Defence News

Image of the Day: 10 February 2012

Members of the Queen's Royal Hussars extract under the cover of a Jackal armoured vehicle during Operation ZAMARY TAKHTA, or 'Lion's Rage'. The Queen's Royal Hussars launched the operation with their Afghan police partners to destroy improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Lashkar Gah district. The operation resulted in a two-day fight with the Taliban, the destruction of seven IEDs and the capture of an IED layer. Click here to read more. [Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]

Image of the Day: 9 February 2012

Prince Harry, or Captain Wales, prepares his Apache helicopter for a mission during Exercise Crimson Eagle, the final conversion training for Army Air Corps Apache pilots, in America. Captain Wales has now completed his training on the Apache and has been awarded a prize for being the best co-pilot gunner. Click here to read more. [Picture: Sergeant Russ Nolan RLC, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

Image of the Day: 8 February 2012

A combined arms battle demonstration took place yesterday on Salisbury Plain Training Area. The day was broken down into themed areas of capability and joint integration, culminating in a live firing demonstration. Pictured is a firing team from the 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery in a WMIK Land Rover mounted with a .50-calibre heavy machine gun. [Picture: Richard Watt, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]

Image of the Day: 7 February 2012

King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery left their St John's Wood Barracks for the last time yesterday prior to their move today to their new barracks at Napier Lines in Woolwich. After an early start the soldiers mucked out the stables and prepared the horses before riding out of the gates for one last time. They formed up on St John's Wood High Street where 2,500 schoolchildren serenaded them with songs from the First World War. The King's Troop then made their way to Hyde Park to carry out a 41-gun Royal Salute. Click here to read more. [Picture: Sergeant Steve Hughes RLC, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]

Image of the Day: 6 February 2012

The Army in Scotland has enlisted Halfords' cycle mechanics to train its Sport Relief support team who will be providing logistical support for March's DHL First Nation Home Sport Relief challenge. The challenge involves teams competing in a race that will include cycling, running, sailing and rowing. Pictured are Lieutenant Graham Harvey and Major James Watson with Halfords mechanics Chris Bottery and John Hartley. Halfords has provided the Sport Relief challenge participants with road bikes and accessories, and organised a series of training sessions for the military mechanics. [Picture: Mark Owens, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]

Image of the Day: 3 February 2012

Soldiers from York's 2 Signal Regiment are mustering their strength to pull a 70-tonne plane one kilometre for charity, with the help of sailors and airmen, on Saturday 11 February 2012. The 30 individuals based in the Falklands are pulling the C-130 Hercules aircraft to raise money for the Army Benevolent Fund, the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust and the Royal Air Force Association. Pictured, 2 Signal Regiment soldiers John Blowes, Nico Pigan, Paul Gormley and Shaun Green in a training session for the event. [Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]

Image of the Day: 2 February 2012

More than 300 soldiers from 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh are this week taking part in a live-firing exercise on the Castlemartin Ranges in Pembrokeshire. The exercise tests combined arms firepower and puts soldiers through their paces in the most demanding and realistic scenarios available outside theatre as part of preparation for a six-month tour to Afghanistan for the unit later this year. [Picture: Corporal Paul Morrison RLC, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]

Image of the Day: 1 February 2012

Children in an area of Helmand province previously run by the Taliban have been presented with Afghan kites. Youngsters in Kopak in the Nahr-e Saraj district were presented with the traditional symbol of Afghanistan's culture by the local Chief of Police. Within minutes the children were seen flying the kites in the Helmand skies. The idea was the brainchild of Lance Corporal Emma Pengilly, of D Company, 5th Battalion The Rifles, pictured here with local Afghan children. Click here to read more. [Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]

Image of the Day: 31 January 2012

Territorial Army soldiers from 208 Field Hospital returned home at the weekend from a demanding tour in Afghanistan where for the last three months they have been treating the injured and sick at the British military hospital in Camp Bastion. Around 50 of the medics returned to the unit's headquarters at Chavasse House in Liverpool yesterday where they were welcomed back by family and friends. The picture shows Liverpool nurse Captain Jeanette Aitchison with her grandaughters, niece and nephews. Click here to read more. [Picture: Mark Owens, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]

Image of the Day: 30 January 2012

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall has presented Operational Service Medals to Royal Navy medics who recently returned from operations in Afghanistan. In her role as Commodore-in-Chief of Royal Naval Medical Services, the Duchess attended a ceremony at HMS Excellent, Whale Island, Portsmouth, on Friday 27 January 2012. Pictured, the Duchess presents a campaign medal to Able Seaman Michelle Ping who was the 'Best Reservist' at last year's Sun Military Awards. [Picture: LA(Phot) Ian Simpson, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]