Troops to return to Afghanistan

This will be 45 Commando's third time in Afghanistan in six years

Hundreds of marines based in Scotland are to be deployed to Afghanistan in the autumn.

Personnel from 45 Commando, who operate out of RM Condor in Arbroath, will travel to the country in October.

It will be their third operational tour of Afghanistan in six years. The 700-strong unit was also involved in the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

45 Commando returned from their last Afghanistan tour in April 2007 - they lost four men during that deployment.

The Royal Marines will replace 16 Air Assault Brigade in the latest troop rotation.

Deployed alongside 45 Commando will be 42 Commando, the 2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, the 1st Battalion The Rifles, and the 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards.

It will also include the first of the additional force elements announced by Defence Secretary Des Browne which will see the total British force rise from 7,800 to 8,030 by spring.