NEWS IN BRIEF – EUROPE
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06 Jan 15. Sierra Leone: OP GRITROCK. The role of RFA Argus is to provide both a logistical and a medical evacuation capability. The ship has 10 ward beds and two intensive therapy unit beds on board. There are also two trauma/emergency beds and one bed in the operating theatre. (Written Answer (WA), 6 Jan 15.)
The role of RFA Argus is to provide logistical lift capability using her three embarked Merlin helicopters. The ship also forms a part of the provision of non-Ebola medical care for UK military and Government personnel. (WA, 8 Jan 15.)
Comment: The House of Lords debated „Ebola. on 8 Jan 15. A record of the debate starts in Hansard at Column 491, with the Ministerial summing-up starting in Column 503. In conclusion, the Minister said: “Our focus remains in ridding Sierra Leone and the surrounding region of Ebola.”.
(Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 15/03, 12 Jan 15)
06 Jan 15. Iraq: OP SHADER. British Forces have continued to conduct air Operations to assist the Iraqi Government in its fight against ISIL. Following successful engagements on 2 & 4 Jan 15, Reaper and Tornado missions were flown on the morning of 5 Jan 15. Tornados destroyed an ISIL excavator vehicle with a Brimstone missile while three Hellfire missiles were launched against an armoured vehicle and its transporter, as well as at a nearby ISIL position. (MoD, 6 Jan 15.)
Comment: The MoD rejected newspaper speculation (7 Jan 15) about the “dropping” of plans to send hundreds of troops to Iraq. The MoD pointed out that the National Security Council had agreed “that we should do further work to scope the additional assistance we could offer to the Iraqi military”. Details have not been finalised and no firm decisions have (yet) been made. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 15/03, 12 Jan 15)
05 Jan 15. Afghanistan: OP RESOLUTE SUPPORT. The Armed Forces. Minister confirmed (5 Jan 15) that the UK’s contribution to the NATO RESOLUTE
SUPPORT mission includes 470 personnel who will remain in Kabul to help to deliver the ‘Train, Advise, Assist’ function within the mission. (WA, 5 Jan 15.)
Nine UK civilians have been treated for injuries in Afghanistan or aeromedically evacuated by the MoD. No MoD civilians have died on Operations in Afghanistan. (WA, 8 Jan 15.)
The total number of UK civilian staff in Afghanistan, excluding security and logistics personnel, will reduce from approximately 180 at present to approximately 110. (WA, 9 Jan 15.)
Comment: General P Breedlove, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), visited Afghanistan from 6 to 8 Jan 15. The General discussed OP RESOLUTE SUPPORT with the Afghan President and the Chief Executive Officer as well as NATO and Afghan National Security Force leaders. Some 12,000 personnel from NATO and Partner Nations are being deployed in support of the mission. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 15/03, 12 Jan 15)
06 Jan 15. RN/US Navy: Co-operation. The Armed Forces. Minister stated (6 Jan 15) that a strategy document Combined Seapower: A Shared Vision for Royal Navy – United States Navy Co-operation was signed by the First Sea Lord and the US Chief of Naval Operations on 10 Dec 14. “This vision ensures that….our Navies will continue to maintain a balanced mix of capabilities and activities to complement one another’s mutual priorities….”
Comment: The paper is said to be “the culmination of a year long effort that will build on a long-standing maritime partnership over the next 15 years”. However, the document is in danger of being a FGOO (Flashing
Glimpse Of the Obvious); particularly given the relative size of the two Navies. The simplest way of viewing the paper is by searching the news stor