3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, Operation JANUB ZILZILA, Zabul, Afghanistan, 2008

Digital photograph by Sergeant Ian Houlding, Royal Logistic Corps, 2008.

Quad bikes were used extensively in Afghanistan. They were easily transported by helicopter and could be used in difficult terrain to pull trailers of ammunition and supplies, easing the burden of troops on the ground. They were also used for casualty evacuation and for transport within larger bases.

In 2008 elements of 16 Air Assault Brigade, including the 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, were deployed to the mountainous province of Zabul, near the border with Pakistan. The proximity of the border with Pakistan made the area an ideal location for Taleban forces to rest and recuperate. British forces were tasked with securing a supply route and confronting any insurgents in the area.