11th Airmobile Brigade (Netherlands)
| 11 Luchtmobiele Brigade '7 december' | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Country | Netherlands |
| Branch | Army |
| Type |
Air Assault Light Infantry Airborne |
| Role | Versatile Rapid Reaction Force Initial Entry Force |
| Size | 4500 soldiers |
| Garrison/HQ | Schaarsbergen Assen |
| Motto(s) | Nec Temere, Nec Timide (Neither rashly nor timidly) |
| Mascot(s) | Falcon |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Brigade general Kees Matthijssen |
The 11th Airmobile Brigade (Dutch: 11 Luchtmobiele Brigade) is a rapid and light infantry unit within the Dutch and German forces and can be deployed anywhere on the globe within five to twenty days to defend its own or allied territory, protect the international rule of law and support law enforcement, disaster relief and humanitarian aid. Deployment can be as part of NATO or the United Nations. Since 2014, the 11th Airmobile Brigade has been part of the German Special Operations Division. When the Airmobile Brigade, an Army brigade, operates integrated with the Dutch Defence Helicopter Command, an Air Force command, they form the '11th Air Manoeuvre Brigade' (11 AMB).
Helicopters from the Defence Helicopter Command support 11th Airmobile Brigade with troop transports and the transport of weapons and materials. Attack helicopters are used for reconnaissance, to give air support, and to provide cover for infantry on the ground. When helicopters are used in combination with infantry as parts of an offensive operation it is called an 'Air assault' operation. When troopcarrier helicopters are just used to bring infantry from A to B it is called an 'Air mobile' operation. With attack helicopters performing on their own it is called an 'Air mechanized' operation. When paratroopers are deployed it is called an 'Airborne' operation. The brigade is also able to operate 'Motorized' with heavily armed light armored vehicles. Specially trained units are also able to assist Special Forces as a 'Special Operations Task Group' (SOTG).
In 2003 in Poland (exercise Gainful Sword), 2012 in the Netherlands (exercise Peregrine Sword) and 2014 in Hungary the brigade had and succeeded for its operational readiness test to (re)apply for its 'Air assault' status. Passing the test it proved to be able to run a brigade operation with the Air Mobile Brigade and Defence Helicopter Command integrated as the 11th Air Manoeuvre Brigade.
The world's security situation changed drastically after the fall of the Berlin wall in '89. In the Netherland arose the need for a rapid reaction force for global operations in the entire warfare spectrum. In '92 11 Air Manoeuvre Brigade was created. It became unfavorable for the Dutch government to send 'drafties' on missions and this brigade was put together with volunteers from other units. After 10 years of pioneering the brigade got its operational readiness state in October 2003.
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Wikipedia