Nige
Freight Bay Armour?.... do you mean that stuff that is used (allegedly) by our allies?
Don't be silly, Nige....what could we possibly learn from them????????? Seriously, though, how heavy is it - if too heavy, this could be stopper?
What also worries me is our apparent lack of 'force protection' ie 'airfield defence'. Wasn't that the raison d'etre of the RAF Regt? Where are the RE to make good the strip and clear the mines?
Are our rock-apes and engineers so overstretched that they cannot secure LZ/DZs? If so, then perhaps our AT and SH shouldn't be operating there? Especially, as the enemy seems to know where to attack and when?! Or perhaps the ALQ/TB just sit there and wait to fire off RPGs/mortars or IEDs when one of ac comes along? This, in itself, would underline our inability to protect the strips and make life difficult for the enemy.
Whatever the underlying reasons, I suspect that the current attrition rate of Hercs is not sustainable!
Flip