UK's Brown tries to shore up support for Afghan mission

* UK's Brown seeks to bolster public support for war

* Government rejects criticism of equipment failings

By Adrian Croft

LONDON, July 12 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's government tried to shore up public faith in the Afghan war effort on Sunday after the death of eight British soldiers in 24 hours sowed doubts over the mission.

The surge in deaths has led to unprecedented soul-searching in Britain over the point of its intervention in Afghanistan and led to cracks in a political consensus in support of the war.

The number of British troops killed in Afghanistan -- 184 -- now surpasses the British toll from the Iraq conflict.

Brown and his cabinet ministers fanned out to television studios to reassure the public that a major British and U.S. offensive against Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province was succeeding despite the heavy toll.

Taking his message direct to the troops, Brown told the British Forces Broadcasting Service: "I know that this has been a difficult summer so far and it is going to continue to be a difficult summer."

Asked if he was worried that the Helmand operation could become Britain's Vietnam, Brown said: "The operation ... is showing signs of success."

The operation is aimed at making Helmand safe for people to vote in Aug. 20 presidential elections.

Brown and other ministers rammed home the message that the British troops were fighting in Helmand to deny a base to al Qaeda militants who could stage attacks on British soil.

SHORTAGE OF HELICOPTERS, TROOPS

Conservative former defence secretary Tom King told the BBC on Sunday British forces suffered from a critical shortage of helicopters and had never had enough troops "to do the job".

The government denies such criticism. Finance minister Alistair Darling said on Saturday British troops in Afghanistan would get whatever equipment they needed.