Came across these photos on the web and it struck me that military forces the world over face the same old challenges, go some way to solving them, then promptly forget what they have learned until the next time to reinvent the wheel. Thought they were interesting! UPDATE: Some interesting links from Sven over at Defence and Freedom [...]
Unless you have been on the moon you will by now be aware that the MoD has selected the Force Protection Europe Ocelot as the preferred bidder for the Light Protected Patrol Vehicle requirement. Let’s not be churlish, this is a great result but also lets spare a moment and think about the wasted opportunities, money, legs and lives that [...]
Out today from RUSI is a paper from Vice-Admiral Sir Jeremy Blackham KCB and Gwyn Prins from the LSE that makes a case for spending on the Royal Navy The defence review is occurring at a time of extreme financial pressure at home and considerable military risk in Afghanistan. Yet it would be a grave failure if it attended principally – or [...]
The Royal Logistics Corps is not nicknamed the Really Large Corps for nothing; it is the single largest element of the British Army and was formed in 1993 by amalgamating Royal Army Ordnance Corps, Royal Pioneer Corps, Army Catering Corps, Royal Corps of Transport and the posties from the Royal Engineers. One of the problems with the RLC is that [...]
An article in the Telegraph this weekend from Thomas Harding looked at life in a Patrol Base in the Sangin district of Helmand. A number of things that struck me as being notable For the past three months, their entire existence has been confined to this dusty half-acre compound and the few hundred yards beyond it where heavily-armed patrols can [...]
In our earlier posts on the subject we have lamented the timeliness of the Counter IED programme called Talisman and and asked if it is too little too late. The MoD has now released some more information on the work it is supporting in Afghanistan. Scattered throughout Helmand province, these indiscriminate weapons kill and maim both ISAF and Afghan forces as well as innocent [...]
Commenters and my blogging contemporary at Defence of the Realm, Dr Richard North, mentioned some interesting information that I thought worth exploring as a follow up to the Talisman post. A bit more background on these subjects then… Flails Most people have heard of flails, having seen them in relation to D Day or North Africa and wonder if they [...]
I have held off posting anything on current IED equipment for obvious reasons, but now that the UK’s Counter Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) capability, known as TALISIMAN, has made its public debut at the Defence Vehicle Dynamics show, I thought a bit of background might be useful. It is sensitive subject, full of complexity, so apologies in advance for any [...]
As part of Operation MOSHTARAK the Royal Engineers have deployed an explosive clearance system called Python, towed behind the Challenger derived Trojan Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers (AVRE). Clearing mines and IED’s in front of vehicle or foot patrols, called ‘Op Barma’, is usually a painstaking, dangerous and incredibly difficult task, using Vallon hand held detectors. The people who make up [...]
One of my old mates just sent me this and I thought it too funny not to publish, so with due regards for the author. Remember, its just a joke :D What’s your favourite, mine is 15? ACTIONS ON: IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE (IED) 1. Household Cavalry Regard IED with haughty disdain and rustle Daily Telegraph angrily. Maintain that presence of [...]
Generating almost the same level of debate as helicopters in Afghanistan, the issue of protected vehicles and IED’s is perhaps less clear cut. No one except the government would argue that more helicopters in Afghanistan would have a material effect on operations; it might even stop soldiers smelling so much (lack of the means to get precious water forward you [...]
There are many factors which improve the survivability for a vehicles occupants and designers have to balance them. If one starts with a deep V shape hull to deflect blast from mines, geometry means that in order to have a useable volume it has to be high. Height raises the centre of gravity which makes it more prone to toppling [...]
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