15 Air Assault Close Support Squadron RLC 15 Air Assault Close Support Squadron is a Close Support Squadron in the 13 Air Assault Regiment Royal Logistic Corps . They provide elements of 16 Air Assault Brigade with combat supplies as well as transport during times of peace and war . History . The Squadron was formed at Woolwich on May 8 , 1878 with a group of men and their horses . Soon afterwards , the horses were replaced with mules and the Company found itself employed on transport duties throughout the British Empire . The Company was deployed to the Egypt Campaign of 1882 - 1883 , and to South Africa from 1889 - 1902 where they deployed on supply tasks during the Second Boer War . The Company also fought in Somaliland in 1904 prior to its return to Britain . When World War I broke out , 15 Company was deployed to France , equipped with horse transport , in support of the British Expeditionary Force . The Company disbanded in 1919 on its return to Britain . The Unit was reformed in 1922 as 15 Motor Transport Company Royal Army Service Corps and stationed at York . World War II . Again the company disbanded before reforming to enter World War II . In the beginning of the war , their duties were UK - based , operating with requisitioned civilian vehicles . On January 1942 , the Company received a fleet of AEC Matador s and deployed on operations in the tank transporting role . The Unit was renamed 24 Company RASC and served in the Middle East , including transport duties at the Battle of El Alamein . After the defeat of the Afrika Korps , the Unit reverted to 15 Company and returned to Britain prior to its involvement in the invasion of Europe in 1944 . Post World War II . After World War II , 15 Company was disbanded for a third time , only to reappear at York in 1951 as a General Transport ( GT ) Company . In 1961 the Company disbanded for a fourth time , yet its title was revived when 122 ( Tipper ) Company RASC , based in Scarborough Barracks Osnabrück , West Germany , was renamed 15 Company RASC . The Unit took on the GT role for a second time in January 1965 when they exchanged Tipper and assault vehicles for 4 ton vehicles . Four months later , equipped with AEC Mk 1 10 ton cargo vehicles , the Unit changed its title on disbandment of the RASC to become 15 Squadron Royal Corps of Transport ( RCT ) . The Unit saw a period of stability and celebrated its centenary in 1978 in Osnabrück . 1980s . The Squadron returned to the UK in 1983 and was based in Gaza Barracks , Catterick as part of the 2nd Infantry Division Transport Regiment ; its vehicle fleet was also changed from the 10 ton AEC to Bedford TM 8 tonne , 4 x 22 , 000 Ltr Truck Tanker Fuel ( TTFs ) and associated Materials Handling Equipment ( MHE ) . In 1990 , the Squadron deployed to Cyprus in support of the UNFICYP under the command of Major Steve Bragg and was mainly made up of Territorial Army ( TA ) personnel . The regular troops were deployed on Operation Granby ( Gulf War 1 ) as sub - units of other squadrons . 1990s . In 1993 , the Logistic Support Review and Options for Change saw the amalgamation of the RCT with the other Corps to become the Royal Logistic Corps . At the same time , 24 Airmobile Brigade was established in Colchester requiring a Combat Service Support ( CSS ) Battalion . 15 Squadron already had a troop in support of the Airmobile Brigade , however now the whole unit become a second - line transport sub - unit of the CSS Battalion . The fleet consisted of DROPS MMLC , 14 , 8 and 4 ton General Service Vehicles , Truck Tanker Fuel ( TTFs ) , Unit Bulk Refuel Equipment ( UBRE ) and various Material Handling Equipment ( MHE ) . The Squadron was again re - roled and renamed 15 Attack Support Squadron due to the formation of 16 Air Assault Brigade and the arrival of the Attack Helicopter ( AH ) . In April 2000 , the Squadron deployed on a six - month tour of Northern Ireland on Operation Banner . The Squadron acquired a new fleet of Multi Wheel Drive ( MWD ) fuel vehicles for the transportation of aviation fuel . CSS to 16 Air Assault Brigade . In 2001 , the Squadron deployed to Macedonia on Operation Bessemer to assist with disarming the Macedonian population . The Squadron deployed again to support the Brigade in 2001 upon short notice to Afghanistan as part of Operation FINGAL in support of US War on Terrorism . A period of stability was established until Operation TELIC in 2003 where the Regiment deployed to Kuwait and Iraq . In March 2006 , the Squadron deployed as 15 Close Support Squadron to Operation HERRICK 4 , providing intimate CSS support to the 3 PARA battlegroup based in Helmand Province . In 2007 the Squadron was redesignated 15 Air Assault Close Support Squadron and now constantly maintains a parachute element for insertion onto a Drop Zone . The Squadron deployed to Afghanistan in March 2008 on Op HERRICK 8 , where it conducted numerous Combat Logistic Patrols to Sangin , Musa Qaleh and Now Zad . Members of the Squadron were responsible for the protection and transportation of a turbine to the Kajaki Dam during Operation OQAB TSUKA ( Eagles Summit in Pashtu ) .