Lancers destroy insurgent explosives cache in Helmand

Soldiers from the Queen’s Royal Lancers, based at Catterick Garrison, have destroyed a significant insurgent bomb cache.

The operation, which saw the Queen’s Royal Lancers (QRL) work with colleagues from the Afghan National Army, marks a successful end to their six-month tour of Afghanistan.

Soldiers from the QRL-led Brigade Reconnaissance Force, acting on intelligence, went to a compound in the Nad-e Ali region of Helmand.

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They discovered over 200kgs of home-made explosives, remote controls and pressure plates used for triggering deadly improvised explosive devices (IEDs), as well as a motorbike packed with explosives intended to be used as a suicide bomb.

The operation was conducted jointly as part of a handover with the incoming 1 Mechanized Brigade Reconnaissance Force, made up of soldiers from the Household Cavalry Regiment and 4th Battalion the Rifles as well as other units.

Major Adam Foden, Officer Commanding the outgoing 4th Mechanized Brigade Reconnaissance Force, said: “We have remained at high readiness for seven months and have deployed 40 times, seizing 1,700kgs of insurgent explosives in all. This operation enabled my officers and soldiers to hand over responsibility for our task and to make sure the new team are as ready as they can be for their role.”

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