NEWS IN BRIEF
EUROPE
03 Oct 08. Iraq: OP TELIC. A parade was held at Bourlon Barracks, Catterick, on 3 Oct 08 to mark the return of the 4th Mechanised Brigade from Iraq. The parade also commemorated the Brigade’s move from Germany to Catterick Garrison. A future deployment for the Brigade, to either Iraq or Afghanistan, is anticipated. (MoD, 6 Oct 08.)
More than 800 UK personnel are now embedded with the Iraqi Army. (Ministerial Answer (MA), 6 Oct 08.)
From April 2006 to August 2008 inclusive, 16 military patients have had either a traumatic or a surgical amputation. (WA, 7 Oct 08.)
Government Departments continue to ensure that Iraqi citizens who have assisted British Forces are moved to safety as quickly as possible. (WA, 7 Oct 08.)
Comment: The MoD stressed that there had been no freeze on recruiting local staff in Iraq, contrary to the impression given by an article in ‘The Times’ (10 Oct 08.) (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 08/40, 13 Oct 08) (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 08/40, 13 Oct 08)
06 Oct 08. Afghanistan: OP HERRICK. The numbers of Service personnel recorded as very seriously/seriously injured in Afghanistan are: 2002- one; 2003 – one; 2004 – six; 2005 – two; 2006 – 31; 2007 – 63 and 2008 to 15 Sep – 44. (MA, 6 Oct 08.)
No confirmed UK nationals have been detained by UK Forces as part of OP HERRICK. (MA, 6 Oct 08.)
“UK Force levels remain at around 8,000 and continue to improve security in Helmand.” (MA, 6 Oct 08.)
From April 2006 to August 2008 inclusive, 34 military patients have had either a traumatic or a surgical amputation. (WA, 7 Oct 08.)
A ceremony was held at HQ Task Force Helmand in Lashkar Gah on 8 Oct 08 to mark the transfer of authority from 16 Air Assault Brigade to 3 Commando Brigade. Brigadier M A P Carleton-Smith handed over command of Task Force Helmand to Brigadier G K Messenger. (MoD, 8 Oct 08.)
The Afghan National Army is to increase from 80,000 to 122,000. (MA, 9 Oct 08.)
The last 100 soldiers from the Royal Irish Battle Group returned from Iraq to Clive Barracks, Tern Hill in Shropshire on 8 Oct 08. (MoD, 10 Oct 08.)
Royal Marines from 45 Commando “have been familiarising themselves with their new surroundings in the volatile town of Sangin”. (MoD, 10 Oct 08.)
Comment: Brigadier Carleton-Smith’s interview with ‘The Sunday Times’ (5 Oct 08) caused a certain amount of excitement, with endorsement from senior French and US Service Officers. Of Operations in Afghanistan, the Brigadier said: “We’re not going to win this war.. It’s about reducing it to a manageable level of insurgency that’s not a strategic threat and can be managed by the Afghan Army.”. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 08/40, 13 Oct 08) (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 08/40, 13 Oct 08)
07 Oct 08. Armed Forces Act: Implementation Delayed. The Junior Defence Minister announced (7 Oct 08) that the Armed Forces Act 2006 is not now to be implemented until October 2009. When implemented, the Act will allow the MoD to replace the three current Service Discipline Acts and other Armed Forces legislation with a single system of Service law.
Comment: The Armed Forces Act 2006 attempts to ‘tidy up’ the single-Service legislation governing the
Armed Forces, a process which has “proved more difficult and complex than envisaged in our original planning” (in the MoD’s words). (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 08/40, 13 Oct 08)
10 Oct 08. The handover of Typhoon BS040 to the Royal Air Force today marks the beginning of Tranche 2 aircraft deliveries to the four partner air forces. The other three air forces will start receiving their aircraft in near term. Tranche 2 consists of 251 aircraft for the air forces of Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom plus 72 aircraft for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Germany will receive 79 aircraft, Italy a total of 47, Spain will take 34 aircraft and the United Kingdom shall receive 91 Eurofighter Typhoon in Tranche 2.
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