One of the major issues, fatigue apart, is how the legal eagles would interpret the rules and analyse your part in an accident.
Are you at war? Well, the Government doesn't call it that: it's called an Operation. Given that, are you then required to follow the "normal" peacetime regulations? Are you exempt those"normal" peacetime regulations when on a NATO exercise, or national exercise, Operation Homebase?
What exactly does "being on Ops" mean?
Are the "peacetime", "normal" regulations only applicable to training flights? If that is the case when is it decided that your training is complete? Are you, or your masters able to provide documentation to show that your training is complete to the required standard?
Once your training is complete what new set of regulations do you work to?
I won't go on, but you get my point.
The reality is that you need more specific guidance to cover your backs when the caw caw hits the fan. It's all very well pressing on regardless, finest traditions of the Service, Unit, Squadron etc but there may come the time when Sqn Ldr /Flt Lt /Fg Off Bloggs is called to account for " actions at variance with the published regulations" and finds that the top cover / back up has mysteriously vanished.