British soldiers and the Afghan National Army at a checkpoint south of Lashkar Gah, Helmand, 2006

Digital photograph by Corporal Mike Fletcher, Royal Logistic Corps, Helmand Task Force Photographer, 2006.

A British Weapons Mounted Installation Kit (WMIK) Land Rover armed with a Browning .50 Calibre machine gun of the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) Operations Company provides additional security for Afghan National Army soldiers at a vehicle checkpoint. The PRT, based in Lashkar Gah, was tasked with helping the Helmand authorities rebuild infrastructure and civil amenities such as hospitals and schools. As insurgent violence increased the provision of security was of paramount importance to the mission.

From a collection of images taken during Operation HERRICK IV, the UK's deployment into Helmand Province, Southern Afghanistan.