Capital-based brigade set to come home from Afghanistan

Published on Wednesday 6 February 2008 13:14

THE Edinburgh-based 52 Infantry Brigade is to return home from Helmand Province in April, Defence Secretary Des Browne said today.

He said it will be replaced as the command unit of British forces by the 16 Air Assault Brigade, which includes around 1300 Scots soldiers.

52 Infantry Brigade, based at Redford Barracks and headed by Brigadier Andrew Mackay, has been in charge of the 7000-strong Task Force Helmand in the province since last October.

In December, Brig Mackay led the successful operation to retake the Taliban stronghold of Musa Qala.

The 16 Air Assault Brigade – which also includes soldiers from the Royal Highland Fusiliers, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, the Highlanders and the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards – will fly out in the latest six-monthly rotation.

Mr Browne said in a Commons written statement that the bulk of the units involved would be direct replacements and that overall force levels would be "broadly unchanged".