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Afghanistan
Brit troops 'desperately short of helicopters'
2006-07-04
ONE of Britain’s top generals has been ordered to press Nato allies to send more helicopters to Afghanistan, where they are desperately needed by British and other troops engaged in fighting the Taleban. Lieutenant-General John Reith, the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander for Europe, is asking allies to fulfil the pledges they made when the participating countries agreed to expand the force last year. The Nato helicopter force in Afghanistan has a third fewer helicopters than it was promised. “Nato governments were happy to agree with what was needed, but when the time came to offer helicopters we were faced with a big gap,” one Nato source told The Times.

Another said: “Nato members know that helicopters are a prize asset in Afghanistan, but they have just not been forthcoming.” Lieutenant-General David Richards, Commander of the Nato force in Afghanistan, and General Sir Mike Jackson, Chief of the General Staff, both said last week that they needed more helicopters. In a hostile country with few roads and vast distances, they are essential for transport, air cover and evacuations.

Yesterday the Government tried to play down public concerns about the safety of the 3,300 British troops in southern Afghanistan. In particular, there is unease that the force is too small and inadequately equipped to take on the Taleban, whose forces have recently killed five British soldiers in the province of Helmand.
The Taleban are similarly concerned that they're out-manned and out-gunned, since they've lost several hundred to the Brits. One thing about the Taleban, however, is that they don't spend a lot of time wringing their hands.
Tom Watson, a junior defence minister, told the Commons that no formal request had yet been made by British commanders in Afghanistan to send more troops, helicopters or fixed wing aircraft. “Commanders have not asked for extra infantry or air cover,” Mr Watson said. He said that the only requests were for support staff and engineering equipment.

But The Times has learnt that last week British military commanders and officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development had their first “stock-taking” meeting in Kabul, where they had a “long hard look” at Britain’s deployment plan.

Nicholas Kay, the FCO’s co-ordinator for southern Afghanistan, who headed the group, said yesterday: “We have all recognised helicopters could be more plentiful.” One explanation for the apparent contradiction in the government statements is that Britain has very few helicopters to spare. Britain has provided 16 helicopters for southern Afghanistan, made up of six Chinooks, four Lynxes and six Apache attack helicopters.

With the exception of one Chinook based permanently in the Falkland Islands, the rest of the RAF’s twin-rotor helicopters are based at Odiham, Hampshire. Eight of them, the newest version, the Mark 3, adapted for special forces’ operations, are still grounded because of concerns over their air worthiness since being bought from the United States for £259million.

Liam Fox, the Shadow Defence Secretary, referred to the unease of British commanders in Afghanistan and said it was “absolutely vital” that British forces succeeded in Afghanistan. Failure would be a “catastrophic blow” to the cohesion of Nato and would “embolden our enemies,” he said.
Posted by:Steve White

#20  If you are into irony, the following would be an excellent choice, since it is heavily armoured and armed : http://www.vectorsite.net/avil2.html. The Stormovik was not used by the Soviets in Afghanistan, so there may not be any left. Or it could have just been typical Soviet stupidity that excluded them.
Posted by: Shieldwolf   2006-07-04 16:14  

#19  Even this would be good.

http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-air-support/ww2-allied/mosquito.htm
Posted by: Bright Pebbles   2006-07-04 15:56  

#18  
"Heck, a squadron of P-47s would work just fine."

Even better would be a couple of squadrons of A-1 Skyraiders, if there are any still around. Lovely beast that!

Posted by: Fur Trapper   2006-07-04 14:57  

#17  Must have been that Irish coffee. Good excuse for a senior moment. LOL.
Posted by: 49 Pan   2006-07-04 14:38  

#16  Well, where is this "Great" Britain we have hearing about with their media dissing of America?
Posted by: SamAdamsky   2006-07-04 12:12  

#15  Does make you wonder whether a squadron of Tornadoes would help. The Tornado may be on the verge of being obsolete, but that won't matter in Helmand. Heck, a squadron of P-47s would work just fine.
Posted by: Steve White   2006-07-04 12:09  

#14  Definitely getting old, 49 Pan. Even I got it. ;-)
Posted by: trailing wife   2006-07-04 11:56  

#13  Thanks. I must be getting old. Missed that one.
Posted by: 49 Pan   2006-07-04 11:29  

#12  but, demure adults
Posted by: Frank G   2006-07-04 11:06  

#11  So say "PISS" dammit, we're all adults here.
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2006-07-04 11:02  

#10  p155 looks to be leet. The key there is the alliteritive association with the word poor. As in Proper prior planning prevents P155 poor performance.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-07-04 10:42  

#9  BP what does p155 stand for?

The Britts like most of the world does not have the rotary wing assetts like we do. Once a country works along side us for any period of time they quickly realize what an assett they are and lean on us for air support. When we start to reduce the number of aircraft in the AO is when they allies start to scream to their higher for support.
The story the other day about the Britts being left to fight the Taliban without A10 support was an eye opener for some. Tey had no support and were dependant on the US for help. Glad they finally got it.
Posted by: 49 Pan   2006-07-04 10:34  

#8  My Army Medic mate said he had NO oxygen, and had to give away his flak jacket. That's p155 poor.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles   2006-07-04 07:52  

#7  Typical Brit situation. Looking to their European allies to pull their share of the load and not understanding that they're rooting for the enemy. Time for the Brits to leave Europe or join it. The third way is the worst of both worlds.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-07-04 07:32  

#6  I gather that the British troops are significantly under-equipped compared to US troops, but this is aimed mostly at the other NATO countries who are not contributing, I would guess.

US assets are being used hard, by all reports. Time for others besides the US and the UK to use theirs, such as they are.
Posted by: lotp   2006-07-04 06:59  

#5  Bright Pebbles:
From speaking to mates in any army anywhere, any time, you would likely hear that they were desperately short of everything. That doesn't make it untrue, but ....
Posted by: Glenmore   2006-07-04 06:43  

#4  A squadron or two of Warthogs and / or AC-130s would be rather helpful, as well. A little extra punch with long loiter time for those, "Oh look. They're rather bunched up over there." and "I say, we seem to have more targets than ammo this morning." moments.
Posted by: Whonter Omavilet5844   2006-07-04 05:59  

#3  From speaking to mates the British troops are deperatly short of *

* = any bit of kit you care to mention.

Lions led by donkeys. Squaddies, do the UK a favour and blow up the MoD when you get back.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles   2006-07-04 05:31  

#2  As i pointed out months ago , serious lack of air support for the operation at hand . esp as we fighting in mountain terrain ..
Posted by: MacNails   2006-07-04 04:29  

#1  What was that line about the Muslims not being afraid of the Russians, but being afraid of their helicopters?
Posted by: gromky   2006-07-04 04:18  

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