Airborne drop by Paras planned to reinforce in Afghanistan
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Airborne drop by Paras planned to reinforce in Afghanistan
Even with the assumption that ground movement in theatre has its problems, what is the real benefit here of dropping troops in? Surely the logistics of supplying enough suitable airframes (the report says C-130 unserviceabilities prevented it happening before), securing the DZ's, the numbers of drop casualties, and ultimately joining the deployed troops up with the existing lines of logistics make this a risky enterprise.
It will definitely be a good photo oportunity for "force projection" and help all those blue badge of courage believers to reinforce why there even is a para deployable role for the Army, but this doesn't leap out as an obvious way to reduce our overstretch or clarify our muddled military objectives in Afghanistan.
Is this being driven by Des Browne or some ex-Aldershot General?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...438003,00.html
It will definitely be a good photo oportunity for "force projection" and help all those blue badge of courage believers to reinforce why there even is a para deployable role for the Army, but this doesn't leap out as an obvious way to reduce our overstretch or clarify our muddled military objectives in Afghanistan.
Is this being driven by Des Browne or some ex-Aldershot General?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...438003,00.html
"The process — strategic long-range parachute insertion — involves the aircraft being refuelled in mid-air."
And in just what sort of condition would the poor old paras be after several hours of a 'long-range insertion' involving AAR? Fatigued by the racket in the back of a C-130 and sick as parrots after AAR, they would hardly be up to an extended operation in a hostile area.
And how will they get back again?
The idea is frankly barking. Added to which, the reliability of stone age Mk 17 HDUs to refuel C-130s from jet tankers has always been poor. Is it any better now?
Good luck to anyone involved in this folly, should it ever be ordered.
And in just what sort of condition would the poor old paras be after several hours of a 'long-range insertion' involving AAR? Fatigued by the racket in the back of a C-130 and sick as parrots after AAR, they would hardly be up to an extended operation in a hostile area.
And how will they get back again?
The idea is frankly barking. Added to which, the reliability of stone age Mk 17 HDUs to refuel C-130s from jet tankers has always been poor. Is it any better now?
Good luck to anyone involved in this folly, should it ever be ordered.
I think the article quite nicely sums up the state of the armed forces....
and
and
and
and
and
and good ol' Tony claims the forces aren't overstretched!! 
Paratroopers were expecting to jump into action in Afghanistan earlier this year.... Parachutes and the RAF dispatchers were sent to Afghanistan ahead of the jumps but there were not enough serviceable C-130s to proceed
Plans to dispatch paratroopers direct to Afghanistan from the UK to reinforce units already there is further evidence of lack of available ground troops
Lieutenant-General David Richards, .... was originally promised a battalion of British paratroopers .... But commitments in Iraq meant there were not enough spare infantry available
Senior commanders have admitted they do not have enough troops to mount operations at current levels in both Iraq and Afghanistan
General Sir Richard Dannatt, ... said last month that British troops needed to get out of Iraq “some time soon” to concentrate on Afghanistan.
The National Audit Office said last week the forces were more than 5,000 men short.
Last edited by Professor Plum; 5th Nov 2006 at 13:20. Reason: Crap at compootas
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I wasn't aware civvy charter aircraft were cleared for para drops. 
I think Michael Smith of The Times has got carried away here.
With 600 paras on 12 hour standby, we would presumably need these 6 (or 7?) Hercs on standby as well...
With refuel probes fitted...
And AAR Qualified crews on standby...
Once again, I wake up to find my arsehole has healed up.
I think Michael Smith of The Times has got carried away here.
With 600 paras on 12 hour standby, we would presumably need these 6 (or 7?) Hercs on standby as well...
With refuel probes fitted...
And AAR Qualified crews on standby...
Once again, I wake up to find my arsehole has healed up.
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The Paras always have some sort of plan kicking around which justifies keeping so many of them (expensively) trained up and ready to go, but since Suez only very small groups have been dropped operationally. The simple reason is that opposed, mass parachute drops in an environment where every man and his dog has a trusty AK47 and the terrain seems to be made of cracks would produce casualty figures unacceptable to a modern government.
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Ah........I see.... It was the unserviceability of the C130s that stopped this plan going ahead.
I'd been under the impression that it was because said plan was, in fact, bollocks.....
I'd been under the impression that it was because said plan was, in fact, bollocks.....
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And in just what sort of condition would the poor old paras be after several hours of a 'long-range insertion' involving AAR?
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I don't think JPA would be able to cope with them arriving in theatre this way. They won't get their phone cards, medals, LSA or Operational Bonus.
And you're supposed to take your anti-malarials for two weeks before deployment.
And they might land in a burning poppy field.
Christ, I'm funny.
They won't get their phone cards, medals, LSA or Operational Bonus.And you're supposed to take your anti-malarials for two weeks before deployment.
And they might land in a burning poppy field.
Christ, I'm funny.
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In the early 80s we had the entire regt on one BA 747. We were going a week early (as in the opex, supposedly) into Hanover to collect our pre-positioned kit and fan out along the ex IGB for the full-on Ivan coming West scenario. The CO seemed to think it was a first.
Didn't see any rigging for static lines - but perhaps Q was still working on it.
Hosties seemed to appreciate the levels of testosterone - a bit more exciting than the bored businessmen and screaming babies on your typical LH route.
Didn't see any rigging for static lines - but perhaps Q was still working on it.
Hosties seemed to appreciate the levels of testosterone - a bit more exciting than the bored businessmen and screaming babies on your typical LH route.
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C130 Aar
Hello All,
Back from a long trip away. Has the J (damned fine kite it is) been fitted with a probe over my enforced holiday or have Marshalls delivered some shiny (ish ) new K's.
Takes me back to Kosovo in '99 - almost !!
LFOGOOTFW!
Airborne!!
ISITD
Back from a long trip away. Has the J (damned fine kite it is) been fitted with a probe over my enforced holiday or have Marshalls delivered some shiny (ish ) new K's.
Takes me back to Kosovo in '99 - almost !!
LFOGOOTFW!
Airborne!!
ISITD
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Think how many of those horrible butty boxes it would take... there'd be no room for any kit!
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Remember the big airdrop by the US Airborne over Egypt pre GW1? I believe they flew from Stateside to jump out. I wonder how they fared when they landed and no enemy fire.
That's nearly a 100
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Aha!
I wondered how long it would be before someone in 16AAB dusted off the Op Order for OPERATION CERTAIN DEATH!
Of course, this plan sounds perfectly feasible.......except for the slight problem of finding enough serviceable and suitably protected ac!
That is even before you consider the logistics of finding enough qualified and current crews to formate and tank from the UK (or even from Al-You-Died/Basra, for that matter) and whom aren't busy doing other work for 'other people'.
This is a total non starter, I suspect, so don't get yourselves into lather. Unfortunately, all the logic in the world will not stop some half-crazed para-type making a name for himself and creating gawd knows how much extra work at PJHQ, HQ STC, HQ 2 Gp and LYE! Good luck to all.
Flip
I wondered how long it would be before someone in 16AAB dusted off the Op Order for OPERATION CERTAIN DEATH!
Of course, this plan sounds perfectly feasible.......except for the slight problem of finding enough serviceable and suitably protected ac!
That is even before you consider the logistics of finding enough qualified and current crews to formate and tank from the UK (or even from Al-You-Died/Basra, for that matter) and whom aren't busy doing other work for 'other people'.
This is a total non starter, I suspect, so don't get yourselves into lather. Unfortunately, all the logic in the world will not stop some half-crazed para-type making a name for himself and creating gawd knows how much extra work at PJHQ, HQ STC, HQ 2 Gp and LYE! Good luck to all.
Flip