Reply With QuoteIf you refer to the resident infantry, they rotate as well - I think it's every six months.
Thanks for the info. what about the support troop? Do they leave as a unit or the same as the squadron?Originally Posted by DeltaWhisky58
If you refer to the resident infantry, they rotate as well - I think it's every six months.
It's actually 6 weeks rather than 6 months, believe it or not. They changed it back in 2007.
“Having looked at this situation carefully, it has been decided that to leave an infantry company here for a full six months is an inefficient way of doing business. The global operational cycle is such that the British Army now has a lot of very highly trained, versatile infantry companies. This change will mean the Falklands will always have a company which has recently returned from an operational tour, providing a much enhanced resource to the Commander in theatre.”
Satelite pic of Mount Pleasant airfield showing a VC10 and a C-130 and what looks like an F4 Phantom on static display ...
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&so...09474&t=h&z=17
Yep, here she is:
I was hoping one of the F3's would be staying as well. Alas...
Excellent photo.
Argentina at it again: now threatens with diplomatic actions against what seems the start of oil exploration and drilling ventures in the area around the Falkland Islands:
(source)Argentina protests Falklands oil exploration plans
BUENOS AIRES, Feb 2 (*******) - Argentina protested to Britain on Tuesday over plans to begin offshore oil exploration in the disputed Falkland Islands, which the two countries went to war over in 1982.
Local media reported that British oil company Desire Petroleum is about to start exploration drilling off the coast of the remote South Atlantic archipelago. Geologists think the area around the islands could hold rich energy reserves.
"What they're doing is illegitimate .. it's a violation of our sovereignty. We will do everything necessary to defend and preserve our rights," Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana told reporters after meeting a senior British Embassy official.
The islands, which are called the Islas Malvinas in Spanish, have been under British control since 1833.
Argentina's Foreign Ministry said in a statement it "strongly rejects the United Kingdom's intention to authorize energy exploration and production in part of Argentina's continental platform."
Nearly three decades after the brief Falklands war that killed almost 1,000 people, tensions over the islands continue to simmer. Indications that there could be large oil reserves around the Falklands have raised the stakes in the sovereignty dispute. (Reporting by Nicolas Misculin; writing by Luis Andres Henao; editing by Chris Wilson)
I´m pretty sure that isolating the country for the last years, creating an image of distrust at every level, and spending the last 15 years destroying our armed forces, are the most appropriate ways to back our claim up. Yes, I see those Brits swiming back to england in panic after that claim .....
Now seriously: It´s over. The sooner we face that, the faster we will get this over.
We had a chance. We failed.
Period.
I had expected someone to create a new topic in the Politics section, by now Chris.
It gets alot worse I'm afraid.
http://en.mercopress.com/2010/02/13/...acking-the-rig
The Argentine Defence Ministry is sticking it's beak in, 'tracking' the progress of Ocean Guardian, and worse still; Jorge Taiana said that Argentina is planning ''insecurity'' for Falklands oil operations. They've also impounded UK shipping, and are burning the licenses of any company that wants to operate in the Falklands as well as Argentina.
That's appalling economic warfare, which ultimately will only hurt Argentina, particularly if the UK reciprocates.
Let's be clear though... the military implications are slight. If we even get so much as Typhoons, shadowing P-3's, shadowing Ocean Guardian... I'll be surprised.
Seriously it is time to start enforcing with zero tolerance the entire exclusion zone. Any ship inside it thats not got any rights to? warning then send it to the sea bed. Any aircraft? warning, them send it to the sea bed.
Then, if Argentina want to get pissy about it, reinforce the Typhoons with Storm Shadow capable Tornados and really throw them for a spin. The last thing I want to see is a war, but when this crap has gone on for so long and is escalating, its going to end in tears before bed time unless the UK sends such a mesaage as to make it absolute 100% crystal clear what the consequences of trying it on again are.
Analysts in Argentina are already speculating about the true intentions of generating a diplomatic impasse with the UK: that is, means for Lady Cristina to boost her popularity and the one of her administration. So I wouldn't be surprised if the 'Falklands issue' is yet again raised by Argentina at the UN in the following weeks by Mrs. Fernández herself.
Same old, same old basically.
I owe Cristina and her monkeys a beer. I wet myself laughing a couple of days ago, when Argentina announced that it would be taking it's protest to the UN.
This being after weeks of saying they would be taking the issue to be 'settled' at the International Court (Hague). So rather than go for a court case which they know damn-well they would lose (and arguably have to justify decades of propaganda to a suddenly sceptical Argentine public)... they've insted opted for the usual shouting, flag-waving, chest-thumping nonsense in the world's premier shouting forum; the UN.
Consequences:
- The UK ignore it as per usual.
- The world suddenly has it's eyes on the South Atlantic, and Argentina can't continue the nonsense.
- Argentina's SoAm 'partners' become increasingly annoyes and disillusioned with the distraction.
- The nationalist idiots in Argentina continue being nationalist idiots.
Same old same old.
BRIGADIER IMPRESSED WITH FALKLANDS’ TRAINING FACILITIES
February 11, 2010
by J. Brock (FINN)
BRIGADIER IMPRESSED WITH FALKLANDS’ TRAINING FACILITIES By J. Brock (FINN)
Brigadier Justin Maciejewski, commander of 12th Mechanised Brigade based at Warminster, Buford near Salisbury has spent the past week with 3 Yorks' Alma Company in the Falklands, where he spent time visiting training facilities.
The 12th Mechanised Brigade combines several military capabilities that will help the men prepare for tours of duty in Afghanistan and ensure security for the Falklands.
“It’s great to come and refresh skills, build physical fitness and refine the fundamentals of soldiering,” he said. “It makes us a more capable force in the defence of the Falkland Islands.”
Having arrived on Monday’s airbridge, Brigadier Maciejewski has visited battlefields at Goose Green where he said a prayer at the memorial marking H. Jones and one located at Tumbledown. He’s had had a meal at Lookout Lodge with a veteran of the 1982 conflict. “It’s been such a pleasure and I feel very much at home,” he continued. Brigadier Maciejewski was aid he was warmly welcomed and that it was a pleasure to work amongst such great people.
A few oldies of Bristow ops in the islands:
S-61 over the famous Stanley Harbour Wreck
Lifing a landrover
Estancia Road
HMS Dumbarton Castle, now replaced in the Guardship role by HMS Clyde
HMS Dumbarton Castle was an Offshore Patrol Vessel Mark 2, built by Hall Russell Ltd of Aberdeen. She was launched on 3 June 1981 and accepted into service with the Royal Navy on 9 March 1982. The Ships main role is the protection of the offshore assets of the United Kingdom, including our oil and gas installations and fisheries out to the 200 mile limit.
The current Dumbarton Castle is the third ship of that name to see service with the Royal Navy. The first was a 6th rate frigate which saw action against the French early in the 18th century. Originally of the Scots Navy she was added to the list of the Royal Navy in 1707. The second was a Castle Class corvette built at Dundee in 1944. She spent most of the war in the North Atlantic, employed in anti-submarine operations against the German U-boats. After the war the ship was engaged for a while in Air-Sea Rescue duties before going into reserve in 1946 and subsequently being sold for scrap.
From this predecessor, the present Dumbarton Castle has inherited the battle honour "Atlantic 1944-45" to add to her own "South Atlantic 1982" following her participation in the Falklands conflict.
(Crown Copyright - MOD)
Specifications:
Displacement: 1,427 tonnes
Length: 81 m (266 ft)
Beam: 11.5 m (37 ft)
Draught: 3.6 m (11 ft)
Propulsion: 2 x Ruston 12RKC 5640 hp (4.2 MW) diesels, 2 shafts
Speed: 18 knot (33 km/h) max, 12 knot (22 km/h) cruise
Range:
Complement: 45 (Temporary accommodation for an additional twenty-five Royal Marines)
Armament: 30 mm Cannon, 4 x General Purpose Machine Guns
Aircraft: Landing space for one light or medium helicopter.
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