French Air Strikes Over Mali
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West Coast,
If the French do not engage you allow the enemy more time to prepare. Offensive tactics keep the enemy of their feet; particulalry when the enemy are extremely mobile, fluid and well armed. The enemy went in to nodal areas (sorry, conurbations). The more time you allow them within a conubation the more difficult it is to take. So, do you hang off until you have loads of troops who have to deal with IED'd prepared buildings and take many losses? The other option is to continue the offensive knowing you might lose troops, but probably a lot less than the original scenario.
By delaying the offensive you also allow the enemy to develop strategy and tactics, develop positions, bring troops in to theatre and much more. The enemy can bring more troops to theatre than the French for any given period of time. The enemy could also decide to disapear, only to reappear when the french have gone.
The above are only a few reasons why the French are carrying out their task as they are.
I have an extremely high opinion of the French top level troops. They are extremely competent, and experienced - particulalry in places such as Africa.
I generically say that until the proper folks and the proper gucci is in place that they shouldn't engage. I recognize that situations, especially defensive ones don't always permit time, but if the mission is offensive (which it sounds like from news reports) after force protection is complete, THEN you push the offensive.
By delaying the offensive you also allow the enemy to develop strategy and tactics, develop positions, bring troops in to theatre and much more. The enemy can bring more troops to theatre than the French for any given period of time. The enemy could also decide to disapear, only to reappear when the french have gone.
The above are only a few reasons why the French are carrying out their task as they are.
I have an extremely high opinion of the French top level troops. They are extremely competent, and experienced - particulalry in places such as Africa.
Last edited by hval; 17th Jan 2013 at 14:31.
Not much information from Mali today...
This maybe the reason:
France and Mali urged to let journalists into war zones - Reporters Without Borders
France and Mali urged to let journalists into war zones - Reporters Without Borders
Were I the French commander, I'd tell the Journos to piss off until I was good and ready to put up with them.
A bit busy at the moment.
Also, each journo is yet another hostage waiting to feed the AQIM coffers.
However, I am not the French commander. We shall see how this works out.
A bit busy at the moment.
Also, each journo is yet another hostage waiting to feed the AQIM coffers.
However, I am not the French commander. We shall see how this works out.
Speaking purely as a civilian armchair general - interesting the international media commentary in the last few hours about the "stunning ability" of the Masked Brigade and Battlion of Blood to operate in the remote desert and attack the Statoil Tigantourine gas facility in South Eastern Algeria.
Assuming this is linked with Mali - once again - hyping up the ability of the militants I suspect.
Regardless of the number of hardened Touareg fighters that may have switched sides, do we think AQ may have badly mis-calculated here in trying to drive a Sahara uprising?
In the French, they're facing a ruthlessly pragmatic opponent, well versed in realpolitik.
There's no US squeamishness in Paris - even under a socialist President.
Specifically, if Reinhardt is right, among other French units AQ are also up against The Legion, who have over a century of desert experience in their own spiritual homeland of Algeria, as well as the Troupes de Marine.
France has it's own IMINT platform in Helios 2 - multi-spectral resolution down to 30cm from orbit.
Wouldn't be surprised if a Rubis or Triomphant class boat was lurking off Mali right now ready to deliver any fire support needed.
And at the end of the day (being an aviation forum) there are also your French colleagues who have shown in Tchad that they can fly lower than a snake's belly (not that they'd do that during a ground support mission).
Will be intriguing to see this play out.
La mission est sacrée, tu l'exécutes jusqu'au bout et si besoin, en opérations, au péril de ta vie.
Assuming this is linked with Mali - once again - hyping up the ability of the militants I suspect.
Regardless of the number of hardened Touareg fighters that may have switched sides, do we think AQ may have badly mis-calculated here in trying to drive a Sahara uprising?
In the French, they're facing a ruthlessly pragmatic opponent, well versed in realpolitik.
There's no US squeamishness in Paris - even under a socialist President.
Specifically, if Reinhardt is right, among other French units AQ are also up against The Legion, who have over a century of desert experience in their own spiritual homeland of Algeria, as well as the Troupes de Marine.
France has it's own IMINT platform in Helios 2 - multi-spectral resolution down to 30cm from orbit.
Wouldn't be surprised if a Rubis or Triomphant class boat was lurking off Mali right now ready to deliver any fire support needed.
And at the end of the day (being an aviation forum) there are also your French colleagues who have shown in Tchad that they can fly lower than a snake's belly (not that they'd do that during a ground support mission).
Will be intriguing to see this play out.
La mission est sacrée, tu l'exécutes jusqu'au bout et si besoin, en opérations, au péril de ta vie.
Last edited by tartare; 18th Jan 2013 at 00:00.
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Cheers.
"To those that think your "white flag" and similar jokes are amusing...."
And yes. Any journo trying his luck should be told firmly «Va te faire foutre!»
AZR - I had assumed that they would carry some sort of long range cruise missile aka Tomahawk (which has a published 1300 nm range - more than enough to hold all of Northern Mali at threat through a Mauritanian overflight).
I see MdCN will only be deployed on the Barracuda class boats by 2017, so stand corrected.
I see MdCN will only be deployed on the Barracuda class boats by 2017, so stand corrected.
Last edited by tartare; 18th Jan 2013 at 21:44.
Wouldn't be surprised if a Rubis or Triomphant class boat was lurking off Mali right now
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OK tartare 
I'm also in the mood to say that, even with cruise missiles equipped subs, France would not have used them in Mali. Indeed, France has cruise missiles (SCALP, or Storm Shadow in anglo-saxon terms) to be used by aircrafts (M2000D, Rafale) but did not use them.
In fact, I believe even US (or UK), who have a tendency to be prolific with the "battlefield prep" with cruise missile would not have done so here.
A cruise missile is an expensive weapon, to be used when needed:
- high profile target (not that much in Mali... if any...)
- no way to do otherwise (no way to "simply" send a bomber) e.g. due to SAMs (not a factor in Mali)
Cheers
AZR
I'm also in the mood to say that, even with cruise missiles equipped subs, France would not have used them in Mali. Indeed, France has cruise missiles (SCALP, or Storm Shadow in anglo-saxon terms) to be used by aircrafts (M2000D, Rafale) but did not use them.
In fact, I believe even US (or UK), who have a tendency to be prolific with the "battlefield prep" with cruise missile would not have done so here.
A cruise missile is an expensive weapon, to be used when needed:
- high profile target (not that much in Mali... if any...)
- no way to do otherwise (no way to "simply" send a bomber) e.g. due to SAMs (not a factor in Mali)
Cheers
AZR
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As above, SCALP is just an expensive 'stealthy' method of delivery for a 1000lb bomb in a high threat environment. Would be a total waste of money, concrete blocks would take out slims, no need to go overboard.
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the insurgents have been able to operate in an environment without any air threat - now they have to adapt quickly - means scattering their forces, moving by night in small numbers etc etc - makes it much easier for the Mali Govt forces - just a few air strikes a day will keep them on the back foot
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It's a pleasure to have the Brits and the Cans performing ancillaries duties as auxiliary forces, supplying French Forces with logistics...
Judging by pictures, and looking at maps, it seems to be a huge operation, involving the whole spectrum of hardware (Mirage F1, 2000, Rafale, transport aircraft, Pumas, Gazelles and Togers helicopters, various APC and SUV, special forces and recces...)
Regarding african nations being on theater, Chadian forces have a reputation of being too much effective (in other words, although being also muslims, they hate those arab islamists, and are famous for not bothering about prisoners, after decades of desert warfare - along with the Frenchies)
Judging by pictures, and looking at maps, it seems to be a huge operation, involving the whole spectrum of hardware (Mirage F1, 2000, Rafale, transport aircraft, Pumas, Gazelles and Togers helicopters, various APC and SUV, special forces and recces...)
Regarding african nations being on theater, Chadian forces have a reputation of being too much effective (in other words, although being also muslims, they hate those arab islamists, and are famous for not bothering about prisoners, after decades of desert warfare - along with the Frenchies)
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It seem the campaign has some success. Although truth is always the first victim in any war..
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/22/wo...tral-mali.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/22/wo...tral-mali.html
Togers helicopters
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AFRICOM confirmed US logistics was now involved in transporting troops and cargo from Istres AB to Bamako, and US assets participated in intelligence gathering.
The US did not confirm the types nor numbers of involved aircrafts [edit] but it seems it's 2x C-17s for the logistic part.
On the same time, a convoy of Tchadian armored vehicles is in Niger, bound to the Malian border. This is part of the deployment of African MISMA.
The US did not confirm the types nor numbers of involved aircrafts [edit] but it seems it's 2x C-17s for the logistic part.
On the same time, a convoy of Tchadian armored vehicles is in Niger, bound to the Malian border. This is part of the deployment of African MISMA.
Last edited by AlphaZuluRomeo; 22nd Jan 2013 at 13:44. Reason: addendum
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Ouch!! French put the boot into NATO and EU.....
Going it Alone
BRUSSELS – A senior French military officer has said France is better off without Nato or EU help to reconquer north Mali. Colonel Michel Goya, a serving officer and an expert at the l’Institut de Recherche Strategique de l’Ecole Militaire in Paris, told EUobserver in an interview on Thursday (24 January): “We have more freedom of action if we do it alone than if we go through Nato procedures. It would be even worse at the EU level. If we do it alone, it’s more efficient in military terms.”
He said Nato operations run into problems because some countries take a back seat.
Going it Alone
BRUSSELS – A senior French military officer has said France is better off without Nato or EU help to reconquer north Mali. Colonel Michel Goya, a serving officer and an expert at the l’Institut de Recherche Strategique de l’Ecole Militaire in Paris, told EUobserver in an interview on Thursday (24 January): “We have more freedom of action if we do it alone than if we go through Nato procedures. It would be even worse at the EU level. If we do it alone, it’s more efficient in military terms.”
He said Nato operations run into problems because some countries take a back seat.
“In Afghanistan, you have some countries who really fight and others who do very little. For example, the German contingent and the Italian contingent don’t have a combat role [to be more fair, the colonel ought to have pointed out that both countries have taken their losses in Afghanistan]. There are many countries who do not want to fight, so working in the coalition is very tough,” he noted.
“In Libya, we were less efficient because we used Nato command structures … If you have to react quickly to events, it’s better to do it at a national or bi-national level,” he said.
He was even more critical of EU “battlegroups.”“In Libya, we were less efficient because we used Nato command structures … If you have to react quickly to events, it’s better to do it at a national or bi-national level,” he said.
France, Germany and Poland on 1 January activated the Weimar Battlegroup – a joint force of 1,700 men which can, on paper, be sent to a hotspot within five to 10 days of the decision being made. “The EU doesn’t know how to wage war. It’s not prepared to launch military operations of this type [Mali],” Goya said.
“Battlegroups are fine if there is no combat"…
“Battlegroups are fine if there is no combat"…