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Brown and Prince praise soldiers Prince and Brown praise soldiers
(21 minutes later)
Gordon Brown and the Prince of Wales have paid tribute to two soldiers killed in Afghanistan.Gordon Brown and the Prince of Wales have paid tribute to two soldiers killed in Afghanistan.
The Prime Minister said "the whole country" would be mourning the deaths of Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe and Trooper Joshua Hammond.The Prime Minister said "the whole country" would be mourning the deaths of Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe and Trooper Joshua Hammond.
Col Thorneloe, of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, was the highest ranking officer to be die in action since 1982. Col Thorneloe, of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, was the most senior army officer to die in action since 1982.
Prince Charles, who is colonel-in-chief of his regiment, said the news of his death was "completely heartbreaking". Prince Charles, who is colonel-in-chief of the regiment, said the news of his death was "completely heartbreaking".
He said: "As you can imagine, the shock and horror that has affected the whole of the regiment family was quite dramatic. Col Thorneloe, 39, from Kirtlington, near Oxford and Trooper Hammond, 18, from Plymouth, died on Wednesday after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blew up their vehicle.
Six other soldiers were injured in the blast.
News of the fatalities came on the same day the US army announced it had launched a major offensive against the Taliban.
THE VIKING The Viking was introduced into Afghanistan three years ago.
It was initially designed to defend against small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades and therefore most of the armour was on the top of the vehicle.
Although the Viking is designed not to trigger anti-tank mines, it is still vulnerable to Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) because of the shape of the hull and a lack of substantial under-body armour.
Last year the Ministry of Defence admitted it had reached the limit of how much it could be armoured following a series of deaths involving Taliban IEDs.
Vikings are due to be replaced for operations in Afghanistan by other, more heavily armoured, vehicles. UK forces launch Taliban assault
More than 700 UK troops have launched a similar offensive - nicknamed Operation Panther's Claw - against insurgent strongholds in southern Afghanistan.
The prince, who knew Col Thorneloe personally, said: "As you can imagine, the shock and horror that has affected the whole of the regiment family was quite dramatic.
"I was horrified to say the least about both deaths, Trooper Hammond as well.""I was horrified to say the least about both deaths, Trooper Hammond as well."
The prince added said his heart was with the soldiers' families. "It's completely heartbreaking. The whole battalion is suffering," he said. He added his heart was with the soldiers' families. "It's completely heartbreaking. The whole battalion is suffering," he said.
Mr Brown said: "They were very professional soldiers, they were serving in Afghanistan in the most difficult terrain. Speaking during a visit to Manchester Mr Brown said: "They were very professional soldiers, they were serving in Afghanistan in the most difficult terrain.
"Lt Col Thorneloe was someone I know, someone I worked with, someone I admired.""Lt Col Thorneloe was someone I know, someone I worked with, someone I admired."
He said Col Thorneloe - the most senior British Army officer to be killed in action since the Falklands War in 1982 - showed great bravery and leadership.He said Col Thorneloe - the most senior British Army officer to be killed in action since the Falklands War in 1982 - showed great bravery and leadership.
He added: "I would also like to pass on my condolences to his family and also the family of Trooper Hammond, who was a very brave young man."He added: "I would also like to pass on my condolences to his family and also the family of Trooper Hammond, who was a very brave young man."
Col Thorneloe, 39, from Kirtlington, near Oxford and Trooper Hammond, 18, from Plymouth, died in the same explosion in Helmand province on Wednesday. The two men who died were travelling in a Viking armoured vehicle. Vikings have been criticised for not being able to withstand IED attacks.
It brings the number of British deaths in Afghanistan since 2001 to 171. They are due to be withdrawn and replaced with more heavily armoured personnel carriers.