THE first tour of duty by Naval bombers in Afghanistan has successfully come to an end.

Men and women of 800 Naval Air Squadron spent three and half months at Kandahar air base provided aerial punch for Allied ground forces – especially the Royal Marines of 3 Commando Brigade.

This has been the first time 800 has fought as an out-and-out bomber squadron in the squadron’s Harrier incarnation – and the first time RN jets have dropped ordnance on an enemy since the conflict in Bosnia a decade ago.

Sorties ranged across this troubled land, from Herat in the north west to operations close to the Pakistani border in the south, from the mountains of the Hindu Kush and the Himalayan foothills in the north east to the local provinces of Kandahar and Helmand, sometimes supporting Canadian troops only twenty miles from the airfield.

In doing so, they dropped scores of 540lb and 1,000lb laser-guided bombs, as well as unleashing air-to-ground missiles at Taleban targets, irrespective of the weather, which has swung from fine, bright days to dust storms to heavy rain and low cloud.

The jump jets also flew ‘highway patrol’ sorties, monitoring traffic on Afghan roads and taking countless reconnaissance images to help intelligence analysts build up a picture of Taleban activity in the country.

Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Adrian Johns, who is also head of the Fleet Air Arm, praised the squadron’s work in Afghanistan:

“800 Squadron have achieved a tremendous amount in their deployment to Afghanistan, demonstrating again the professionalism, dedication and team work that is the hallmark of Naval Aviation,” he added.

“They have made a major contribution to the operation, providing outstanding support to the Royal Marines and soldiers on the ground.”

800 NAS personnel are on leave before they return to duties at RAF Cottesmore in Rutland, now home of the Navy’s fast jet squadrons.

Their next mission will be more traditional, joining flagship HMS Illustrious in the Mediterranean this spring.