A decade of deployments: 2010 to 2020
2020 has arrived and the 2010’s feel like a lifetime ago, but what have the UK Armed Forces been up to over the last 10 years?
Here are some of our key moments 👇
2010
Operation TOR SHEZADA — Afghanistan 🇦🇫
Op TOR SHEZADA (Black Prince) was launched in August 2010, as part of combat operations in Afghanistan to clear Taliban from an important stronghold in the south of Nad ‘Ali.
Soldiers from 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment worked jointly with the Afghan National Army and 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland to push out and clear villages surrounding the town of Sayedabad, the last remaining foothold for insurgents in the area.
2011
Operation ELLAMY — Libya 🇱🇾
On 19 March 2011, a multi-state NATO-led coalition began a military intervention in Libya following events during the Libyan Civil War — whereby Colonel Gaddafi’s launched attacks against the Libyan people.
At its peak, the UK had around 4,000 personnel, 37 aircraft and four ships committed to the operation to support Libyan civilians under threat from Colonel Gaddafi’s regime.
2012
London 2012 Olympics 🇬🇧
In 2012 the Olympic and Paralympic Games were hosted in the UK, the UK Armed Forces played a vital role in supporting the police and providing specialist capability.
The contribution to the Olympics security included specialist capabilities which only the military can provide. In total there was up to 13,500 personnel.
There was also a number of military assets deployed, including; HMS Ocean, HMS Bulwark and Typhoon jets to ensure the security of the nation.
2013
Operation PATWIN — Typhoon Haiyan 🇵🇭
Typhoon Haiyan, which struck the Philippines on the 3 November 2013, was known to those citizens as the Super Typhoon Yolanda. This was one of the most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded.
The UK government provided vital humanitarian relief, which included food, shelter, clean water, medicine and other supplies for up to 800,000 victims.
The UK Armed Forces were on the ground and in the air helping to deliver the life-saving aid to those worst affected by the Typhoon.
The response of the UK Armed Forces included destroyer HMS Daring and later helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious, while the RAF committed C17 and C130 transporters to bring in and distribute aid.
2014
Operation GRITROCK — Sierra Leone Ebola outbreak 🇸🇱
In 2014, the UK was first deployed to Sierra Leone to work with the United Nations, the World Health Organisation and the wider international community to combat the unprecedented outbreak of Ebola, which claimed the lives of over 11,000 people in West Africa.
At this time, the deployment of military personnel to the region represented the largest UK military commitment anywhere in the world, with over 800 personnel assigned to the operation.
Operation SHADER — Iraq & Syria 🇮🇶 🇸🇾
The Royal Air Force began the first airstrikes against Daesh in 2014, this marked the first deployment of UK personnel to the US-led mission against the so-called Islamic State (Daesh).
As the second-largest contributor to the Global Coalition’s military campaign, the UK has flown more than 8,000 sorties providing strikes, surveillance and reconnaissance, air-to-air refuelling and transport.
2015
Operation TORAL — Afghanistan🇦🇫
2015 marks the beginning of Op TORAL.
Since combat operations ended in 2014, British forces and NATO allies have committed significant resources to Afghanistan. With the aim of helping to rebuild and provide ongoing security in the region.
British troops have been stationed in Kabul since 2015, where they take a leading role in operations and keeping Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for terrorism. In turn, keeping the streets of Kabul safe keeps terrorists off the streets of the UK.
Operation ORBITAL — Ukraine 🇺🇦
Operation ORBITAL began back in February 2015 following a request from the Ukrainian government to provide guidance and training to their Armed Forces.
2016
Antarctic Patrol ❄️
In January 2016, HMS Protector completed a historic 5-week patrol of the Antarctic Sea. HMS Protector was the first UK-government vessel to have visited the region in 80 years.
Antarctica is one of the most extreme environments on Earth — and also one of the most vulnerable.
To this day, as the Royal Navy’s ice patrol vessel, HMS Protector’s role is to provide a sovereign and reassuring presence in the UK’s largest Overseas Territory: British Antarctica.
For 330 days every year, Protector patrols the British Antarctic Territory, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and their surrounding maritime areas, to underpin their security and good governance.
2017
Operation TRENTON — UN Peacekeeping 🇸🇸
In April 2017, the first deployment of UK Armed Forces personnel to South Sudan was made, in support of the UN Mission.
United Nations Peacekeeping missions aim to help countries to navigate from conflict to peace by deploying troops, police and civilian peacekeepers from across the world to address mandates set by the UN security council and the General Assembly.
The basic role of the UK Task Force out in South Sudan is to carry out engineering work at the request of UNMISS. The bulk of these tasks are within the UN compounds in Malakal and Bentiu.
- Operation Trenton: 4 things you need to know
- Lighting the way: Safer streets in South Sudan
- Why are British soldiers mixing concrete at night in Africa?
Operation TEMPERER 🇬🇧
Op TEMPERER is a security plan put in place by the Government that aims to help protect civilians at times of high terror threat.
When activated UK Armed Forces personnel will deploy at sites across the UK in order to release armed police for other duties.
It was first activated following the Manchester Arena Bombings on 22 May 2017 and then again following the Parsons Green attack in London on 15 September 2017.
Operation RUMAN — Hurricane Irma🇧🇶
In early September 2017, Hurricane Irma ripped across the Caribbean, causing catastrophic damage to the British Overseas Territories of Anguilla, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the British Virgin Islands.
Op RUMAN was the military response to the devastation caused by the hurricane’s Irma and Maria in the Caribbean.
The UK Armed Forces were on hand to deliver vital aid and relief to those most affected; 2000 UK military personnel worked on the relief effort; 135 tonnes of aid distributed; 10 million gallons of safe water provided; 500,000 water purification tablets supplied.
2018
Operation NEWCOMBE — Mali 🇲🇱
Op NEWCOMBE is the codename given to the deployment of RAF Chinook helicopters to support the French operation in Mali with niche logistics capabilities.
In 2018, Op NEWCOMBE recommences to support France’s Operation Barkhane (previously Op Serval in 2013).
The UK has been a long-standing supporter of UN and EU military operations in Mali and has worked with international partners to prevent extremists from using the ungoverned space in the Sahel region to plan and launch attacks on Europe.
2019
Operation BARYTONE — Hurricane Dorian 🇧🇸
Last year the category 5 storm, Hurricane Dorian, had a huge impact in the Caribbean. The devastating impact resulted in the loss of life, missing persons and communities were ripped apart.
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship (RFA) Mounts Bay was at the heart of the operation, where she had been on a three-year mission to reassure inhabitants of British territories in the Caribbean, tackle drug trafficking and provide assistance in the wake of a devastating tropical storm or volcanic eruption. Mounts Bay was quickly re-tasked in anticipation of Hurricane Dorian, the strongest ever recorded in The Bahamas.
70 Years of the most successful Alliance 💪
2019 marked the 70th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). NATO is a military and political alliance of 29 countries across Europe and North America. The UK has been there from the very start.
It is often said that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was founded in response to the threat posed by the Soviet Union. This is only partially true. In fact, the Alliance’s creation was part of a broader effort to serve three purposes: deterring Soviet expansionism, forbidding the revival of nationalist militarism in Europe through a strong North American presence on the continent, and encouraging European political integration.
- #WeAreNATO: But what does that actually mean?
- In Pictures: Faces of NATO
- 10 things you need to know about NATO
- Policing the land of fire and ice
Preventing poaching 🐘 🦏
For the third year running, the British Army continue their work towards ending wildlife crime. The UK has been deployed in Africa since 2017 to train park rangers as combat tracking instructors, which will help neutralise the threat of poaching, bring those responsible to justice and ultimately put an end to wildlife crime.
- Ending Wildlife Crime: British Army in Africa
- Poaching Patrol — On Foot In The Malawian Bush With The British Army
- Preventing poaching: British Army in Africa
- 19 from 2019: A year in review
2020
As 2020 begins, the UK’s soldiers, sailors and airmen are deployed on operations and exercises all over the world, working 24/7 to protect the peace, prevent conflict and ultimately, keep Britain safe.
From Afghanistan to Estonia, over 11,000 personnel are currently deployed overseas protecting our nation’s interests.
This year the UK Forces deployed on Op TRENTON, in South Sudan, will drawdown after three successful years (see 2017).
