Chinooks On Sky
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Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: A Grey Land
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The latest rumour in the MoD is that the BLUH project is to be axed and the money re-allocated to the SABR project. After constant requests from ground commanders for an increase in tactical mobility the MoD hierarchy asked the AAC to justify the requirement for future Lynx. Against a background of recent operational tours by 16 Air Asslt Bde that apart from 'specialist aircraft' did not see Army Lynx deploy (Sierra Leone, Kosovo and more recently Afghanistan) it was seen that the capability was not essential.
However, if the 'war against terrorism' is going to progress beyond the rhetoric and spin then the desperate situation of not enough SH hours need urgently addressing. Apparently options are being investigated of leasing CH47 airframes from the US. Does this mean the junglies will be starting Chinook conversions soon and re-joining the Royal Marines? Or are we going to go truly JOINT?
After the initial culture shock I can see how an Apache + Chinook combination results in an awesome delivery of combat power. Add C17's and the Fisheads and that combat power has global reach......just what the commanders on the ground have been asking for and El Presidente dreams about in helping him punch above his weight on the world stage.
Against this I can see that BLUH's days are limited as it drifts lower and lower on the priority tables. Any shiney bums in town shed any light on this rumour?
However, if the 'war against terrorism' is going to progress beyond the rhetoric and spin then the desperate situation of not enough SH hours need urgently addressing. Apparently options are being investigated of leasing CH47 airframes from the US. Does this mean the junglies will be starting Chinook conversions soon and re-joining the Royal Marines? Or are we going to go truly JOINT?
After the initial culture shock I can see how an Apache + Chinook combination results in an awesome delivery of combat power. Add C17's and the Fisheads and that combat power has global reach......just what the commanders on the ground have been asking for and El Presidente dreams about in helping him punch above his weight on the world stage.
Against this I can see that BLUH's days are limited as it drifts lower and lower on the priority tables. Any shiney bums in town shed any light on this rumour?
Last edited by A Grey Man; 28th Apr 2002 at 16:58.
Join Date: Feb 2002
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A Grey Man...
Sounds like a great plan to me. We all know that the Chinook will always give a better level of support, be it as a troop carrier or battlefield support, than a Lynx (or it's replacement) Why have a small single role LUH when you can have a chinook that can do that job, or move 50+ troops, or move 10 tons of stores/weapons at speed over long distance. The AAC has AH to do the offensive job that Lynx used to do, and the SH force to do the comms tasks that they used the lynx for in the past.
I may be light blue, but I don't care if we get the kit or the Army, or the Navy/Marines. The point is that maybe somebody is really looking at some useful answers to the SH/Battlefield helicopter question for once without being hamstrung by politics or service rivalry (or will they buy another load of GKNs plastic pusuit ship, God help us!).
If you ask the average squaddie what he wants to see coming round the hill to collect him on a dark night in baddie-land it will be a chinook every time. As he knows it will generally get there without breaking, will be armed to the teeth to lay down covering fire during his embarkation, and there will be no danger of there not being enough room for him and his mates!
maybe we will finally get a balanced force equipped with kit that works and does the job....If you are reading this El Presidente, take some notice. If you want us to fight your battles, give us the kit we need, and the support we deserve for stepping into harm's way.
Sounds like a great plan to me. We all know that the Chinook will always give a better level of support, be it as a troop carrier or battlefield support, than a Lynx (or it's replacement) Why have a small single role LUH when you can have a chinook that can do that job, or move 50+ troops, or move 10 tons of stores/weapons at speed over long distance. The AAC has AH to do the offensive job that Lynx used to do, and the SH force to do the comms tasks that they used the lynx for in the past.
I may be light blue, but I don't care if we get the kit or the Army, or the Navy/Marines. The point is that maybe somebody is really looking at some useful answers to the SH/Battlefield helicopter question for once without being hamstrung by politics or service rivalry (or will they buy another load of GKNs plastic pusuit ship, God help us!).
If you ask the average squaddie what he wants to see coming round the hill to collect him on a dark night in baddie-land it will be a chinook every time. As he knows it will generally get there without breaking, will be armed to the teeth to lay down covering fire during his embarkation, and there will be no danger of there not being enough room for him and his mates!
maybe we will finally get a balanced force equipped with kit that works and does the job....If you are reading this El Presidente, take some notice. If you want us to fight your battles, give us the kit we need, and the support we deserve for stepping into harm's way.
The Sea King may not be busy out east but they're busy back in the Province. I watched one charge past my place at low level and max chat the other morning. The best bit was it was still in sight at teatime.
Just a numbered other
R850????
You mean they haven't changed those silly codes since 1980???
That was just before the good old Wessex was replaced by the green pinger machines. Sad day, sad day..................................wibble
You mean they haven't changed those silly codes since 1980???
That was just before the good old Wessex was replaced by the green pinger machines. Sad day, sad day..................................wibble
