British Armed Forces Thread

[HMS Astute]

HMS Iron Duke Seawolf firing with 997 Radar. Ops Room team have closed up prior to the firing of a Radar contact.

HMS MONTROSE initially sailed into the Mediterranean in August with a number of other warships as part of the Response Force Task Group for Cougar 2013, designed to exercise to enhance the Royal Navy's skill at operating at long range from land the UK and other support. They then went into the Persian Gulf conducting maritime security and reassurance patrols alongside partner nations in the region; safeguarding the sea lanes of the Middle East.

After a successful port visit to Jakarta, Indonesia the Type 45 Destroyer HMS Daring sailed to exercise at sea with the Indonesian Navy, an opportunity to practice international naval operating procedures in a busy region of maritime trade. Daring took part in a Photex with KRI Yos Sudarso, a Ahmad Yani (Van Speijk) Indonesian Class Frigate before conducting a series of officer of the watch drills and manoeuvre's. As the inaugural visit of a Type 45 Destroyer to Indonesia the opportunity to build on the bilateral defence and trade relationship between Indonesia and Britain will be the focus of the time spent in Jakarta. Indonesia's highly capable and sizeable Navy is an exciting partner for the Royal Navy and shares the common goals of protecting trade routes and supporting maritime security in this area.

HMS TORBAY coming home after a successful 9 months deployment in the Mediterranean Sea.

HMS Westminster has met up with Italian Destroyer Francesco Mimbelli to conduct Anti-Submarine Warfare exercises (ASWEX). During this time, a Crosspol was conducted with the Italian Destroyer, along with Operations Rooms teams closed up for the duration of the exercise.

After completing the Op Cougar phase in the Mediterranean Sea, HMS Westminster has now travelled through the world famous Suez Canal in order to continue her exercise with other Units in the Gulf. The Ship is due to return to the UK.

HMS TIRELESS takes part in operation ICEX conducting classified testing on submarine operability and war fighting capabilities in the Arctic waters of the North Polar Ice Cap region. HMS TIRELESSsurfaces for approximately 3 hours, to drop off members of the Tigress video production company who were onboard filming the crew of HMS TIRELESS for a forth coming documentary about submariners, and a documentary to be shown on the National geographic channel on the impact of global warming on the Polar Ice Cap.

 

[HMS Astute]

HMS Dauntless making her transit into East Cove Military Port in the Falklands Islands. HMS Dauntless is on her Auriga 12 deployment and is the first of the Type 45's to deploy to the South Atlantic.

HMS Edinburgh creates a perfect turning circle in the ocean as she tests the capability of her engines, going maximum speed and giving a hard left turn.

HMS York (D98), HMS Edinburgh (D97), HMS Dauntless (D33) and HMS Ark Royal (R07) berthed in HM Naval Base Portsmouth.

This is the last time the 30 year old missile system will be fired as it is due to be replaced by the Sea Viper system fitted to the latest Type 45 destroyers.

HMS Clyde meets Falkland Island residents. BAE Systems has won a six year contract to support the ship 24/7.

HMS Manchester then joins 28 other warships for the biggest military exercise in Europe this year ñ two weeks in which thousands of sailors, airmen and soldiers will train across the length and breadth of Britain.

HMS Edinburgh sails past iconic features such as the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building and Freedom Tower, the new world Trade Centre post the 911 terrorist attacks. HMS Edinburgh has completed a high profile visit to New York City. After leaving her berth in Brooklyn, she will now head back to her home town of Portsmouth Naval Base after a 7 month long deployment in the South Atlantic.

 

[HMS Astute]

NATO Secretary General & Prime Minister of the United Kingdom - Joint Press Point, 04 AUG 2014

David Cameron visits the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) where he delivered a speech.

 

[Ray]

@HMS Astute,

Could you also give the issues that are important and critical to include operationally, administratively and morale of the British Armed Forces, beyond their equipment and weapon platforms?

How has the British Army adjusted to the amalgamation of ancient regiments into one? Without history as a motivator, how are they coping with it? What is the morale like and so on.

 

[HMS Astute]

Roger that.

 

[Daredevil]

Great Job on this thread @HMS Astute

 

[HMS Astute]

The Royal Tank Regiment amalgamates

The Royal Tank Regiment (RTR) conducted a parade on Saturday, 4 August, to celebrate the formal amalgamation of the 1st and 2nd Royal Tank Regiments, as it reorganises as part of Army 2020. Hundreds of family and friends and former RTR personnel watched the event in Bulford, Wiltshire, which was attended by Lieutenant General Chris Deverell MBE, Colonel Commandant of the Royal Tank Regiment. Highlights of the parade were a working model of a First World War MK IV tank from the film War Horse and a dramatic smoke-filled dash across open ground on to the parade square by five Challenger 2s. Lieutenant Colonel Nick Cowey MBE, 41, Commanding Officer of the RTR said: "It's a day of both sadness and happiness of course and as General Deverell said it's partly about looking back and commemorating the history of all the antecedent regiments but more than that it's about looking forward.
"So my main emotion today is about celebrating the Royal Tank Regiment and the huge honour that it is that we will, as the sole remaining tank regiment, take forward the good name of the Royal Tank Regiment into the future."

 

[HMS Astute]

Junglie assault finale to the RNAS Yeovilton Air Day

"Somewhere in the world NATO forces are patrolling a no-fly zone in order to prevent a hostile force from committing atrocities. A Royal Navy jet is targeted by a surface to air missile forcing the pilot to eject." The traditional pyrotechnic fuelled Commando Assault finale to the RNAS Yeovilton Air Day began. As flying displays go it was continuous fast and furious action which included numerous specialist skills and disciplines such as abseiling and fast roping which when combined with the gunfire and pyrotechnics, provided a realistic and crowd pleasing show.

 

[HMS Astute]

Britain considers air strikes to avert genocide in Iraq

UK considers to join America in launching military strikes against Islamist extremists in Iraq should the situation descend into genocide

UK could join US in launching military strikes against Islamist extremists in Iraq should the situation descend into genocide, government sources said.
US forces began raids against fighters in northern Iraq on Friday after Barack Obama pledged to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe. Two F/A18 Hornets from an aircraft carrier in the Gulf dropped laser-guided 500lb bombs on a mobile artillery piece used by the jihadists. The attacks were announced by Mr Obama, who said "America is coming to help" the thousands of Christian children at risk of genocide from Islamist jihadists. Last night a second round of air strikes was taking place. In Britain, following an emergency Cobra meeting, Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary, announced plans for a UK air drop of provisions for those displaced by the violence, and an £8 ($14)"‰million emergency aid package. He said Britain would assist America with surveillance.

Britain considers air strikes to avert genocide in Iraq - Telegraph

 

[HMS Astute]

SAS deployed in Iraq: British special forces sent to hunt down Islamist militants

British special forces teams have deployed to Iraq to help rescue tens of thousands of refugees fleeing the murderous onslaught of Islamic State fighters.

Crack SAS and Special Boat Service operators are helping locate non-Sunni Muslims who have escaped IS - formerly known as ISIS - who are hell-bent on murdering non-believers.

American forces today launched devastating air-strikes against IS positions - the first US air attacks on Iraq since they pulled out in 2011.

As many as 250,000 escapees are hiding on a Kurdish mountain, desperate to stay one step ahead of IS forces who have already murdered thousands.

The fresh IS horror was met with demands for the recall of British Parliament and the announcement that the UK military will be involved again in Iraq.

SAS deployed in Iraq: British special forces sent to hunt down Islamist militants - Mirror Online
Follow us: @DailyMirror on Twitter | DailyMirror on Facebook

It's going to be like back in the day again!!!

 

[HMS Astute]

Seven-mile scarf unveiled at Berkshire Trident nuclear weapons protest

Protesters have unveiled a seven-mile "peace scarf" as part of a protest in Berkshire against replacing the UK's Trident nuclear weapons system.

The scarf, which took thousands of hours to knit, was stretched from the Atomic Weapons Establishments in Aldermaston to Burghfield.

It was created from hundreds of pieces of knitting made across the world and took about five hours to assemble.

Campaigners have spent the past eight months making the scarf.

Police closed several roads for about five minutes at 13:00 BST, to enable all of the pieces of material to be connected for the whole seven-mile distance.

The sites in Aldermaston and Burghfield provide the warheads for the submarine-launched missile system.

"It will cost £100bn ($170 billion) to renew Trident nuclear system."

 

[HMS Astute]

British Royal Fleet Auxiliary support ship RFA Diligence (A132) recently took a break from her usual role as forward repair ship in order to undertake front line maritime security duties in one of the world's busiest and most important shipping environments.

HMS Bulwark takes the lead of the Exercise Cougar 12 Task Force Group in the Mediterranean Sea. From the left, the other vessels in the group are RFA Mounts Bay, Merchant Vessel Hartland Point, HMS Illustrious and HMS Montrose. HMS Bulwark is taking part in Cougar, a three month deployment to the Mediterranean as part of the United Kingdom's Response Force Task Group.

:Seafox Mine Disposal System Onboard HMS Bangor

Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary units are participating in the International Mine Counter Measures Exercise (IMCMEX)

HMS Ambush Alongside RFA Diligence

 

[HMS Astute]

Brimstone missile demonstrates its maritime capability

UK MBDA has successfully demonstrated its Dual Mode BRIMSTONE missile against fast moving and manoeuvring Fast Inshore Attack Craft even in a cluttered environment with multiple neutral vessels in very close proximity.

Conducted in March and April 2014 at the QinetiQ managed Aberporth range in west Wales, UK, an RAF Tornado GR4 aircraft fired two Dual Mode BRIMSTONE missiles (one telemetry and one operational), each fitted with MBDA's latest Anti-FIAC software upgrades, at remotely controlled, 40ft ASV C13 Fast Inshore Attack Craft targets powered by twin 350hp engines.

BRIMSTONE is an extremely capable weapon for the engagement of moving and manoeuvring targets, and targets in high collateral risk environments as recently demonstrated from Tornado GR4 and RPAS, both achieving direct hits against high speed and manoeuvring targets.

Missile systems, defence systems - MBDA missiles

 

[HMS Astute]

Brimstone missile on Typhoon are starting

BAE Systems has been awarded an initial study contract, valued at £5 million by the UK Ministry of Defence to evaluate the integration of the MBDA Brimstone 2 air-to-ground precision weapon with the Typhoon aircraft.

Work is currently underway at Warton, Lancashire to assess the aerodynamic properties of carrying the weapon through a series of wind tunnel tests. Alongside delivering an effective route to Brimstone 2 integration for the UK Royal Air Force (RAF) by 2018, the study is also set to deliver wider benefits through the exploration of a common launcher approach which could also be used for other multiple weapons stores such as SPEAR 3.

The Brimstone 2 weapon will add to the swing-role capability of the Typhoon aircraft. Brimstone 2 is effective against the most challenging, high speed and manoeuvring targets over land and sea. As a low collateral, close air support weapon it is already combat proven in Afghanistan and Libya by the RAF. The study contract will transition the Dual Mode Brimstone capability that is combat proven on Tornado GR4 to Typhoon utilising the Brimstone 2 missile.

Typhoon is already regarded as one of the world's leading swing role combat aircraft and the programme continues to deliver the latest capabilities to meet the needs of a complex and ever changing environment.

Missile systems, defence systems - MBDA missiles

RAF MQ-9 Reaper with Brimstone missile

UK analysing Reaper results with Brimstone missile - 1/24/2014 - Flight Global

 

[HMS Astute]

First Sea Ceptor Firings Are A Double Success

The trial demonstrated the functionality of Sea Ceptor's Command and Control (C2) system and its ability to process data from a third party radar and then command an engagement by a CAMM missile.The CAMMs both performed as expected, with their active Radio Frequency (RF) seeker acquiring the targets shortly after launch and staying in track until they intercepted their respective targets. CAMM is to be used by the Royal Navy and Royal New Zealand Navy in the Sea Ceptor system and the British Army with the Future Local Area Air Defence System (FLAADS) Land system.

CAMM is a ship point defence and local area defence missile designed to respond to sophisticated missile attacks and has the capability to defend against saturation attacks of supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles, aircraft and other high performance targets. It does this via multiple channels of fire, providing 360 degree coverage and high degrees of manoeuvrability.

Missile systems, defence systems - MBDA missiles

 

[HMS Astute]

Footage of RAF pilot Squadron Leader Hugh Nichols performing the first uniformed British STOVL operation in the F-35 Lightning II at Eglin Air Force Base. Also includes footage of other fighter jet aircraft stationed at Eglin.

 

[HMS Astute]

Default First Air Drops of UK Aid Take Place Overnight in Iraq

International Development Secretary Justine Greening said:

"The world has been shocked by the plight of the Yazidi community. They face appalling conditions, cut off on Mount Sinjar after fleeing persecution by ISIL extremists.

"The UK has acted swiftly to get lifesaving help to those affected. L ast night the RAF successfully dropped lifesaving UK aid supplies, including clean water and filtration devices, on the mountain."

On Friday 08 August, Justine Greening announced £8 million in new assistance for those displaced in Iraq. This brings to £13 million ($22m) the total committed by the UK in response to the crisis. The new funding includes:

• £2 million of emergency humanitarian supplies for 75,000 people, including aid that can be air dropped to help those trapped in the Sinjar Mountains as quickly as possible. Supplies will include reusable filtration containers filled with clean water, tarpaulins and basic shelter equipment, and solar lights that can also recharge mobile phones to enable communication;
• £3 million of fast-tracked funding that will go to charities and NGOs who are already on the ground and helping displaced people in northern Iraq. This will go via DFID's Rapid Response Facility, which has now been activated to deal with the crisis;
• £2.5 million of support for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to provide immediate medical and humanitarian assistance; and a further £500,000 that will ensure Kurdish and UN systems are able to coordinate and respond to humanitarian needs in the region.

 

[HMS Astute]

Campaign to be launched to name a new frigate HMS Plymouth

A campaign has been launched calling on the Government to name one of the new frigates 'HMS Plymouth'.The Type 26 frigate "Global Combat Ship" represents the future backbone of the Royal Navy and a massive leap forward in terms of flexibility of surface vessels enjoyed by the service. It will replace the 13 Type 23 frigates of the Royal Navy and export orders are being sought after by BAE Systems. The Type 26 will be an adaptable, powerful and flexible frigate with a wide array of cutting edge sensors and weapons designed to help it effectively and efficiently meet the evolving mission requirements inherent to modern warfare. The Ministry of Defence said: "The Type 26 Global Combat Ship programme is in its Assessment Phase."

 

[HMS Astute]

Iraq crisis: RAF Tornados to be ready to join aid effort

RAF Tornado jets are to be sent for possible use in the aid operation in northern Iraq, where many thousands of people are fleeing Islamist fighters.

The Ministry of Defence said the planes would leave RAF Marham in Norfolk within the next 48 hours.

The bombers will not have a combat role, but could carry out surveillance to assist delivery of aid supplies.

Here, the prime minister is resisting pressure to recall Parliament to debate a military role in the Iraq crisis.

David Cameron's spokeswoman said a recall was "not on the cards", while Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond ruled out a combat role for the UK amid growing calls for military involvement.

BBC News - Iraq crisis: RAF Tornados to be ready to join aid effort

 

[HMS Astute]

Image of D Squadron the Household Calvary Regiment (HCR) who are based at the Kandak in the middle of Gereshk in Helmand Province.The HCR are operating on Jackal and Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) (CVR(T)). Using both Scimitar and Spartan.For the during of Herrick 13 they have providing security on the highway 601, today they were visiting a new bizarre on the edge of Gereshk, providing assistance to The Afghan National Army (ANA).

Training within Camp Bastion has been improved significantly with the inception of a new training centre. The primary role of this facility is to conduct Reception, Staging and Onward Integration (RSOI) training for all military personnel arriving in Afghanistan.

Army Vet Captain Laura Holmes with the aid of her vet technician Corporal Emma Ford have been work as part of the Vetinary Engagement Team to teach the local people that live near Patrol Base 5 how to look after their animals.

30 Commando Support Squadron - the Brigade Reconnaissance Force for Herrick 14.

30 Commando Support Squadron who are the Brigade Reconnaissance Force take part in an operation in Helmand province Afghanistan.