Forward Operating Base Budwan

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}} {{Infobox military installation | name = FOB Budwan<br><s>FOB Armadillo</s> | ensign=Flag of the International Security Assistance Force.svg | ensign_size=150px | native_name = | partof = | location = Nahri Saraj District, Helmand Province | nearest_town = | country = Afghanistan | image = | caption = | coordinates = {{Coord|31|53|41|N|064|42|00|E|region:AF_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | type = | pushpin_map = Afghanistan | pushpin_label = FOB Budwan | pushpin_map_caption = Shown within Afghanistan | ownership = International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) | operator = British Armed Forces<br>Royal Danish Army<br>Afghan National Army (ANA) | controlledby = | site_area = | code = | built = January {{Start date|2008}}{{sfn|Bishop|2009|p=78}} | builder = | used = 2008-{{End date|2011}} | height = | materials = | condition = | fate = | battles = | events = | current_commander =  | past_commanders =  | garrison = | occupants = | open_to_public = | website = | IATA = | ICAO = | FAA = | TC = | LID = | GPS = | WMO = | elevation = {{Convert|869|m|0}} | h1-number =00 | h1-length =  | h1-surface =Concrete }}

'''Forward Operating Base Budwan''', or more simply, '''FOB Budwan''', was a military base located near Gereshk, in the Helmand province of Afghanistan. It was occupied by International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) forces from the United Kingdom and Denmark as part of Task Force Helmand during Operation Herrick (OP H).

The base was originally named FOB Armadillo after the mascot of a Danish company commander, Major Anders Stæhr Storrud, who was killed three months before the base was established. The base was then renamed to FOB Budwan in 2010.{{fact|date=March 2023}}

==History==

It was one of three smaller forward operating bases (FOBs) used by British and Danish forces around Gereshk (the others being FOB Sandford and FOB Keenan) in addition to their headquarters at FOB Price.{{fact|date=March 2023}}

===FOB Armadillo===

* Created by 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards and the Danish.{{sfn|Coldstream|2016|p=61}} * Guard Hussar Regiment, Charlie Company Feb - Jul 2009 * Guard Hussar Regiment with AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven Unmanned aerial vehicles and Piranha's ** Charlie Company during May 2010 It has been used by: * OP H IX - 3 Commando Brigade (October 2008 - April 2009): * OP H X - 19th Light Brigade (April 2009 - October 2009): * OP H XI - 11 Light Brigade (October 2009 - April 2010):

The base was renamed in 2010 to Budwan

====Film==== {{main|Armadillo (2010 film)}} A Danish documentary film of the same name released in 2010, followed a group of Danish soldiers from the Guard Hussars stationed at the base.

===FOB Budwan===

It has been used by: * OP H XII - 4th Mechanized Brigade (April 2010 - October 2010): ** 4th Regiment Royal Artillery with members of 4th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery<ref name="AUSCUT">{{cite web|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/editions/1242/1242.pdf|title=Taliban attacks goes up in smoke|publisher=Defence Newspapers - Army|access-date=19 August 2015}}</ref> ***Cutler Troop<ref name="AUSCUT"/> * OP H XIII - 16 Air Assault Brigade (October 2010 - April 2011): ** 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (for the tour only)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/australian-and-british-forces-compete-for-afghan-ashes|title=Australian and British forces compete for 'Afghan Ashes'|publisher=MoD|access-date=19 August 2015}}</ref> ***J (Sidi Rezegh) Battery RHA with gunners from the 1st Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10271.150|title=P10271.150|publisher=Australian War Memorial|access-date=19 August 2015}}</ref>

The closing and disassembling of Budwan started in December 2010. The last troops and equipment left in late January 2011. The units stationed there were relocated to other bases around Gereshk.<ref>{{cite news |title= Moving day Helmand style: how to turn a farm into a fortress|author= Anthony Loyd|newspaper= The Sunday Times|date= 21 January 2008|url= http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3221602.ece|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081008011443/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3221602.ece|url-status= dead|archive-date= 8 October 2008|access-date= 5 December 2010|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

== Notes == {{Reflist}}

== References == *{{cite book |last1=Bishop |first1=P |title=Ground Truth |year=2009 |publisher= HarperPress |location= UK |isbn=978-0-00-729665-1}} *{{cite book |last1=Guards |first1=Coldstream |title=10 Years in Afghanistan |year=2016 |publisher=Coldstream Guards |location= UK|ref= {{harvid|Coldstream|2016}} }}

Category:Military installations of the United Kingdom in Afghanistan Category:Military installations of Denmark Bases Category:Military installations established in 2008 Category:Military installations closed in 2011