RN in the 'stan

[silverfox]

Did you know that once Royal has taken over, 51% of UK military personnel in Afghanistan will be RN - not bad representation in a land-locked country....

 

[Brains]

I don't find this surprising - we are a versatile maritime force

The RN is far more used to working at an operational level as a whole, whereas the army generally has more tactical roles at a unit level, with operational skills being more a function of rank. This is not a criticism, but a reflection on the historical roles the services have played. Nor is it to say that the army are any less good at the operational level, but that if you need a load of people quickly who are used to working around the HQ structure (be the HQ an ops room or a Command HQ) then the RN is a pretty good choice.

That's my feeling anyway, although I'm happy to be corrected if I my perception of the army's working is wrong.

 

[Seadog]

Unless there is an RFA in the Arabian sea doing vertreps to Royal across Pakistan let's not kid ourself that this is a naval op. Royal Marines (with a smattering of Commando qualified RN) are being employed as infantry (which they do very well) and will be supported by Army units (green hatted or not) and Crab Air.

It may well be that Royal makes up the majority in a 'joint' operation but I feel it's stretching the reality to chestbeat about the Navy's contribution. For all Royal is part of the Navy, his esprit comes from the Corps (natch). Don't expect battle crys of 'ROYAL NAVY' when Royal engages the Taliban.

Give them hell Royal!

 

[SILVER_FOX]

Regardless - the press will still write is up as the Army do this and the Army do that. Little difficult for them to figure the difference out now that we all wear more or less the same kit.

SF

 

[silverfox]

Unless there is an RFA in the Arabian sea doing vertreps to Royal across Pakistan let's not kid ourself that this is a naval op. Royal Marines (with a smattering of Commando qualified RN) are being employed as infantry (which they do very well) and will be supported by Army units (green hatted or not) and Crab Air.

It may well be that Royal makes up the majority in a 'joint' operation but I feel it's stretching the reality to chestbeat about the Navy's contribution. For all Royal is part of the Navy, his esprit comes from the Corps (natch). Don't expect battle crys of 'ROYAL NAVY' when Royal engages the Taliban.

Give them hell Royal!

wasn't chest beating or trying to stretch any points here shippers, this was purely in the 'Did you know that...' category

PS Don't forget 800 NAS

 

[hammockhead]

Infantry, including RM, are only a minority among our troops in Afghanistan. Don't forget HQ staff, logistics, medics, aircrew, etc. who go to make up the total Royal Navy contribution there.

 

[Seadog]

Sucks back, red faced.

I forgot about 800 NAS silverfox. I wasn't looking skywards. Big picture Seadog, big picture.

The RN deployment is overwhelmingly RM and my comments are not meant to belittle the contribution made and the dangers faced by the dark blue (commando qualified or lardy) in support.

Seadog wrote

let's not kid ourself that this is a naval op.

Nobody did but given the FAA contribution in likely effect if not numbers, I'm moved to say ......................that this is looking more like a naval op.


Chef, humble pie for Seadog please and Steward Miggins, a large spoon please.

 

[Wilberforce_Banyanker]

Perhaps a contentious suggestion (perish the thought!) but if OP HERRICK is not to be considered a 'naval op' as such, it should certainly be considered as being the Royal Navy's highest priority operation - or at least CINC Fleet considers it to be so.

That really is quite something, as people have already said, for a land-locked country.

Flexible global reach indeed - who ever said that naval power projection was solely TLAM shaped...

 

[stumpy]

Not just in a land locked country, but a land locked country up a mountain, almost 1,000 miles from the sea.

And at the same time the RN and RM are conducting a major amphibious exercise off West Africa.

Bloody impressive in my opinion.