Earlier this year, to quickly ease the strain of heavily combat deployments and provide new airframes, the UK Ministry Of Defence announced that 6 new Merlin support helicopters, would be brought from Denmark.
Part of the Danish EH-101 Merlin order, deliveries had overtaken the setting up of support infrastructure like training, (similar happened with a UK Army WAH-64D Apaches a few years back), so 6 would go to the RAF, to supplement the 22 delivered originally.
The UK then ordered 6 Merlins to replace them on behalf of the Danes, by the time of their delivery, the Royal Danish Air Force could absorb them better.

Another part of the MoD deal, was the semi resolution of a long standing procurement foul up, that had left 8 Chinooks delivered in the late 1990's for special forces use, grounded by a comedy of errors 'starring' the MoD, RAF, Boeing and US export control laws, these will now be brought up to a general standard to supplement the existing hard worked Chinooks.
A modest order, but one that will provide a much needed shot in arm for the helicopter force quickly.

Now, the ex Danish Merlins are part of the formation of a second RAF EH-101 support helicopter squadron, no.78, which previously had been made up of Sea King HAR.3 SAR and Chinook support helicopters, in the Falklands in the 1980's.
Here is the official announcement and a nice airborne pic of a ex RDAF Merlin converted to RAF standards, (the different nose being a legacy of part of the RDAF role, SAR, as well as general support).
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/De...rlinsUnveiledForNewRafSquadron.htm

Almost certain that these will figure in a further enlarged UK Afghanistan presence next year, note how the non aviation reportage seems surprised that the Typhoon can do ground attack, as if this is a new idea, but then who has reported for years that they are only good for engaging non existent 'Soviet' fighters?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/afghanistan/story/0,,2184905,00.html

[Edited 2007-10-06 08:07:51]