RAF SAR to deploy to Afghanistan
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Aft of Frame 290
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Workload
If we did go would we have to work more than 9 days a month? Besides some of us have business's to run and can't afford to go away for a long time. I have also read on the news that the folks over there don't want us anyway.
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: West Anglia
Age: 54
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by SARowl
Unfortunately for the British Army and RAF fast jet pilots, RAF Seakings will never deploy to a combat theatre. Rescuing bikini clad lovelies from the beach whilst being videoed by the Air Force propaganda dept, has far more PR value than saving our boys in the Middle East. Also no AFC's for rescuing downed airmen in Afghanistan - because that's the job you're supposed to be doing.
That, and the fact that the RN get all the AFCs nowadays...
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Monkey, you are obviously a dirty, filthy boy with a gutter-like imagination.
If, however, the situation you described should occur, please do remember to post the video on here for training purposes
If, however, the situation you described should occur, please do remember to post the video on here for training purposes
NRDK,
Whilst SAR and CSAR may sound very similar, they are worlds apart in operation and require different skill sets and operational capabilities in both the crew and the platform. Furthermore, the Op support needed to carry out CSAR Ops is vast and likely to be out of reach for UK forces.
ALWAYS assume NEVER check
Whilst SAR and CSAR may sound very similar, they are worlds apart in operation and require different skill sets and operational capabilities in both the crew and the platform. Furthermore, the Op support needed to carry out CSAR Ops is vast and likely to be out of reach for UK forces.
ALWAYS assume NEVER check
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
UK CSAR comes in the form of JPR, but it is a 'no cost, double-earmarked capability' for the RAF Merlin Force and the RN Commando Helicopter Force. Why should we be worried about the ability to deploy the 'double-earmarked capability' at a time of huge operational committment..?
Has RAFSAR changed since the '90's? Never had to put combats on for 12 years. (Lucky really; apart from the set I was temporarily loaned while at Cranwell, I was never issued with any others for the whole of my RAF career!!)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: midlands
Age: 59
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Akula, some of what you say might have been true some time ago but, we aint doing it that way anymore. The US has moved subtley away from the 80 mission package for one person - bless you Scott.
Since all this kicked off in Afghanistan in 01 the US has done things differently. This is not the correct place to talk the hows and why's but, having worked for the JRCC co-ordinating CSAR - any SAR crew with a relatively small amount of extra training could do it.
Compressor stall has the UK policy in a nutshell. See not difficult really.
Since all this kicked off in Afghanistan in 01 the US has done things differently. This is not the correct place to talk the hows and why's but, having worked for the JRCC co-ordinating CSAR - any SAR crew with a relatively small amount of extra training could do it.
Compressor stall has the UK policy in a nutshell. See not difficult really.
Join Date: May 2001
Location: uk
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
SARREMF
Sorry to reply to your patronising post but I must enlighten you, you are talking bol
cks. If you feel the need to hint at a level of super secret specialist knowledge at least get it right.
If you knew anything about Afghanistan and Iraq since 2001, you would know this.
A small amount of training relative to what? I'm sure some of the younger, modernising SAR Boys would love to get their mitts on this role, the majority of ones I've met (p ss and biscuits brigade) don't.
Akula- You're spot on.
Sorry to reply to your patronising post but I must enlighten you, you are talking bol
cks. If you feel the need to hint at a level of super secret specialist knowledge at least get it right. If you knew anything about Afghanistan and Iraq since 2001, you would know this.
A small amount of training relative to what? I'm sure some of the younger, modernising SAR Boys would love to get their mitts on this role, the majority of ones I've met (p
ss and biscuits brigade) don't. Akula- You're spot on.
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Away with the Fairies
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
[QUOTE=rudekid] I'm sure some of the younger, modernising SAR Boys would love to get their mitts on this role, the majority of ones I've met (p ss and biscuits brigade) don't.
We all get older (and some get wiser) dear chap. One day, you may be the one who fits the bill, with the tar and feathers you use starting to stick to yourself!!!!
ss and biscuits brigade) don't. We all get older (and some get wiser) dear chap. One day, you may be the one who fits the bill, with the tar and feathers you use starting to stick to yourself!!!!
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: YES
Posts: 779
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Who provides the ground element of CSAR in UK is it the RAF Regt as I've heard some of their officers claim (along with seizing airfields, Defending Airfields, All NBC recce, All force protection, all GBAD, All ground operations)
Dear Des Brown and NRDK, the RAFSAR force would love an opportunity to help but until someone gives us enough aircraft capable of the role then we are a bit stuck. If anyone in Downing St had access to the RCS computer system they would see the apalling serviceability of the RAF Sea King Force and would wonder why anyone would suggest sending them abroad.
May we suggest rounding up all the ex-servicemen who have nothing better to do than slag off a 24-7 operational service, give them an unsuitable aircraft and no training and send them off to help out in Afghanistan - it's bound to save the taxpayer a few quid.
Love and kisses
PS try getting rid of Typhoon and Flynx and buy some more chinooks instead, it's not rocket science.
May we suggest rounding up all the ex-servicemen who have nothing better to do than slag off a 24-7 operational service, give them an unsuitable aircraft and no training and send them off to help out in Afghanistan - it's bound to save the taxpayer a few quid.
Love and kisses
PS try getting rid of Typhoon and Flynx and buy some more chinooks instead, it's not rocket science.
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Scotch Land
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
“May we suggest rounding up all the ex-servicemen who have nothing better to do than slag off a 24-7 operational service, give them an unsuitable aircraft and no training and send them off to help out in Afghanistan - it's bound to save the taxpayer a few quid”.
,you contradict yourself 24-7 operational service?? How can it be when it is always falling over with unserviceable cabs. The Aircraft is capable enough to do the job, not ideal but the help would be welcome I’m sure by the troops and stretched SH. Perhaps civilian maintenance would help? Why perchance should you ‘un-train’ all the ex-servicemen (who probably taught you how to do the job anyway) and send them? You are the current ‘master’ of the trade and it seems only RAF NVG crews are able to do the job…so front up and put yourself up for the task. I believe the plan to ‘privatise’ the SAR UK is the way we will save the taxpayer a lot of money, removing the overburden of the current military service. At least the typhoon and Flynx crews will leave the country and do what is asked of them. Clutching at survival, the RAF SAR element seems determined to put ‘lives’ at risk by ‘controlling’ current missions with a RAF SAR bias…..sending every yellow cab it can to an incident once ‘serviceable’ (the recent glider in Scotland??? I’m surprised the valley cab wasn’t up there on a training mission!). A serviceable MCA aircraft or RN cab perhaps would have been prudent??…. But with the media coup all important this will be the state of play until RCC really do allocate tasking on the best unit able respond and not the best for the RAF!
Gentleman Aviator
I think the trick was missed years ago - probably as an earlier cost-saving measure. Being an old bugger, when Teeters joined there was deployed SAR. OK, we weren't an expeditionary air force per se, but many (relatively) fast and pointed things were stationed or regularly visited overseas locations.
Hence SAR flights or squadrons in the late 60s/early 70s in Hong Kong, Singapore, Aden, Sharjah, Bahrain, Cyprus, Libya (yes, really!), British Honduras etc. In short, where there were RAF fast jets, there were RAF SAR helis.
And we mustn't confuse Combat SAR (which is really an SF role) with Deployable SAR. Professional SAR on the spot is what the FJ jocks deserve. (Yes I know "all SH crews get SAR training" but it's not the same - and I speak as an SH bloke meself). To be bold, might it have made a difference to the ditched Lynx in Bos a few years back??
Should it happen? Very much yes.
Will it happen? Almost certainly not.
Hence SAR flights or squadrons in the late 60s/early 70s in Hong Kong, Singapore, Aden, Sharjah, Bahrain, Cyprus, Libya (yes, really!), British Honduras etc. In short, where there were RAF fast jets, there were RAF SAR helis.
And we mustn't confuse Combat SAR (which is really an SF role) with Deployable SAR. Professional SAR on the spot is what the FJ jocks deserve. (Yes I know "all SH crews get SAR training" but it's not the same - and I speak as an SH bloke meself). To be bold, might it have made a difference to the ditched Lynx in Bos a few years back??
Should it happen? Very much yes.
Will it happen? Almost certainly not.
Hellbound
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Blighty
Posts: 554
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Either give the SAR force a capable aircraft and use it on operations in its war role or civilianise it now. If it has a role use it, if the equipment is sub-standard replace it (and declare the war-role non-effective in the meantime), if neither of those apply give it to the civvies.