element from 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment
- 5th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment
- 94th Brigade Support Battalion
- 3rd Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment
- 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion.

1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment

The 1st Battalion 3rd Marine Regiment relieved the 2nd Battalion 3rd Marine Regiment on January 15, 2006. The battalion was assigned to Task Force Spartan until June 1, 2006, when 1/3 handed over their area of operations to the 1st Battalion 32nd Infantry Regiment and redeployed to Hawaii.

[edit] Australia

The main element of Australia's current commitment to Afghanistan is a 400-person strong Reconstruction Task Force (RTF) attached to the Netherlands-led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), Task Force Uruzgan, at Uruzgan in Afghanistan. The RTF arrived in July 2006 and will work on the construction of community-based projects.[1]

Australia deployed a special forces task group to Afghanistan between October 2001 and November 2002 and August or September 2005 until September 2006.

[edit] United Kingdom

British Royal Marines send a situation report during the initial breech (entry) into the enemy compounds during Operation VOLCANO, Afghanistan, January 2007.

There are approximately 5,600 British armed forces personnel deployed, 4,300 of which are in the south and 1,300 in Kabul. In the Afghan capital of Kabul, British units include 42 Commando Royal Marines, HQ Group Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, 1 Signal Brigade and 7 Signal Regiment.

3 Commando Brigade

Royal Marines of 3 Commando Brigade recently replaced the Paras of 16 Air Assault Brigade as the bulk of the 3,600 British troops deployed in Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Deployed units from 3 Commando include:

Light Dragoons
42 Commando Royal Marines
45 Commando Royal Marines (OMLT)
32 Regiment Royal Artillery
Royal Rifle Volunteers
42 Squadron, Royal Engineers
64 Squadron, Royal Engineers
28 Regiment, Royal Engineers
59 Squadron, Royal Engineers
29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery
Commando Logistics Regiment
Y Squadron, Royal Marines
A Company, 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

The following units are based in Kandahar:

HQ 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines
Commando Logistic Regiment
33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal)
28 Regiment, Royal Engineers
29 Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps
27 Transport Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
9 Regiment Army Air Corps (equipped with the Westland WAH-64 Apache)

Royal Air Force

The Royal Air Force (RAF) has deployed a Joint Force Harrier detachment from RAF Cottesmore. Based in Kandahar, it provides close air support and reconnaissance to coalition and NATO forces operating in southern Afghanistan. In October 2006, however, the Royal Air Force turned over the task to 800 Naval Air Squadron, in the first operational deployment of the Fleet Air Arm's Harrier GR7 squadrons. These are the deployed Royal Air Force and Royal Navy units:

No 2 Force Protection Wing RAF Regiment
34 Squadron RAF Regiment (Joins Afghan, Canadian, Romanian and U.S. forces in providing for security for the airfield)
27 Squadron RAF operating CH-47 Chinook helicopters
18 (B) Squadron RAF, operating CH-47 Chinook helicopters
30 Squadron RAF, operating C-130J Hercules transport aircraft
70 Squadron RAF, operating C-130J Hercules transport aircraft
2 Squadron RAF Regiment at KAF
800 Naval Air Squadron, operating Harrier GR7 aircraft
47 Air Dispatch Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, supporting C-130K Hercules transport aircraft

In April 2007, 3 Commando Brigade is expected to be replaced by the British Army 12 Mechanised Brigade [2]

[edit] Canada

Roughly 2,300 Canadian Forces personnel are deployed in Afghanistan as part of Task Force Afghanistan, which is part of Canada's renewed commitment to the international campaign against terrorism, Operation Archer. With the exception of approximately 85 CF personnel serving with various military and civilian organizations in Kabul and Bagram, all CF assets are based in Kandahar, in the southern region of Afghanistan.

A battle group of 1,160 in Kandahar, which includes:
- Soldiers primarily from 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (2RCR) from CFB Gagetown in New Brunswick, reservists from units across Atlantic Canada, and 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry from CFB Edmonton in Alberta;
- An engineer squadron from 2 Combat Engineer Regiment (2CER) in Petawawa;
- An artillery battery from 2nd Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (2RCHA) in Petawawa;
- An armoured reconnaissance troop, from The Royal Canadian Dragoons (RCD) in Petawawa;
- A tactical unmanned aerial vehicle unit comprised primarily of personnel from 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron based in Edmonton and 5^e Régiment d'artillerie légère du Canada based in Valcartier, Quebec;
- Operational Mentor Liaison Teams (OMLTs) from Land Forces Quebec Area (LFQA), partnering with Afghan National Army (ANA) Infantry Kandak Battalion and ANA Corps Headquarters

Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT)*
- Since August 2005, a Canadian PRT has operated in Kandahar, where it is expected to remain until February 2009. The PRT brings together elements from the Canadian Forces (CF), Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), and civilian police led by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in an integrated Canadian effort known as the “All of Government” approach. Approximately 220 personnel are based at the PRT site at Camp Nathan Smith in Kandahar City and are drawn largely from Land Force Central Area (LFCA) and 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (2 CMBG) based in Petawawa, Ontario. The PRT includes:
- The PRT Commander’s Tactical Headquarters Group, which provides protection and mobility to the PRT Commander and his staff
- A civil-military co-operation platoon from Land Force Central Area
- A military police platoon from 2 CMBG in Petawawa
- Health and medical support from 1 Field Ambulance
- Service and support elements drawn from across Canada
- Other specialized elements from various CF units across Canada.

Other CF units

- 250 CF members from all over Canada, in Kandahar, who constitute the National Command Element (NCE)
- 300 CF members in the National Support Element (NSE) in Kandahar, primarily from 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group and 2 Service Battalion, also from Petawawa;
- 250 CF members with the Theatre Support Element (TSE) in Southwest Asia;
- 70 personnel at the coalition hospital at Kandahar Airfield comprised of personnel from 2 Field Ambulance and 1 Canadian Field Hospital in Petawawa, Ontario, and other health services units from across Canada

[edit] Denmark

Roughly 400 Danish Defence Force personnel are deployed in Afghanistan from the Royal Danish Army (FEB2007: soon to be 600). Almost all of them are engaged in the Helmand Province, the majority of these located at Camp Bastion. With the exception of approximately 50 DDF personnel serving with various military and civilian organizations.

It is also well known that Denmark has had and maybe still has a substantial amount of special forces operating i Afghanistan. These include units from the Hunter Corps (Danish: Jægerkorpset) and Danish Frogman Corps.

The Danish units operate under af broad mandate and has been engaged in heavy fighting with the Taliban and al-Qaeda, especially in the Helmand province.

The capabilities of the DDF personel includes:
- Mechanized infantry
- Reconnaissance
- ARTHUR - ARTillery HUnting Radar
- Close air support and Artillery spotting
- Military engineer
- Signal troops
- Civil-Military Co-operation
- Military Police, Logistics, Medics and other special purpose personnel.

Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT)
- Around 50 Danish soldiers in total are working in PRT teams Mazar E Sharif, Feyzabad and Chaghcharan.

[edit] Germany

Germany is currently in charge of the Regional Command North with it's HQ located in Mazari Sharif, Balkh province. Furthermore Germany leads the Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT) located in Feyzabad, Badakhshan province and Kunduz, Kunduz province

The German contribution to ISAF (3,500 soldiers) is mainly operating in the North of Afghanistan.

Heer (Territorial Army)

The Provincial Reconstruction Teams are composed of various branches of the German Army. In addition to the regular troops several elite branches of the Bundeswehr, such as the 'Gebirgsjäger' (mountain infantry) and the 'Fallschirmjäger' (paratroopers) are deployed with the PRT's.
In addition to the deployment in Northern Afghanistan, 400 troops are stationed in Kabul and 21 specialists of the corps of signals are stationed in Kandahar, Southern Afghanistan
The German Army is deploying a wide range of heavy equipment in support of the ground troops, incl. Fennek (light wheeled reconnaissance vehicle), ATF Dingo (wheeled tracked vehicle), TPz Fuchs(multirole armoured vehicle), Wiesel 1/2 (light air-transportable tracked multirole vehicle), Mungo ESK (armoured tranport vehicle) in addition to several other lighter vehicles.

Luftwaffe (Air Force)

A detachment of 6 IDS-Panavia Tornado of the Aufklärungsgeschwader 51 "Immelmann" (51st reconnaissance squadron) and 500 troops, mainly pilots maintainance crews and a 'Objektschutzbataillon' (Ground Combat Support Bataillon) will be deployed in Mazar-i-Sharif, Northern Afghanistan

Joint Forces

The main support base of the German ISAF troops is located in Termez, Uzbekistan close to the Afghan boarder. A joint support force, made up of the German Army Aviators Corps (Heeresfliegertruppe) with 7x 'Sikorsky' CH-53 GS and a detachment of the Air Transport Corps of the Luftwaffe with 6x 'Transall' C-160 and 300 troops are integrated in 'Einsatzgeschwaders Termez' (mission squadron termez). One Transall and one CH-53 GS are especially configurated for MedEvac operations and are on permanent stand-by.

[edit] France

The current French Army detachment in Kabul, known as Pamir XIV, is on a five-month deployment that officially began August 6, 2006. It includes the following units.

3e Brigade Mécanisée
- A reconnaissance squadron and a unit of command and logistics of the 1er-11e Régiment de Cuirassiers
- A company of the 126e Régiment d'Infanterie
- A detachment of the 31e Régiment du Génie

In 2001 and beginning again in the summer of 2003, 200 soldiers from various units of the Army Special Forces Brigade (BFST), including marine and air commandos, have conducted operations against the Taliban, under command and in co-operation with U.S. special operations forces present in the area. At least three members of a French Special Forces unit have died in southern Afghanistan in the past year.

1er Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine

1st RPIMa (RPIMa standing for Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment) is part of the BFST. It was first involved with in Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001 and then again from 2003.

The military aviation journal Airforces Monthly [3] reported in its January 2007 that the French Air Force is to deploy its new Dassault Rafale close air support fighter to Dushanbe, Tajikistan, to support coalition forces in Afghanistan. The French Air force currently has Dassault Mirage 2000Ds deployed there from the ‘EC 03.003’ Ardennes unit.

The French Air Force previously deployed the Dassault Mirage 2000D ground attack aircraft to Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2002.

[edit] Lithuania

[4]

[edit] Netherlands

Dutch army troops conduct a roadside check as part of the expanded NATO ISAF force in southern Afghanistan in 2006.

In 2002, a tri-national detachment known as the European Participating Air Forces of 18 Danish, Netherlands and Norwegian F-16 ground attack fighters aircraft and one Netherlands KDC-10 refuelling tanker was deployed to Manas International Airport in Kyrgyzstan to support operations in Afghanistan.

In 2006, the Netherlands deployed 1,400 troops to Uruzgan province at southern Afghanistan at Tarin Kowt (1,200), at Kamp Holland, and Deh Rahwod (200). The soldiers of Task Force Uruzgan are mostly from the 12 Infanteriebataljon Regiment Van Heutsz suplemented with soldiers from 44 Pantserinfanteriebataljon Regiment Johan Willem Friso and the 42 Tankbataljon Regiment Huzaren Prins van Oranje. PzH 2000 self propelled artillery pieces have been deployed and used in combat for the first time.

Royal Netherlands Air Force support consists of six F-16 ground-attack aircraft (stationed at Kandahar Air Field), six Eurocopter Cougar transport helicopters of 300 Squadron stationed at Kandahar Airfield and six AH-64 attack helicopters of 301 Squadron at Camp Holland in Tarin Kowt. In September 2006 Dutch forces took part in Operation Medusa in Kandahar Province and in Operation Mountain Fury. On November 1 2006 Dutch Major-General Ton Van Loon took over NATO Regional Command South in Afghanistan for a six months period from the Canadians.

In summer of 2006 the Dutch encountered their first 2 casualties in the result of a helicopter crash, and later they lost a pilot in a F-16 crash. The total number of Dutch troops present as of January 1 2007 is 1,907.[5]

[edit] New Zealand

New Zealand is maintaining a Provincial Reconstruction Team - Task Group Crib - at Bamian which reports to Task Force Spartan. It has also sent several rotations of New Zealand Special Air Service personnel to Afghanistan.

[edit] Italy

Italian troops in Afghanistan.

In 2002, the Italian Navy contributed to Operation Enduring Freedom, conducting patrols in the Indian Ocean and Italian Navy Harrier close support aircraft were made available to support ground forces. From its inception, Italy has been a contributor to ISAF. In 2003, The Italian Army ‘Task Force Nibbio’ undertook base protection duties at Salerno Forward Operating Base in south east Afghanistan. [6] [7]

In 2006, the Italian Army's contribution to ISAF and Operation Enduring Freedom peaked at 1,900 personnel. The current Italian mission centres around the 2nd Alpini Regiment. Italy has sent 411 troops, based on one infantry company from the 2nd Alpini Regiment tasked to protect the ISAF HQ, one engineer company, one NBC platoon, one logistic unit, as well as liaison and staff elements integrated into the operation chain of command. Italian forces also command a multinational engineer task force and have deployed a platoon of Italian military police. Three AB-412 helicopters also are deployed to Kabul.

[edit] Norway

The Norwegian forces in Afghanistan consist of one mechanized company and one support squadron from the Telemark Bataljon, and one intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance squadron from the Etterretningsbataljonen, all serving with ISAF forces in Kabul. Norway also has previously deployed four F-16 ground attack fighter jets in 2002 and four F-16s returned to support the ISAF force in Afghanistan later in 2006 alongside Dutch F-16s. [8] The detachment is know as the 1st Netherlands-Norwegian European Participating Forces Expeditionary Air Wing (1 NLD/NOR EEAW) [9]

On the 8 February 2005, the US Navy and Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation was awarded to Marinejegerkommandoen (MJK), the Norwegian marine infantry, and to Hærens Jegerkommando (HJK), the Norwegian "Rangers", for their actions in Afghanistan since Operation Enduring Freedom onwards.

[edit] Romania

Romania has about 550 soldiers deployed to Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Assigned to ISAF are a 25-member military police platoon, six soldiers at posts in the ISAF command and the Multinational Brigade Command, a 30-soldier intelligence and counterintelligence detachment, all deployed in Kabul, and a C-130 Hercules airplane with 14 crew members and technicians operating from the International Airport in Bucharest. Since July 2003, a detachment of 46 officers and NCOs are deployed in Kabul to assist in training the Afghan National Army. Small teams of Romanian soldiers also serve with the ISAF Provincial Reconstruction Teams around the country.

341st Infantry Battalion

Romania also participates in the U.S.-led Operation Enduring Freedom, which is a separate mission from ISAF. The OEF deployment consists of one infantry battalion deployed in Kandahar. The 341st is the battalion deployed. According to the Romanian Defense Ministry, the battalion's mission consists of surveillance of sensitive points, searching possible locations for Taliban, supporting humanitarian activities, escorting supply convoys, providing security for other coalition forces, and blocking enemy communication lines or retreat routes.

[edit] Estonia

Has ground forces active in Afghanistan in 2006. [10]

[edit] Upcoming deployments

The Pentagon also recently announced units that will be deploying to Afghanistan as part of the next rotation of units in late 2006.

173rd Airborne Brigade

The 173rd Airborne Brigade will deploy to Afghanistan beginning in spring 2007. Based in Vicenza, Italy, the brigade was scheduled to deploy to Iraq but the Pentagon changed the deployment to maintain the current level of forces in anticipation of a spring offensive by the Taliban. This deployment affects approximately 3,200 personnel, and the brigade will replace the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, which was recently extended for up to 120 days.

Division Headquarters and 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division

The paratroopers from the 4th BCT, along with the 82nd Airborne headquarters staff and various unidentified support units, will be a part of a deployment of about 11,000 soldiers.

218th Brigade Combat Team, South Carolina Army National Guard

The 218th BCT will deploy to Afghanistan to train the Afghan National Security Forces, beginning in early 2007. The deployment will include 1,500 service members. The Pentagon also has alerted approximately 6,200 active duty soldiers and 600 reservists in combat support and combat service support units smaller than brigade-size elements for deployment beginning in 2007.

Poland announced on the 14th September 2006 that it would send an additional 1,000 troops. [11]

Canada announced on the 15th September 2006 that it would send an additional 450 troops.

Canadian deployments will included -

An infantry company of the Royal 22e Régiment from Valcartier, Quebec;

A squadron of the Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) from Edmonton equipped with fifteen Leopard C2 tanks ;

Military engineers to manage reconstruction and development projects;

A counter-mortar capability to locate Taliban forces that are targeting Canadian Forces installations with indirect mortar fire.

It was reported by Jane's Defence Weekly on 15 November 2006 that the British Army's 12th Mechanised Brigade would deploy in May 2007 to replace 3 Commando Brigade. Jane's said it would include:
1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards
1st Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment
One or two companies of 1st Battalion, Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's)

52nd Infantry Brigade headquarters will then deploy in November 2007 to replace 12 Brigade.

Germany announced on the 09th March 2007 that it would send 6 IDS-Panavia Tornado Jets and an additional 500 troops.

The Panavia Tornado Jets will be deployed from Aufklärungsgeschwader 51 "Immelmann" (51st reconnaissance squadron)and will be stationed in Mazar-i-Sharif, Northern Afghanistan, along with the major deployment of the German ISAF contingency.

[edit] References

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Categories: Orders of battle | Military of Afghanistan | War on Terrorism | War in Afghanistan (2001–present)