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EUROPE
07 Nov 09. Afghanistan: OP HERRICK. A Rifleman from 2nd Bn The Rifles was killed following the detonation of an improvised explosive device near Sangin on 7 Nov 09. A Rifleman from 4th Bn The Rifles died in hospital following an explosion in the Sangin area on 8 Nov 09. UK deaths since the start of Operations in October 2001 thus rose to 232, of whom 201 were killed as a result of hostile action. (MoD, 8 Nov 09.)
There were 27 partial/complete limb amputees from Afghanistan during 2008, of whom six were significant multiple amputees. For the first nine months of 2009, the figures were 32 and 13. (Ministerial Answer (MA),
11 Nov 09.)
Tornado aircraft are regularly involved in a ‘Show of Force’ and/or a ‘Show of Presence’ to deter enemy attacks. (RAF Update, 8 Nov 09.)
In a television interview, the Chief of the Defence Staff said that British Forces were likely to be in Afghanistan until 2014 at the earliest. (BBC, 8 Nov 09.)
Between November 2006 and November 2009, the MoD arranged 354 media visits to Afghanistan. The MoD provided transport, accommodation, food and security support for the visitors. (MA, 11 Nov 09.)
A strengthened variant of the Snatch vehicle, Snatch Vixen-Plus, is being procured for delivery to Afghanistan in 2010. This will be followed by a new, lighter protected patrol vehicle. (MA, 11 Nov 09.)
The first Merlin helicopter to be deployed in Afghanistan has just arrived and others will follow shortly.
(MA, 12 Nov 09.)
In a radio interview, the Prime Minister said that he was hopeful that he would be able to persuade other Countries to send additional military personnel to Afghanistan. (BBC, 13 Nov 09.)
Comment: The Secretary General of NATO paid his first official visit to London (12 Nov 09). In meetings with the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary, the main topic of discussion was Afghanistan. The Secretary General also had an audience with HM The Queen. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 09/43, 16 Nov 09)
13 Nov 09. Javelin Anti-Tank Guided Weapon (ATGW): Additional Stocks
The Defence Equipment Minister announced (13 Nov 09) that an extra 1,200 Javelin missiles are to be sent to Afghanistan, where the weapon “is being used extensively by front line Forces”. Troops in Afghanistan are using Javelin to blow up fortified enemy positions and mortar compounds. The order value was not stated.
Comment: The Raytheon/Lockheed Martin Javelin was procured to replace the Milan and Swingfire anti-tank systems. The Royal Marines are credited with first using such systems as ‘bunker busters’. Orders then valued at £300m and £100m for Javelin Command Launch Units and missiles were announced on 23 Jan 03 and 14 Oct 04. Javelin entry into UK service was announced on 28 Jul 05. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 09/43, 16 Nov 09)
14 Nov 09. MoD probes new Iraq abuse claims. Abuse in army is ‘systematic’ The Ministry of Defence has said it is investigating new allegations of abuse by the UK military in Iraq. Lawyers acting for former Iraqi detainees are calling for a full public inquiry into 33 abuse claims made during UK military involvement the