Jackonicko was quicker on the keyboard than me and essentially asked the same question as why AH and BRH will not be integrated in the same Regiments/geographical location.
I did expand by saying that with the Middle Wallop 'hub' an hour up the road and AW/Yeovilon the doorstep then why not 'press to test' on true Jointery and have a true amphib capbility mix of AH and BRH at Yeovilton?
This should satisfy those that are concerned about the demise of a true amphibious capability and also those that wonder what BRH will actually do by assisting with true AH/BRH integration across all Lines Of Development.
With a little bit of lateral application Wattisham and Yeovilton could be the 2 AH/BRH locations - Wattisham (Colchester) 16 Air Assault Brigade focussed and Yeovilton (Plymouth) 3 Commando Brigade focussed. As we are finding on current ops the demarcation line between 3 Commando and 16 Air Assault is a blurred one, but one thing is for sure and that is that there is certainly 1000% more deck ops, amphib exposure and ethos taking place at Yeovilton than is taking place at Wattisham.
From the AAC's persepctive this option could be the selling point and ultimate saviour for Middle Wallop as it could retain its AH/BRH training hub specialisation with both Simulators and tactics trainers already in place, with the associated airspace to facilitate night training.
If not, and Wattisham remains as the AH hub and Yeovilton becomes the Lynx hub, then from a military and financial viewpoint I would have to question why Middle Wallop remains open and why AH training is not re-located to Wattisham and Lynx training to Yeovilton.
So I agree, mixing the AH and BRH capabilities makes perfect sense - but I will scuttle sideways back to my SH comfort zone and mince pies.
Last edited by MaroonMan4; 3rd Jan 2009 at 16:19.