NEWS IN BRIEF
EUROPE
09 May 08. Iraq: OP TELIC. From 1 Jan 06 to 15 Apr 08, 312 personnel were categorised as Wounded in Action and 1,424 were aeromedically evacuated. (MoD, 9 May 08.) From 1 to 15 Apr 08, the figures were nil and 22. 83% of OP TELIC airbridge flights in the past 12 months have been on time or within one hour of the scheduled time of arrival. (Ministerial Answer (MA), 6 May 08.)
HMS CHATHAM has assumed responsibility for maritime security duties from HMS CAMPBELTOWN in the Northern Arabian Gulf. HMS CAMPBELTOWN is due back in the UK on 23 May 08. (MoD, 6 May 08.)
As at April 2008, about 7% of the 200 UK medical personnel in Iraq were Reservists. (MA, 6 May 08.)
The MoD has no active contracts with Private Military or Security Companies in Iraq. (MA, 6 May 08.)
The Iraq Static Covert Surveillance (SCS) Course was first delivered in January 2005 and, as at 1 May 08, 630 soldiers had completed this training. (WA, 7 May 08.)
28 Service personnel have been court-martialled for offences relating to the treatment of civilians and prisoners in Iraq (but there have been no such offences in Afghanistan). (WA, 7 May 08.)
Comment: During the Defence Debate [Item 4] the Defence Secretary said that the Iraqi Security Forces had concluded their sector-by-sector clearance of Basrah City and that “the grip of the militias has been broken”. There are now “early but encouraging signs that life in Basrah is returning to normal”.(Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0819, 12 May 08)
09 May 08. Afghanistan: OP HERRICK. From 1 Jan 06 to 15 Apr 08, 352 personnel were categorised as Wounded in Action and 980 were aeromedically evacuated. (MoD, 9 May 08.) From 1 to 15 Apr 08, the figures were five and 26.
72% of OP HERRICK airbridge flights in the past 12 months have been on time or within one hour of the scheduled time of arrival. (MA, 6 May 08.)
“We do not routinely collate data on the number of insurgents killed by UK Forces in Afghanistan.” (Defence Secretary, 6 May 08.)
As at April 2008, about 31% of the 200 UK medical personnel in Afghanistan were Reservists. (MA, 6 May 08.)
UK Forces from 16 Air Assault Brigade joined US Marines from 24 MEU in disrupting Taliban activity in the Garmsir area. (MoD, 7 May 08.)
The Afghanistan SCS Course was first delivered in March 2007 and will have been completed by 305 soldiers by 31 Mar 09. (WA, 7 May 08.)
“….there remains a need for more training and mentoring personnel; combat forces in the South and East….and helicopters to meet the Combined Joint Statement of Requirements for Afghanistan.” (Defence Secretary, 8 May 08.)
Comment: During the Defence Debate [Item 4] an Opposition Member of Parliament said that he was “shocked” to learn that 90,000 bottles of water were flown into Afghanistan every week for ISAF troops. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0819, 12 May 08)
07 May 08. Kosovo: Operational Reserve Force (ORF) Deployment. The Armed Forces’ Minister confirmed (7 May 08) that the UK’s commitment to the NATO ORF (i.e. 2nd Bn The Rifles) would “be present in Kosovo and ready to begin its mission no later than 31 May 08”. The Defence Secretary subsequently (8 May 08) said that the cost of the deployment was estimated at around £6m and that it was to be met in full from the Reserve. All heavy equipment, such as vehicles, had been pre-positioned (or ‘forward-based’) and the personnel would be deploying by civilian charter aircraft.
Comment: The MoD received a formal request from NATO for the deployment of the ORF on 7 Apr 08, which was agreed during the Cabinet meeting on 29 Apr 08 and a formal reply made to NATO on 2 May 08.
The ORF deployment was the subject of a number of House of Commons Written Answers on 7 May 08 and was discussed in detail by the Defence Secretary during the Defence Debate [Item 4]. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0819, 12 May 08)
16 May 108. Gordon Brown has agreed to let the cash-strapped Ministry of Defence free