The 1st Military Working Dog Regiment, Royal Army Veterinary Corps is a British Army animal unit. It is responsible for providing trained dogs and handlers to support the main brigade of British troops deployed to Afghanistan in Operation Herrick. The regiment was formed on 26 March 2010, and its headquarters is located at St George’s Barracks, North Luffenha
From guard duties to laying telegraph wires and sniffing out explosives, dogs have played an invaluable role in British military history.
Animals have operated in military conflicts throughout history, from the elephants which crossed the Alps with the Carthaginian general Hannibal in 218BC to the dolphins trained by the US Navy to locate undersea mines during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. But dogs have a particularly strong link with the British military. During the First and Second World Wars, hounds were used to scout enemy troops, guard prisoners, transport messages, sniff for mines and deliver supplies to wounded soldiers. Today the canine recruits of the 1st Military Working Dog Regiment detect explosives, protect troops and track insurgents.
The most recent British Army dog to receive this award was Sasha, a Labrador who located 15 bombs and ammunition caches in Afghanistan before being killed with her handler Lance Corporal Kenneth Rowe in July 2008. In 2010 British special forces even parachuted German shepherd dogs, equipped with cameras, into Taliban strongholds to search for insurgents.
Vital military functions aside, British soldiers have traditionally also welcomed the morale-boosting impact of dogs who provide psychological comfort and a poignant reminder of home. Wary that many dogs would become casualties, a decree of 1942 warned soldiers: “Don’t make friends with or pet any of these dogs.” It didn’t work.
The following are pics of my Dog teams from Empress Miniatures:
Roxie, Woofer, Barkly and Butch
Very cool! Gotta love modern miniatures, and Dogs just make things better!
Good job on the camo, always find that difficult.
A great post.. Great minis too.
Thanks. The camo is very simple – just light grey and light ochre streaks with a reddish brown wash.
It is very effective
Thanks. The minis are from Empress Miniatures that have an excellent range of moderns.
Great post, lovely miniatures and as said above lovely camo.
They really are a mans best friend!!
Cheers Roger.
Yep I love camos to!
Really enjoyed reading this post – as I write our two dogs are fast asleep on “our” sofa whilst we sit on the floor! Love the minis!
Gone to the dogs?
Great post. Love the painted bases of dog and handler. Always interesting to work them into games I think.
Cheers,
Pete.
Yes we use them in our game rules to assist with IED identification (+2), assisting with detecting enemy on guard duty (+3) and providing additional attack dice in close combat. Now they are painted look out Blake!
For those interested I am painting up three British SAS teams and will provide photos and explanations of how I do the camo in a post. Will be available in three or four days.
Great post and I love the painting on the dogs and the soldiers.
Thanks Mark
Neat work on these ones Pig,well done, If the last photos indicates anything I wish you good luck this coming weekend!!
Woof woof woof!