Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Replicant on February 06, 2003, 12:43:28 PM
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British Secretary of State for Defence issued this statement today:-
IRAQ: FURTHER CONTINGENCY PREPARATIONS
With permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to make a statement on further contingency preparations in relation to Iraq.
In a statement on 7 January, I announced the deployment of maritime forces including 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines and a substantial naval task force. In a further statement on 20 January, I announced the composition and deployment of land forces involving Headquarters 1 (UK) Armoured Division, 7th Armoured Brigade, 16 Air Assault Brigade and 102 Logistics Brigade. Today, I would like to set out to the House our plans for the deployment of air forces.
As with the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force already maintains a significant presence in the Middle East region, routinely involving around 25 aircraft and 1,000 personnel. For more than a decade, the Royal Air Force has played an important part in patrolling and enforcing the Northern and Southern No-Fly Zones in Iraq, in support of to UN Security Council Resolution 688, in order to provide the Iraqi people with some protection from Saddam Hussein's regime. In carrying out this task, they have on many occasions been attacked by Iraqi forces. I am sure that the House will join me in saluting their courage and professionalism.
As part of our contingency planning over recent months, we have been considering carefully what additional air capabilities might be required in the event of operations against Iraq. The details of this planning will necessarily continue to evolve.
It is in the nature of air forces that they can be deployed over long distances more rapidly than maritime or land forces. But we envisage that in the days and weeks ahead we will increase the Royal Air Force presence in the region to around 100 fixed-wing aircraft supported by around 7,000 personnel, including members of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force.
This will be a balanced and highly capable force, including E3D Sentry aircraft for airborne command and control; Jaguar and Tornado aircraft in the reconnaissance role; VC10 and Tristar air-to-air refuelling aircraft; Hercules transport aircraft ; Tornado F3 aircraft with the newly integrated ASRAAM missile providing an air defence capability; and Tornado GR4 and Harrier GR7 aircraft providing an offensive capability should it be required, including precision-guided weapons. The RAF Regiment will protect the deployed forces.
In addition, the Royal Air Force element of the Joint Helicopter Command will deploy a very substantial proportion of its equipment and personnel, providing helicopter support to other deployed forces. Its contribution will consist of 27 Puma and Chinook helicopters and about 1,100 personnel.
May I also take this opportunity to pay tribute to the work of the Royal Air Force's Air Transport Squadrons who, in addition to operating in the region itself, will be working to maximum capacity in deploying and sustaining forces of all three Services, supplemented as necessary by civilian charter aircraft.
As with the maritime and land forces that we are deploying, these air deployments will provide a balanced and flexible force package, bringing together a wide range of capabilities. I do not intend to discuss the specific tasks that might be undertaken. But it will be obvious to the House that this represents a very substantial contribution by the Royal Air Force to the building of a credible threat of force in support of the policy objectives which I have previously set out for the House.
I have now announced the composition and deployment of forces from all three Services. I recognise that this may tempt some people into speculation about the likelihood or timing of military action. But it is still possible for Saddam Hussein to change his behaviour, co-operate actively with the weapons inspectors, and disarm by peaceful means.
But as my Right Honourable Friend the Foreign Secretary has said, time is running out. The Iraqi regime must decide whether it will comply with its obligations or face the consequences.
In all there will be around 16 ships, 100 aircraft and about 46,000 troops from all UK services.
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Breakdown of what's going from UK
Naval Task Group 2003, which has long been planned to deploy via the Mediterranean and Gulf en route to the Far East for participation in Exercise Flying Fish, has been augmented to provide a significant maritime and amphibious capability. The Task Group comprises:
HMS Ark Royal (aircraft carrier)
HMS Ocean (helicopter carrier)
HMS Liverpool (Type 42 destroyer)
HMS Edinburgh (Type 42 destroyer)
HMS York (Type 42 destroyer)
HMS Marlborough (Type 23 frigate)
HMS Grimsby (mine-hunter)
HMS Ledbury (mine-hunter)
RFA Argus
RFA Sir Tristram
RFA Sir Galahad
RFA Sir Percivale
RFA Fort Victoria
RFA Fort Rosalie
RFA Fort Austin
RFA Orangeleaf
plus a Fleet Submarine
The amphibious force numbers some 4,000 and includes:
HQ 3 Commando Brigade
40 Commando Royal Marines
42 Commando Royal Marines
Helicopter air groups aboard Ark Royal and Ocean
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The land force numbers some 26,000. The primary units being deployed in whole or in part include:
1(UK) Armoured Division:
Headquarters and Signal Regiment
The Queen's Dragoon Guards (reconnaissance)
28 Engineer Regiment
1 General Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
2 Close Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
2nd Battalion, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers
1 Close Support Medical Regiment
5 General Support Medical Regiment
1 Regiment, Royal Military Police
plus elements from various units including:
33 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment
30 Signal Regiment
7th Armoured Brigade:
Headquarters and Signal Squadron:
Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Challenger 2 tanks)
2nd Royal Tank Regiment (Challenger 2 tanks)
1st Battalion The Black Watch (Warrior infantry fighting vehicles)
1st Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (Warrior infantry fighting vehicles)
3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (AS90 self-propelled guns)
32 Armoured Engineer Regiment
plus elements from various units including:
Queen's Royal Lancers (Challenger 2 tanks)
1st Battalion Irish Guards (Warrior infantry fighting vehicles)
1st Battalion The Light Infantry (Warrior infantry fighting vehicles)
26 Regiment Royal Artillery
38 Engineer Regiment
16 Air Assault Brigade:
Headquarters and Signal Squadron
1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment
3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment
7 (Para) Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (105mm Light Guns)
23 Engineer Regiment
Household Cavalry Regiment (1 x armoured reconnaissance squadron)
3rd Regiment Army Air Corps (Lynx & Gazelle helicopters)
7 Air Assault Battalion, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers
13 Air Assault Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
16 Close Support Medical Regiment
102 Logistics Brigade:
Headquarters
36 Engineer Regiment
33 and 34 Field Hospitals
4 General Support Medical Regiment
3rd Battalion, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers
6 Supply Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
7 Transport Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
17 Port & Maritime Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
23 Pioneer Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
24 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
5 Regiment, Royal Military Police
specialist Royal Engineer teams
airfield engineer support units from 12 Engineer Brigade
elements from 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment
elements from additional Royal Logistic Corps Regiments
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The air component being deployed on Operation Telic numbers about 100 aircraft, supported by some 7,000 personnel. Aircraft types involved include:
Sentry AEW1 command & control aircraft
Tornado GR4 bomber/reconnaissance aircraft
Jaguar GR3 attack/reconnaissance aircraft
Harrier GR7 attack aircraft
Tornado F3 air defence aircraft
VC-10 tanker aircraft
Tristar tanker aircraft
Hercules transport aircraft
Chinook helicopters
Puma helicopters
RAF Regiment units will provide ground defence for the force.