of some NATO allies Despite the deployment of British and Dutch forces (and smaller forces from smaller European countries such as Denmark and Estonia), the Canadians were reported to have been frustrated at the lack of support from other major European NATO countries. Britain's defence secretary Des Browne shared criticism of those NATO allies for not sharing the burden. Throughout 2006, Germany had ISAF ground troops in Afghanistan, but in the more secure north and resisted calls to help NATO forces except in the case of emergencies in the south. France also had troops in the more secure north, and deployed special forces and made available close air support aircraft for operations in the south, but also did not deploy significant ground troops to the south. Later during the conflict, though, in August 2008 French troops took on a larger role, and became involved in increased fighting after taking control of the Kabul regional command. Coalition order of battle Not all ISAF troops deployed to Afghanistan in 2006 were involved in combat operations. This is a list of NATO and partner nation units involved in PRTs in southern Afghanistan and most heavily engaged in combat operations in 2006. Australia Australia is not a NATO nation but worked closely with Dutch forces, deploying a Reconstruction Task Force based around the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment with protective elements from the 5th/7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment and 2nd Cavalry Regiment. A detachment of two CH-47 Chinook helicopters from the 5th Aviation Regiment was deployed to Afghanistan in March 2006 to support the Australian Special Forces Task Group. The Special Forces Task Group was withdrawn from Afghanistan in September 2006. Canada Roughly 2,500 Canadian Forces personnel were deployed in Afghanistan in 2006 over two rotations, mostly based in Kandahar. Core ground force units included the 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry on the first rotation and the 1st Battalion The Royal Canadian Regiment on the second. Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) deployed Leopard C2 tanks in December 2006. A battery of the 1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery provided artillery support for the first rotation, and a battery of the 2nd Regiment for the second. They provided support for the Canadians and coalition troops alike. Denmark About 700 troops deployed to the Helmand province, forming the Danish Battlegroup under the command of RC(S) (formerly designated Battlegroup Center) operating