The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word PATROL
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
P
A
T
R
O
L
More clues leading to the result PATROL
- Police using bad PR a lot
- Dad and bad-tempered giant endlessly go the rounds
- Military detachment’s unconvincing role terminated early
- Exactly right function, mainly – for a police officer?
- Bit of butter on some bread cut for scout
- Guards touch up regimental officers’ ladies initially
- Beat Irishman to get short part in play
- As removed from 1, shuffling round
- Make the rounds every year to lake, crossing river
- Buddy admitted some of tropical task force
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "task force" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case task force = patrol.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does PATROL mean?
PATROL noun- A going of the rounds along the chain of sentinels and between the posts, by a guard, usually consisting of three or four men, to insure greater security from attacks on the outposts.
- A movement, by a small body of troops beyond the line of outposts, to explore the country and gain intelligence of the enemy's whereabouts.
- The guards who go the rounds for observation; a detachment whose duty it is to patrol.
- Any perambulation of a particular line or district to guard it; also, the people thus guarding.
- A unit of a troop, usually defined by certain ranks or age groups within the troop.
- To go the rounds along a chain of sentinels; to traverse a police district or beat.
- To go the rounds of, as a sentry, guard, or policeman