That's because it didn't take a rocket scientist to see that hovering over boats/cliffs/people in the water in a non-tactical environment didn't include most of the skill sets required for a behind-enemy-lines, tactical recovery.
SAR and CSAR/JPR are poles apart and most people in SAR knew that - it was only to try and please the 'if it ain't green, it ain't military' diehards that it was even suggested as a way to try and protect SAR.
In 18 months we will say farewell to what has been an outstanding and world-leading capability within the UK military - a sad and pointless loss permitted by the same people who allowed the Navy to lose its aircraft carriers
