Royal Navy bomb disposal experts deploy to Helmand

The quartet, from the Fleet Diving Squadron based at Horsea Island, Portsmouth, will be spending six months in Helmand province.

Predominantly based at Camp Bastion, they will work in support of the British Army's 21 Field Squadron, Royal Engineers, and also deploy to forward operating bases in Sangin, Banji and Kajaki.

There they will carry out offensive search and clearance operations of insurgent-laid improvised explosive devices and conventional munitions, and also accompany regular foot patrols.

They will also train the Afghan National Army in explosive ordnance recognition, search and disposal skills.

Heading the team is Petty Officer (Diver) Ward 'Sharky' Peers of Gosport. He will be joined by Leading Seaman (Diver) Lee Jackson of Paulsgrove, Able Seaman (Diver) Phil Brierley of Gosport, and Able Seaman (Diver) Ian Rowe of Portsmouth.

Petty Officer Peers said that they had just completed six months of pre-deployment training with the Royal Engineers, adding:

"We realise that training the Afghan Army is vital in helping the country get back on its feet so our presence will be worthwhile.

"Our operation is entirely land-based which will be somewhat unusual for us as a Royal Navy team, but it will be interesting for us working in a tri-Service environment.

"Now that we have completed our specialist training with the British Army we feel we are fully prepared and are now keen to get out there, complete our tasks to the best of our ability, and then return home to our usual duties with the Navy."

Once in theatre the team will replace four colleagues from the Fleet Diving Squadron who will return to the UK in April.

The Royal Navy Diving Branch is a small specialisation of the Mine Warfare Branch, dedicated to a wide range of underwater diving tasks and more specifically to mine and ordnance disposal underwater.