Paras to be grounded due to wrong chutes
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Paras to be grounded due to wrong chutes
Ahh.... the Daily Fail, by the image used they are planning to drop them in boxes... 
British Army's Parachute Regiment is set to be grounded by the wrong type of parachute (msn.com)
The British Army’s elite Parachute Regiment is set to be grounded because the introduction of new parachutes was delayed by Whitehall bungling, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.
The famous Red Berets are expected to suspend combat parachute jumps and training for new paratroopers next year in an embarrassing blow to one of the Army’s most formidable units.
The move comes as the Parachute Regiment prepares to celebrate its 80th anniversary and is understood to have infuriated senior officers.
Based in Colchester, Essex, the Paras are the only force in the world to use the so-called Low Level Parachute (LLP), which allows them to jump at just 450ft from the C-130J Hercules aircraft.
The famous Red Berets are expected to suspend combat parachute jumps and training for new paratroopers next year in an embarrassing blow to one of the Army’s most formidable units.
The move comes as the Parachute Regiment prepares to celebrate its 80th anniversary and is understood to have infuriated senior officers.
Based in Colchester, Essex, the Paras are the only force in the world to use the so-called Low Level Parachute (LLP), which allows them to jump at just 450ft from the C-130J Hercules aircraft.
Does it matter if they haven't got the parachutes to jump out of the C-130J that the RAF will be getting rid of at the same time. No Herc, No Parachute, No Problem
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
The last time the UK did a large combat para drop was at Suez in 1956.
I think the capability gap till the new chutes arrive might be considered acceptable.
I think the capability gap till the new chutes arrive might be considered acceptable.
I hold no brief for sensational press media and have very low expectations of accuracy.
However, much of the media [including broadcasting and the posh papers] are to a degree self-censoring.
If there is a grain of truth in sensational aviation/ military stories [probably leaked by a middle-ranking serving member] then I for one would wish to know of it.
Always provided that such leaks did not advantage potential enemies ............. a difficult proviso.
A free press is a most precious jewel in a democracy. Don't shoot the messenger!
However, much of the media [including broadcasting and the posh papers] are to a degree self-censoring.
If there is a grain of truth in sensational aviation/ military stories [probably leaked by a middle-ranking serving member] then I for one would wish to know of it.
Always provided that such leaks did not advantage potential enemies ............. a difficult proviso.
A free press is a most precious jewel in a democracy. Don't shoot the messenger!
The famous Red Berets are expected to suspend combat parachute jumps
Buy American....I am sure the US Army can spare enough to outfit the British Paras.
There is a small unite near me that does a bit of jumping now and then.....the 82nd Airborne Division, the Army Special Forces, and the Army Rangers along with other lesser publicized groups.
There is a small unite near me that does a bit of jumping now and then.....the 82nd Airborne Division, the Army Special Forces, and the Army Rangers along with other lesser publicized groups.
Buy American....I am sure the US Army can spare enough to outfit the British Paras.
There is a small unite near me that does a bit of jumping now and then.....the 82nd Airborne Division, the Army Special Forces, and the Army Rangers along with other lesser publicized groups.
There is a small unite near me that does a bit of jumping now and then.....the 82nd Airborne Division, the Army Special Forces, and the Army Rangers along with other lesser publicized groups.
What is the point of jumping from 450 feet ............ it might reduce vulnerability of the troops by reducing flash to bang, but it seems very unhealthy for the "delivery platform".
I suppose it means you can approach using all available cover and provided you pick an undefended drop zone ...
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Having completed the meat bomb course, I for one would have wanted to have spend as little time floating helplessly in the sky as I could, had I ever had to use the training for 'real'.
Weighing up the options, which would you rather take your chances with? Low height with a suitable chute or more chance of getting brassed up by a disgruntled local?
(In a world where every man, woman, child and their dog can seemingly get hold of an AK variant.....)
Having completed the meat bomb course, I for one would have wanted to have spend as little time floating helplessly in the sky as I could, had I ever had to use the training for 'real'.
Weighing up the options, which would you rather take your chances with? Low height with a suitable chute or more chance of getting brassed up by a disgruntled local?
Having completed the meat bomb course, I for one would have wanted to have spend as little time floating helplessly in the sky as I could, had I ever had to use the training for 'real'.
Weighing up the options, which would you rather take your chances with? Low height with a suitable chute or more chance of getting brassed up by a disgruntled local?
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The C130 of various variants seems to have been quite capable, if other platforms aren't then that is an issue of purchasing surely?
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
I think the point is that most para drop roles have taken by helo insertion at short range and increasingly by V-22 and then FVL.
The scenarios where it would be safe to use C-130 or Aa-400M to perform insertion at below 500ft without risk of catastrophic risk of loss of £400M airframes and 100+ troops being vanishingly small.
Particularly at a time when the army is increasingly looking at ranger type forces used, and inserted, in packet sized units.
The scenarios where it would be safe to use C-130 or Aa-400M to perform insertion at below 500ft without risk of catastrophic risk of loss of £400M airframes and 100+ troops being vanishingly small.
Particularly at a time when the army is increasingly looking at ranger type forces used, and inserted, in packet sized units.
I think the point is that most para drop roles have taken by helo insertion at short range and increasingly by V-22 and then FVL.
The scenarios where it would be safe to use C-130 or Aa-400M to perform insertion at below 500ft without risk of catastrophic risk of loss of £400M airframes and 100+ troops being vanishingly small.
Particularly at a time when the army is increasingly looking at ranger type forces used, and inserted, in packet sized units.
The scenarios where it would be safe to use C-130 or Aa-400M to perform insertion at below 500ft without risk of catastrophic risk of loss of £400M airframes and 100+ troops being vanishingly small.
Particularly at a time when the army is increasingly looking at ranger type forces used, and inserted, in packet sized units.
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I think the point is that most para drop roles have taken by helo insertion at short range and increasingly by V-22 and then FVL.
The scenarios where it would be safe to use C-130 or Aa-400M to perform insertion at below 500ft without risk of catastrophic risk of loss of £400M airframes and 100+ troops being vanishingly small.
Particularly at a time when the army is increasingly looking at ranger type forces used, and inserted, in packet sized units.
The scenarios where it would be safe to use C-130 or Aa-400M to perform insertion at below 500ft without risk of catastrophic risk of loss of £400M airframes and 100+ troops being vanishingly small.
Particularly at a time when the army is increasingly looking at ranger type forces used, and inserted, in packet sized units.
I fully agree that, other than for very specific small unit requirements, the use of large scale parachute forces is pretty much dead.
