5 SCOTS

The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (5 SCOTS) is based at Howe Barracks in Canterbury. It is an Air Assault Battalion and part of 16 Air Assault Brigade, Britain's Rapid Reaction Force.

The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, the 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (5 SCOTS) are an Air Assault Infantry battalion and form one of seven Battalions in the Royal Regiment of Scotland. They have been based in Howe Barracks in Canterbury since 2003. They currently form part of 16 Air Assault Brigade and have just returned from Op HERRICK 13 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. The Battalion's key capability is Air Assault, the tactics of using troop-carrying helicopters supported by Attack Helicopters to insert large amounts of infantry into enemy locations.

5 SCOTS has a distinguished history dating back to 1794. The battalion was formed of two Highland Regiments, the 91^st Argyllshire Highlanders and the 93^rd Sutherland Highlanders. Both were successful and renowned in their own rights with the 93rd in particular gaining fame as the 'Thin Red Line' at Balaklava during the Crimean War and winning six Victoria Crosses in one day at Lucknow during the Indian Mutiny.

Today 5 SCOTS continue the fine traditions of their famous forebears on active service across the world. In the last decade they have deployed to Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. Each deployment has seen them conduct themselves with the courage, tenacity and humour always associated with the Scottish Infantry.

5 SCOTS returned from their most recent tour in Afghanistan in May 2011 where they had conducted ground-holding operations providing security to the local population of Helmand and targeting the Taliban directly as well as conducting partnering, mentoring and training duties with the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police.