British Overseas Territories - General Discussion

Discuss current, historical or potential future deployments, as well the defence of the UK's overseas interests.
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Caribbean
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British Overseas Territories - General Discussion

Post by Caribbean »

Apologies if there is already a thread for this (Mods, please merge if there is)

Following on from last years hurricanes (and, indeed, Hurricane Ivan, back in 2004), it looks as if the UK is finally putting sme effort into upgrading local capabilities in and around the Caribbean. Following on from the creation of a Cayman Islands Coastguard this year (as yet unequipped) and the purchase of a second, SAR focussed, helicopter for the island (90% local, 10% UK finance), news of the first steps in the creation of a Cayman Islands Regiment (similar to the existing Bermuda Regiment).
https://caymannewsservice.com/2019/11/m ... -military/
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The Armchair Soldier
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Re: British Overseas Territories - General Discussion

Post by The Armchair Soldier »

Topic moved into Deployments and renamed to include “General Discussion” as we already have individual topics for each of the overseas territories.

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Re: British Overseas Territories - General Discussion

Post by ArmChairCivvy »

The Armchair Soldier wrote:renamed to include “General Discussion”
a good move; the header should include "and speculation" so that all the under the radar MoD announcements could be captured, for further discussion
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Re: British Overseas Territories - General Discussion

Post by Caribbean »

Some follow-up on the creation of a Cayman Regiment - looks like it will be a volunteer, reservist unit, with up to 150 personnel (only 5 or 6 full-time), trained for support to the Civil Authorities role (primarily engineering, by the looks of it).

https://caymannewsservice.com/2019/12/g ... -regiment/
Successful candidates will get a place at Sandhurst

The Monserrat Regiment (mentioned in the above report) has been around for more than 200 years, but was largely ceremonial. It sounds as if it is in the process of building itself up to a modern force again (albeit very small)

https://www.themontserratreporter.com/r ... ss-course/
NB Above training carried out at BATUS

Add in the new Coast Guards being set up in various BOTs, the provision of additional helicopters (both by local joint purchases and via a larger contingent on RFA Argus) and the pre-positioning of troops (for planning and preparation) and it looks as if the UK has accepted that it both needs to provide more direct assistance as well as bolster local resilience.
https://caymannewsservice.com/2020/04/u ... to-cayman/
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Re: British Overseas Territories - General Discussion

Post by Caribbean »

Hurricane support in the midst of a pandemic! RFA Argus in Cayman
https://caymannewsservice.com/2020/05/n ... ers-recce/

Edit: Forgot to add that the UK has also sent a 9-person Army/MOD team to Cayman and a further 29 RM to TCI (to assist a 20-strong team already there), to assist with pre-hurricane season/ COVID planning and logistics. Along with test kits and ventilators.

Cue lots of amusing conspiracy theories about the UK's intentions!
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Re: British Overseas Territories - General Discussion

Post by Caribbean »

More Caribbean activity, teaming up withthe French
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/rfa-arg ... carribean/
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Re: British Overseas Territories - General Discussion

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Caribbean
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Re: British Overseas Territories - General Discussion

Post by Caribbean »

Looks like the enhanced helicopter contingent sent to the Caribbean on RFA Argus is being put to good use! Standing in for the RCIPS helicopters in the Cayman Islands
https://caymannewsservice.com/2020/05/r ... -choppers/
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Re: British Overseas Territories - General Discussion

Post by Repulse »

Caribbean wrote:Looks like the enhanced helicopter contingent sent to the Caribbean on RFA Argus is being put to good use! Standing in for the RCIPS helicopters in the Cayman Islands
https://caymannewsservice.com/2020/05/r ... -choppers/
This is why Argus should be replaced by another Aviation Support Ship.
”We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow." - Lord Palmerston

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Re: British Overseas Territories - General Discussion

Post by dmereifield »

Caribbean wrote:Looks like the enhanced helicopter contingent sent to the Caribbean on RFA Argus is being put to good use! Standing in for the RCIPS helicopters in the Cayman Islands
https://caymannewsservice.com/2020/05/r ... -choppers/
Blimey, 3 Merlin and 1 Wildcat

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Re: British Overseas Territories - General Discussion

Post by Caribbean »

Repulse wrote:This is why Argus should be replaced by another Aviation Support Ship.
Agreed. This is a very valuable multi-role ship. The only way of improving it would be a couple of davit-launched ramped workboats (capable of handling a light vehicle/ possibly a TEU container) and better container capacity & handling (factors to consider for its replacement)
dmereifield wrote:Blimey, 3 Merlin and 1 Wildcat
Quite a decent effort, I would say
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Re: British Overseas Territories - General Discussion

Post by Caribbean »

Further to the article I posted above, relating to the RN and MN co-operating in the Caribbean for their Covid-19/ Hurricane response, it looks as if the Dutch also stepped up their commitment by dispatching HNLMS Karel Doorman in mid-April (with two Eurocopter AS532 Cougars), as part of the co-ordinated effort. The Dutch also have a (much) smaller logistics/ support vessel in the region, HNLMS Pelikaan (though I believe she's in refit at the moment), as well as the Holland-class HNLMS Zeeland. All will be based in Curacao.
https://www.navaltoday.com/2020/04/27/c ... caribbean/
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Re: British Overseas Territories - General Discussion

Post by SW1 »

Considering our overseas territories interesting to consider our presence

https://www.forbes.com/sites/hisutton/2 ... ubmarines/

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Re: British Overseas Territories - General Discussion

Post by Caribbean »

It seems that the new Coastguard are starting to do their bit.
https://caymannewsservice.com/2020/06/w ... -from-sea/

"Cayman Islands Coast Guard officers recovered 750lbs of ganja from the sea some 14 miles off the coast of Grand Cayman yesterday, after crews from the new agency spotted a suspicious vessel while on border patrol. Two West Bay men, aged 33 and 36, have now been charged with possession and importation of ganja and have been remanded in custody."

In the past, they were the part of the Police force where careers went to die. They got very little cash and zero promotion prospects. Now they are a separate force, with their own budget and the start of a career path for recruits. It will be interesting to see how they develop
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Re: British Overseas Territories - General Discussion

Post by SKB »

Image
Image
Archer class HMS Pursuer (P273) and HMS Dasher (P280) along with Scimitar class HMS Scimitar (P284) and HMS Sabre (P285).

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Re: British Overseas Territories - General Discussion

Post by SKB »

Pitcairn Islands

(Tony Probst) 18th December 2018
Exploring Pitcairn by drone

Lets go on the first round the island drone flight on Pitcairn Island in the South Pacific. Home of the descendants of the mutineers of HMS Bounty.

By Drone you will visit places on Pitcairn Island like Christians Cave, The Gods, Gudgeon Cave, St Paul's Pool, Ship Landing Point, Bounty Bay and go under water and visit the wreck of the HMS Bounty. We will also see a Humpback whale with her one week old baby.

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Re: British Overseas Territories - General Discussion

Post by Caribbean »

Despite having been active for a while (and having already made a decent drugs bust), the Cayman Islands Coastguard is only just being formally recognised
https://caymannewsservice.com/2021/09/b ... -official/

Clearly the Local Assembly is running on "Cayman Time" - a natural phenomena whereby time runs at one tenth the speed of any other country. Quite relaxing, really

The Cayman Regiment is also starting to take shape - Senior officers recruited and in place, junior officers training at Sandhurst, NCOs training with the Bermuda Regiment, 40-50 personnel now (the target is around 150, I believe), with two Unimogs, two MAN 6x6 trucks, a back-hoe and most importantly, a field kitchen!
The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.
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Re: British Overseas Territories - General Discussion

Post by Caribbean »

The Cayman Regiment has just completed its third intake and now numbers 110 personnel

https://caymannewsservice.com/2022/08/o ... -regiment/

Seems to be developing nicely!
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The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.
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