You're sort of right.

 

Under the previous rotation, 3 Para was supported by a company of the Royal Irish, some Gurkhas and various other odds and s0ds. So there was always more than just 1 Btn group out there.  

 

Their replacement by 42 and 45 Cdo's has been planned for a while so it isn't a knee-jerk reaction. However this force will be stronger so you're correct from that point of view.

 

Perhaps a greater irony is that we are now entering winter. It's thus possible that we are sending out more troops just as things become quieter - although that is no doubt also partly due to 3 Para's heroic work. There are rumours on arsse of VC's being dished out to 3 Para around christmas time.

 

Even if 3 Bde don't end up doing any fighting, I hope they make a serious attempt at hearts and minds. It'd be nice if we have friends out there when or if the Taliban re-emerge next spring.

There was a report several months ago that 3 bde would take 2 cdos.  Presumably this means they'll do the Camp Bastion protection coy (previously a RRF coy IIRC), also replace the cdo coy that was also in Afg. 

 

RM are the obvious candidates for the winter season because they are the MAW experts, presumblably a different BG from 16 bde will be back there next summer.