Web page sponsored by Force Protection Europe Ltd.
http://www.forceprotectioneurope.co.uk
Force Protection Europe (FPE) was established in 2009 to provide a UK-based vehicle support organisation for the world renowned Cougar vehicles (Mastiff, Ridgback and Wolfhound). Over 700 of these vehicles are in service with the UK MoD and continue to save heroes’ lives. Since its formation, FPE has developed a revolutionary light protected patrol vehicle, Ocelot. In 2010, Ocelot was awarded the contract for the UK’s Light Protected Patrol Vehicle Programme and named Foxhound by the MoD. It is the best protected vehicle for its weight and size available today. Patrol, utility load bed and weapons pods offer Ocelot flexibility and fleet coherence.
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EUROPE
01 Mar 11. Afghanistan: OP HERRICK. A Lance Corporal (Dog Handler) from the Royal Army Veterinary Corps was killed by small arms fire in the Nahr-e Saraj District on 1 Mar 11. (The Corporal’s dog subsequently suffered a seizure and died.) UK deaths since the start of Operations on 7 Oct 01 thus rose to 358, of whom 314 were killed as a result of hostile action. (MoD, 1 Mar 11.)
From 1 Jan 06 to 15 Feb 11, 1,616 personnel were Wounded in Action and 4,314 were aeromedically evacuated. From 1 to 15 Feb 11 the figures were eight and 39. (DASA, 1 Mar 11.)
Two British vets in Camp Bastion treat injured and sick dogs. If necessary, dogs are evacuated to a veterinary hospital in Germany or to the Defence Animal Centre in the UK. The Centre treated 189 animals during February 2011. (MoD, 4 Mar 11.)
The past week was “highly successful” for Sentinel [surveillance aircraft]. (RAF Ops, 27 Feb 11.)
The Prime Minister welcomed the Afghan President to London, saying that he remained “cautiously optimistic” about progress in Afghanistan. The UK would remain involved in the Country after troops are withdrawn in 2015. (MoD, 1 Mar 11.)
Soldiers from 1st Bn The Royal Irish Regiment discovered a large Taliban weapons cache during a patrol in the Nawabad desert. (MoD, 4 Mar 11.)
Comment: The Foreign Secretary presented the Government’s third monthly progress Report on Afghanistan. The Report focuses on key developments during the month of January 2011 and was published as a Written Statement in the House of Commons on 28 Feb 11: it was also published on the FCO website. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 11/10, 08 Mar 11)
26 Feb 11. Libya: OP DEFERENCE. The Prime Minister updated the House of Commons (28 Feb 11) on events in Libya and the Middle East. On 26 Feb 11, two RAF C-130 evacuated 74 British and 102 other nationals from three locations in the Eastern Libyan desert. A further mission on 27 Feb 11 evacuated 21 British and 168 other nationals, with one of the aircraft suffering minor damage from small arms fire. The UK Operation is commanded by Brigadier J I Bashall who has established a joint headquarters in Malta. As at 28 Feb 11, HMS CUMBERLAND and YORK stood off Tripoli ready to assist.
The Foreign Secretary spoke to his Libyan opposite number on 1 Mar 11, stressing the need for an immediate end to the violence and killing of protestors. (UN Security Council Resolution 1970 had been passed unanimously on 26 Feb 11.)
The Prime Minister announced (2 Mar 11) that the British Government is to provide emergency evacuation flights to repatriate up to 6,000 people stranded in Tunisia. 11 British nationals were among those evacuated from Benghazi by HMS YORK on 2 Mar 11.
The International Development Secretary arrived at the Libyan/Tunisian border on 4 Mar 11. Three UK chartered planes continued to fly people from the Tunisian camps to Cairo.
HMS WESTMINSTER replaced HMS YORK on 4 Mar 11, having refuelled in Gibraltar. YORK resumed her original programme and headed for the Falkland Islands.
As at 4 Mar 11, HMS CUMBERLAND continues to patrol off the coast of Libya. Air operations are being supported by