First Sea Lord Admiral Praises 40 Commando RM – the First Sea Lord on a visit to central Helmand (Afghanistan) flew into a new “stone frigate” HMS PRICE in Nahr-e-Saraj, the hub of the 40 Commando RM mission during their six month tour of duty on Operation Herrick 17.   40 Commando RM are two months into the present tour.    This is the seventh time the Royal Navy’s elite amphibious infantry have deployed to Afghanistan on Herrick duties going back to 2006 – either as the lead British force in the theatre, or, as in present case, working under an Army Brigade.

HMS PRICE - a term given by the Royal Marines to their base –is home to some 650 men and women of 40 Commando RM who began their tour of duty in September (2012).      At the time of the visit the Marine Battlegroup comprises six Royal Marines companies – Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Command and Logistics – plus Delhi Company (1st Battalion The Royal Ghurkha Rifles) and the (Danish) Viking Armoured Infantry Company. including a troop of LEOPARD 2 tanks from the Jutland Dragoon Regiment, supported by various British Army personnel and units.    Of these six companies, only three are actively involved in operations: Bravo in the south (of the Nahr e Saraj district), with Alpha and Viking Companies working out of HMS PRICE.