My guess on why we opted on a 3,000 mile round trip is not due to the lack of forward base options but because we are so over-stretched and under-resourced that we don't anymore have the AT (air transport/logistic) "tail" to forward deploy any offensive air assets
Or perhaps it was to show that we can respond very quickly to a UNSCR resoloution whilst waiting for the logistics "train" to get to the FOB and, once it is ready, forces will deploy and continue missions from wherever that may be (as was the case in Kosovo). In both GW1 and GW2 there was months of build up to give Sadaam time to "dig in". Perhaps Col G thought he had a few more days with which to beat his citizens into submission before the bombs started knocking on his door.
I think that apart from those 'who needed to know' both the TLAM and StormShadow attacks, in terms of response time to the passing of the resoloution, will have taken most people by surprise (particularly in terms of the speed of the air response - who knows how long the sub has been parked off the Libyan coast
).
The
EDP is reporting at least 3 jets. So thats the 4 sqn cdrs, stn cdr and OC Ops with a seat then....!
