British support helecoptors a thing of the past?

[marktigger]

According to an article in this months airforces monthly one option being looked at in the defence cuts due to announced this month is the effective end of the Support helecopter force for the British armed forces.
The Plan is to retire Puma early without replacement. Transfare Merlin HC3 to search and rescue allowing the Sea King HAR3 to be retired. They also mentioned retirement of the Sea King fleet I wonder if they also mean the withdrawal of the Sea King HC4's as well and the Chinook HC3 fleet to be repaired for service at a cost of £27 million.
If this is the case the only support helecopter in the British military will be the Chinook HC2. And Lynx in the Battle field utility role. With no new airframes.

Yet again the British armed forces do what is asked to be thanked by cuts.

[fantassin]

Yes but the same article also says that these options, esp. concerning the Pumas, are unlikely to be chosen.

[Tributal]

Helecoptors? rofl

Sorry, I just had to. :hug:

[ShadowNeo]

Doesn't the Chinook HC3 fleet consist of what, 6-7 aircraft? Doesn't seem to be that much of a loss to have them repaired.

I don't think they are going to go with these particular choices though.

[marktigger]

sorry the figure for the repairs is actually £127 million. for 6-7 helecopters that will not be released to general service.
Given the other articles and the speculation in the media of the defence cuts looming I would sugest they will be fairly close to the mark. The background is the military having to make huge savings from current budgets to pay for proposed future capibility ie Jam tomorrow. Yet the 3 services are massivly overstretched with the Blair government's military adventures and money promised to pay for Iraq has been renagued upon by the treasury. And I would also sugest that there is an element of punnishing the armed forces for making Tony unpopular.
As to the Pumas I would sugest that their retirement with hours left so they can be sold sounds like the typical MOD thinking and UK forces having 'accepted capability gaps' is also fairly probable.

[ShadowNeo]

I don't think it would be too much of a blow if these cuts did happen, after Iraq I don't think there is going to be another simmilar sized war in the forseeable near future, so having a capability gap (albeit, not a crippling one) in helicopter transports wouldn't be that bad.

We are going to have a capability gap in air support for the navy in terms from when the Sea Harriers are retired and the introduction of JSF (I think). But that has been partly justified due to the nature in which the navy would need them (as part of large operations) which nowadays is undertaken as part of a multinational force (i.e benefiting from allied air cover).

I think the same could be said for the helicopter transports (during OIF transport was shared alot).

[marktigger]

So loosing 2/3rds+ of the helecopter lift capibility is an acceptable loss of capibility?
the helecoptors being talked about are the Puma, Seaking HC4 and Merlin !!!!!!
Considering 3 cdo bde had to rely on the USMC to provide lift!!!!

so 16 what of 16 air assualt will it now be 16 infantry bde as it will have no lift assets?

Afganistan occured very fast was the Falklands war predicted long in advance. And without helecopters that can be stored below decks ocean is a white elephant and with out sea king aew the whole fleet is vulnerable and with the loss of the carriers by sale we can write of the navy.