- 15 Air Assault Close Support Squadron RLC
15 Air Assault Close Support Squadron is a Close Support Squadron in the 13 Air Assault Regiment
Royal Logistic Corps . They provide elements of16 Air Assault Brigade with combat supplies as well as transport during times of peace and war.History
The Squadron was formed at
Woolwich onMay 8 ,1878 with a group of men and their horses. Soon afterwards, the horses were replaced with mules and the Company found itself employed on transport duties throughout theBritish Empire . The Company was deployed to theEgypt Campaign of 1882-1883, and toSouth Africa from 1889-1902 where they deployed on supply tasks during theSecond Boer War . The Company also fought inSomaliland in1904 prior to its return to Britain. WhenWorld War I broke out, 15 Company was deployed toFrance , equipped with horse transport, in support of theBritish Expeditionary Force . The Company disbanded in1919 on its return to Britain. The Unit was reformed in1922 as 15 Motor Transport CompanyRoyal Army Service Corps and stationed atYork .World War II
Again the company disbanded before reforming to enter
World War II . In the beginning of the war their duties were UK-based, operating with requisitioned civilian vehicles. On January1942 , the Company received a fleet ofAEC Matador s and deployed on operations in the tank transporting role. The Unit was renamed 24 Company RASC and served in theMiddle East , including transport duties at theBattle of El Alamein . After the defeat of the Afrika Korps, the Unit reverted back to 15 Company and returned to Britain prior to its involvement in the invasion of Europe in1944 .Post World War II
After World War II, 15 Company was disbanded for a third time, only to reappear at York in
1951 as a General Transport (GT) Company. In1961 the Company disbanded for a fourth time, yet its title was revived when 122 (Tipper) Company RASC, based in Scarborough BarracksOsnabruck ,West Germany , was renamed 15 Company RASC. The Unit took on the GT role for a second time inJanuary 1965 when they exchanged Tipper and assault vehicles for 4 ton vehicles. Four months later, equipped with AEC Mk 1 10 ton cargo vehicles, the Unit changed its title on disbandment of the RASC to become 15 Squadron Royal Corps of Transport (RCT). The Unit saw a period of stability and celebrated its centenary in 1978 in Osnabruck.1980s
The Squadron returned to the UK in
1983 and was based in Gaza BarracksCatterick as part of the 2nd Infantry Division Transport Regiment; its vehicle fleet was also changed from the 10 ton AEC to Bedford TM 8 tonne, 4 x 22,000 Ltr Truck Tanker Fuel (TTFs) and associated Materials Handling Equipment (MHE). In1990 , the Squadron deployed toCyprus in support of theUN under the command of Major Steve Bragg and was comprised mainly of Territorial Army (TA) personnel. The regular troops were deployed onOperation Granby (Gulf War 1) as sub-units of other squadrons.1990s
In
1993 , the Logistic Support Review andOptions for Change saw the amalgamation of the RCT with the other Corps to become the Royal Logistic Corps. At the same time, 24 Airmobile Brigade was established inColchester requiring a Combat Service Support (CSS) Battalion. 15 Squadron already had a troop in support of the Airmobile Brigade, however now the whole unit become a second-line transport sub-unit of the CSS Battalion. The fleet consisted of DROPS MMLC, 14, 8 and 4 ton General Service Vehicles, Truck Tanker Fuel (TTFs), Unit Bulk Refuel Equipment (UBRE) and various Material Handling Equipment (MHE).The Squadron was again re-rolled and renamed 15 Attack Support Squadron due to the formation of 16 Air Assault Brigade and the arrival of the
Attack Helicopter (AH). InApril 2000 , the Squadron deployed on a six-month tour of Northern Ireland onOperation Banner . The Squadron acquired a new fleet of Multi Wheel Drive (MWD) fuel vehicles for the transportation of aviation fuel.War On Terror
In
2001 , the Squadron deployed toMacedonia on Operation Bessemer to assist with disarming the Macedonian population. The Brigade deployed again in 2001 upon short notice toAfghanistan as part ofOperation Fingal in support of USWar on Terrorism . A period of stability was established untilOperation Telic in2003 . The Regiment deployed toKuwait andIraq in support of 16 Air Assault Brigade and were responsible for manning the rear party. InMarch 2006 , the Squadron deployed as 15 Close Support Squadron toOperation Herrick , Afghanistan, providing intimate CSS support to the 3 PARA battlegroup based in Helmand Province.
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