UK Defence Forum

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Avoid movement via Blackhawk or similar...

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If you do training in Iraq or Afghanistan, you take a force protection unit along (just heard that the next one for A-stan will be the 2 Bn Royal Gurkha Rifles... I wonder how that will play with the 4-year rotation through Brunei?).
- of course we don't have the VBCI or similar yet, and sending tanks might be a bit OTT
- but anyway, the same kind of idea should apply for Somalia; in S. Sudan at least there is a front line, so the need is less acute

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arfah wrote:Re: VBCI or similar: We still have plenty of UOR vehicles. Mastiff, ridgeback & wolfhound would probably be ideal

US military wanted to take tanks with them to Somalia; they were vetoed by the politicians (can't remember from what level but the lowest level that can do that is the DefSec).

None of the UORs have any tank-like qualities, to quickly resolve a situation. I was referring to the 40mm firepower; a good refresher might be the footage of British Warriors ploughing through the police compound walls in Basra, to resolve a hostage situation.
- there is no footage from a similar situation in Rwanda, but some may remember how the Belgians ended up. The UN force had nothing "sharp" to hand.

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I'd love a bit of this action. Make a pleasant change from the middle fucking east, just like Sierra Leone did.

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arfah wrote:

downsizer wrote:I'd love a bit of this action. Make a pleasant change from the middle fucking east, just like Sierra Leone did.

Or the Panavia Tornado thread

Back on topic.

Nobody, and I mean nobody, uses 'panavia' in relation to tornado either. Jus' sayin'

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Mind if we use this thread as a general "UK Forces in Africa" thread?

British Army Pens Deal To Extend Training In Kenya

Kenya and Britain have signed an agreement allowing the British Army to continue military training in the East African nation for five more years.

[...]

"The UK is Kenya’s longest-standing defence and security partner, and both our countries want to see the relationship continue and grow," Britain's ambassador to Kenya, Nic Hailey, said in a statement after signing the agreement.

The deal will allow the army to use what has become its biggest foreign training area for live firing drills.

Read More: http://forces.tv/14687088

The Armchair Soldier wrote: has become its biggest foreign training area for live firing drills

I thought BATUS was huge? And seen live firing piccies; maybe they do that part only on dedicated ranges (like 5 km deep etc.)

UK Bolster Training in Nigeria to Help Combat Boko Haram

The new commitment, announced during a visit to see President Buhari and senior government officials, includes:

An intention to more than double the number of British personnel deployed on training tasks in Nigeria in the coming year, with up to 300 expected to provide support during 2016.

The deployment of a specialist team to provide assistance in countering improvised explosive devices, as well as medical training and advice;
A new RAF training team to improve the knowledge and skills of the Nigerian Air Force in airfield defence and counter insurgency.

Read More: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-b ... boko-haram

Peace has broken out in Libya - supposedly.
- the factions have signed for a united gvmnt (meeting in Morocco)

Expect some action on the long stretch of coast between Tobruk and Tripoli as ISIS has built a power base, with 3000-4000 fighters
- when they started in Syria-Libya, the core force was only 6000. who were quickly moved from one point to another, against an unorganised opposition.

So some "help" might be forthcoming, and it will not be just about rendering the people smugglers'' boats inoperative anymore

Was not quite sure where to post this feel free to move it. Take this with a helping of salt

Report: UK, U.S., Russian troops in Libya

Dozens of British, Russia and American troops have arrived in Libya in support for the weak internationally-recognized government in Tobruk, London-based daily Asharq al-Awsat reported.

The daily also said French troops are expected to arrive soon for the same purpose.

The officers and soldiers are currently stationed in Jamal Abdulnasir military base south of Tobruk where the parliament is holding its sessions in the city.

Witnesses in the base, meanwhile, said the number of foreign troops mounts to 500 troops in the past three weeks, but a security official, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said they are just dozens.

However, a small group of Americans have arrived west of Tripoli, where the opposing government is.

On Friday, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford said a decisive military action is needed to halt the spread of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Libya, saying the group wanted to use the north African nation as a platform to coordinate activity across the continent.

A spokesman for Libya’s recognized government in the east told AFP it was requesting a “limited intervention by the international community to "protect oil fields from ISIS attacks.”

Hatem el-Ouraybi said the government wanted “air strikes against ISIS positions” in Libya.

The government has previously called for an air campaign against ISIS, like in Iraq and Syria, but world powers are first waiting for rival sides to endorse the unity administration.

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/mi ... Libya.html

http://www.debka.com/article/25183/US-R ... ainst-ISIS

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/23/world ... .html?_r=0

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Another small deployment into Africa:

UK Military Personnel Train Tunisian Forces

UK military personnel are providing mobile patrolling and surveillance training in Tunisia, the Defence Secretary has announced.

A Short Term Training Team of around 20 troops deployed earlier this month to train Tunisian forces responsible for countering illegal cross-border movement from Libya.

The training, being delivered by 4th Infantry Brigade, involves both classroom and practical exercises, that will assist the Tunisians to better guard their land borders.

Read More: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-m ... ian-forces

South Sudan: Deployment:Written question - 28833

Asked by Mr Kevan Jones(North Durham)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many armed forces personnel are expected to be deployed in support of the UN and African Union missions to South Sudan.

Somalia: Deployment:Written question - 28834

Asked by Mr Kevan Jones(North Durham)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many armed forces personnel are expected to be deployed in support of the UN and African Union missions to Somalia.

Answered by: Penny Mordaunt

The UK is preparing to deploy approximately 300 troops to the UN mission in South Sudan, focussed on providing vital engineering support. Up to 70 troops will also deploy to Somalia, as part of UN support for the African Union force building stability in the country and countering the threat posed by the terrorist group al-Shabaab.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publi ... -29/28833/
http://www.parliament.uk/business/publi ... -29/28834/

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