EUROPE
30 Apr 07. Iraq: OP TELIC. A Rifleman (i.e. Private) from 2nd Bn The Rifles was killed by small arms fire in the Al Ashar district of Basrah City on 29 Apr 07. (MoD, 30 Apr 07.) A Royal Signals Major was killed in a road traffic accident in Basrah on 1 May 07. (MoD, 2 May 07.) UK deaths since the start of hostilities thus rose to 147 (six from natural causes, 42 accidentally, six from friendly fire and 93 killed in action). From 1 Jan 06 to 15 Apr 07, 164 personnel were categorised as Wounded in Action and 866 were aeromedically evacuated from Iraq. (MoD, 1 May 07.) Between 1 and 15 Apr 07 the figures were nine and 22.
The Defence Secretary visited Basrah (30 Apr/1 May 07) as 19 Light Brigade prepared to hand over to 1 Mechanised Brigade. (MoD, 30 Apr & 1 May 07.)
The Court Martial arising from the mistreatment of Iraqi civilians in Basrah during September 2003 ended on 30 Apr 07 with the sentencing of Cpl D Payne, The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment. Cpl Payne was sentenced to be reduced in rank, to be dismissed from the Army and to serve 12 months in prison. (MoD, 30 Apr 07.)
The Chief of the General Staff stated that HRH Prince Henry of Wales would deploy to Iraq with his unit, The Blues and Royals, as planned. (MoD, 30 Apr 07.) [Within the Army, HRH is known as Cornet Wales.]
Comment: The units deploying with 1 Mechanised Brigade in early June 2007, as OP TELIC 10, were published with DNA Issue 07/09 on 26 Feb 07.
The Foreign Secretary said (1 May 07) that the Government did not collate figures for civilian casualties in Iraq. The Iraqi Ministry of the Interior stated that 12,320 civilians had been killed in 2006 whereas the UN claimed that the figure was 34,452. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0718, 07 May 07)
04 May 07. Afghanistan: OP HERRICK. A Guardsman from 1st Bn the Grenadier Guards was killed by small arms fire while manning a checkpoint near Garmsir on 3 May 07. (MoD, 4 May 07.) UK deaths since the start of Operations in November 2000 thus rose to 54 (22 accidentally and 32 killed in action). From 1 Jan 06 to 15 Apr 07, 132 personnel were categorised as Wounded in Action and 367
were aeromedically evacuated from Afghanistan. (MoD, 1 May 07.) Between 1 and 15 Apr 07 the figures were 10 and 15. Command of ISAF Regional Command South passed from Major General T van Loon of the Netherlands to Major General J D Page of the UK on 1 May 07. (ISAF, 1 May 07.) The EU Policing Mission to Afghanistan is due to be launched in June 2007, with the UK contributing about 10% of the 160 personnel. (Foreign Secretary, 1 May 07.) OP SILICON, part of OP ACHILLES, was launched on 30 Apr 07 to stabilise the lower Sangin Valley. Around 1,000 British troops have joined Afghan soldiers for the Operation. (MoD, 2 May 07.)
Comment: Agency reports state that OP ACHILLES involves about 5,500 soldiers from Canada, the Netherlands, the UK and the US and includes some 1,000 Afghans. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0718, 07 May 07)
07 May 07. Typhoon Partners Mull 30-Year Upgrade Plan. The four nations behind the Eurofighter Typhoon program are considering drawing up a joint, 30-year technology-requirements roadmap, according to industry executives. “The four partners have different fleet mix issues, and different economic, military and political drivers which will inform their individual positions. But it could be a very positive step,” one executive said. “Sharing with industry a common planning base is probably a first for an international program of this
sort.” The idea grew out of work by the U.K. Ministry of Defence, which has been studying technology options as it plans through-life capability. Germany, Italy and Spain also are believed to be looking at their long-term Typhoon requirements. “The four partners have not yet pooled their views on this, so we [industry] don’t have the output,” the executive said. “The four nations have been talking for several months, though, and were due to have met