British Military Current Events

[OldSolduer]

Huzzah!

SAS soldiers facing shoot to kill allegations over IRA deaths 'used reasonable force', inquest rules

SAS soldiers at the centre of controversial "shoot-to-kill" allegations over the deaths of two IRA members in Northern Ireland have been found to have acted in a controlled and professional way, the Ministry of Defence said today.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/9243891/SAS-soldiers-facing-shoot-to-kill-allegations-over-IRA-deaths-used-reasonable-force-inquest-rules.html

Two less very bad dudes to worry about IMO.

 

[AmmoTech90]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17971085

Royal Logistic Corps soldiers killed in Afghanistan named

Two British soldiers killed in southern Afghanistan on Friday have been named by the Ministry of Defence as Cpl Andrew Roberts and Pte Ratu Silibaravi.

They died after an enemy mortar rocket attack at their base in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province.

The soldiers, both 32, were from the Royal Logistic Corps, attached to 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh Battlegroup.

Both members of a friends team.

 

[daftandbarmy]

The chilling (and balaclava-clad) face of modern British policing: London siege reveals armed-to-the-teeth team preparing for the Olympic Games

Bristling with guns, his face masked, a police officer moves in on a suspected suicide bomber.
Just 91 days away from the start of the Olympics, the dramatic scene gave a foretaste of what can be expected this summer after a man threatened to blow himself up in a busy office block.

Thousands were evacuated, Tube stations were closed and streets locked down over a wide area of London's West End.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2136289/Tottenham-Court-Road-bomb-scare-reveals-police-team-preparing-London-2012-Olympics.html#ixzz1u8bKZCXQ

 

[jollyjacktar]

Looks like the Cameron blood fest is still on-going.  Last Regt. left, turn out the lights eh.  :facepalm:

The Black Watch and other historic regiments 'face being wiped out' under Government defence cuts
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2141112/Historic-regiments-like-Black-Watch-face-wiped-Government-defence-cuts.html#ixzz1uHz3FaeR

 

[Kirkhill]

A few less Pounds spent of "balaclava clad" coppers and a few more spent on Balmorals with Red Hackles would be a better prescription.

The Brits created unarmed police because they feared the army as a tool of domestic suppression.  Now they are re-creating the ancient army as the armed police AND diminishing the only institutions capable of offering counters: the Army in general and the Territorials in particular.

I'd sooner have an open-faced soldier, that has the security of living on a protected base with his family, than anonymous, fearful, balaclava clad neighbours wearing the uniform of the police.

Masks are never justified.  Not for Muslim women.  Not for student protesters.  Not for Soldiers and certainly not for police.

Conversely  I am not a fan of policemen or soldiers displaying or giving their name.  The only identifier necessary is a Capbadge and a Number.

 

[daftandbarmy]

A few less Pounds spent of "balaclava clad" coppers and a few more spent on Balmorals with Red Hackles would be a better prescription.

The Brits created unarmed police because they feared the army as a tool of domestic suppression.  Now they are re-creating the ancient army as the armed police AND diminishing the only institutions capable of offering counters: the Army in general and the Territorials in particular.

I'd sooner have an open-faced soldier, that has the security of living on a protected base with his family, than anonymous, fearful, balaclava clad neighbours wearing the uniform of the police.

Masks are never justified.  Not for Muslim women.  Not for student protesters.  Not for Soldiers and certainly not for police.

Conversely  I am not a fan of policemen or soldiers displaying or giving their name.  The only identifier necessary is a Capbadge and a Number.

I know alot of people in the Met police, and are keenly aware of (how should I say this) 'less than visually appealing' they are. I'm sure that this is all just part of the general scheme to beautify London so the tourists won't be scared off.  ;D

 

[daftandbarmy]

Glass half full? The number of Courts Martial should see a sharp decline  ;D

Historic regiments like the Black Watch 'face being wiped out' under Government defence cuts | Mail Online

Some of the British Army's most historic regimental names could disappear under the Government's controversial defence cuts, it emerged today.

Those deemed to have bolstered their ranks with too many Commonwealth troops will be targeted for reorganisation, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond signalled.

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, he confirmed some entire infantry and armoured units will be scrapped, while others merged.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2141112/Historic-regiments-like-Black-Watch-face-wiped-Government-defence-cuts.html#ixzz1uInMfOGz

 

[jollyjacktar]

RN does not have enough ships to continue operations like before.  Dropping having a vessel on station for anti-piracy.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/9253764/Navy-forced-to-drop-year-round-Somalia-piracy-patrols.html

 

[daftandbarmy]

Colonel in Chief, The Parachute Regiment forecasts the reason for the 'stop drop' today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qzb3_wdVtIs

 

[Petard]

Looks like the UK bean counters were looking to axe BATUS as well, then, whoops, found out there's no where in UK you can do that level of training (then again how much have they got left to train with?)
http://bfbs.com/news/canada/army-spends-%C2%A345m-canada-training-53095.html

 

[AJFitzpatrick]

I think I said somewhere else on this site that the official life of a subsidiary regimental title is generally as long as the average career of a RSM. Guess I was wrong on this one.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Diamond Jubilee: Armed Forces stage Windsor parade for the Queen
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh today watched a parade of thousands of troops in Windsor Castle to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/the_queens_diamond_jubilee/9276808/Diamond-Jubilee-Armed-Forces-stage-Windsor-parade-for-the-Queen.html

 

[Kirkhill]

Here's the Mail's take on the Jubilee March Past:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2146740/Diamond-Jubilee-Queen-watches-Royal-Navy-Army-RAF-march-Windsor.html

Can you play Spot that Regiment?

Interesting that the Guard of Honour doesn't include any Army types. 

 

[daftandbarmy]

Mustard gas scare hits Scottish RAF base

RAF Kinloss in Moray, already at centre of radiation investigation, could also be contaminated with sulphur mustard

RAF Kinloss in Moray is already the focus of an investigation into radioactive contamination, and a report has emerged suggesting the site could also be contaminated with mustard gas.

Officially known as sulphur mustard, the colourless, oily liquid can cause severe burns and cancer when released.

A land-quality assessment uncovered by BBC Scotland identified potential sulphur mustard contamination in 2004 before construction work began on a pipeline for a water treatment project.

The report states: "Sulphur mustard is not a persistent chemical and under most conditions will readily break down. Under damp conditions (such as within soil) the action of hydrolysis can form an unreactive protective barrier around globules of active sulphur mustard. These globules can exist within the soil matrix and any disturbance to such a soil may puncture the globule and release the active sulphur mustard."

RAF Kinloss stopped functioning as an operational airbase last year after 72 years of service, as part of the government's strategic defence and security review.

About 930 personnel from 39 engineer regiment (air support) are due to move from Waterbeach, Cambridge, to Kinloss in July, where they will provide engineer support to the Royal Air Force and the army.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "Our investigations to date suggest there is no indication of significant risk to public health or the environment associated with the past storage or disposal of chemical weapon agents in the UK. Work undertaken indicates the sites are suitable for their current use, provided that any management systems, restrictions or procedures remain in place.

"We consider protection of human health and the environment to be very important, and if we identify threats to either we inform the regulatory authorities and public as soon as possible ensuring the necessary management measures are put in place."

Thomas Docherty MP, a member of the Commons defence select committee, said he had called on the government to make an urgent statement on the matter.

He told the BBC's Sunday Politics Scotland: "The MoD has had a culture over seven decades of not sharing information. There's an arrogance about the MoD that is not new, but it has to be tackled once and for all."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/may/20/mustard-gas-kinloss-raf-base

 

[daftandbarmy]

'I'm just a late bloomer': Britain's oldest student graduates with a degree in military intelligence aged 91

Bertie Gladwin left school aged 14 with no interest in academia after he was put in the low ability class by teachers

Today his has a total of three degrees and is even considering doing a PhD

He says that his time at university has helped him understand young people and hopes he showed them that 'old people aren't too bad either'

He wasn't there at freshers' week and he probably didn't indulge in many raucous nights out or beer-fueled bar crawls.
But nevertheless Britain's oldest student has proved that it's better late than never.

Mr Gladwin, who left school at 14 with no interest in academia, has now graduated aged 91 with a distinction in a Masters degree after a career in the secret service.

Rather than studying at home, the energetic pensioner packed his bag and headed into lectures and seminars with the rest of the post-grad students, who were all in their early 20s.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2147643/Bertie-Gladwin-Britains-oldest-student-graduates-degree-military-intelligence-aged-91.html#ixzz1vZbEkbdj

 

[daftandbarmy]

Fantasist or spy? Secret WW2 files reveal deadly intent of seaside B&B landlady sentenced to death for treason after drawing up Isle of Wight map for Nazi invasion

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2147151/Nazi-spy-sad-fantasist-Newly-released-files-finally-shed-light-seaside-B-B-landlady-sentenced-death-treason.html#ixzz1vcC3GU3v

 

[daftandbarmy]

Scottish Lion readies 45 Commando for front line

More than 750 Royal Marines and supporting units, plus three warships, Sea King and Chinook helicopters waged war in and around the Galloway Forest in a week-long exercise to prepare 45 Commando for front-line duties. The Arbroath-based green berets are now the nation’s ‘lead commando group’ – ready to deploy around the globe if required – having successfully completed Exercise Scottish Lion

http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2012/May/09/120509-Scottish-Lion

 

[Oldgateboatdriver]

Fantasist or spy? Secret WW2 files reveal deadly intent of seaside B&B landlady sentenced to death for treason after drawing up Isle of Wight map for Nazi invasion

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2147151/Nazi-spy-sad-fantasist-Newly-released-files-finally-shed-light-seaside-B-B-landlady-sentenced-death-treason.html#ixzz1vcC3GU3v

Considering the slow pace of change on the Isle of Wight and the german tourism there between the two world wars, you would think the germans would have had pretty accurate maps of the Isle without resorting to  a B&B landlady .

 

[daftandbarmy]

The British Army has a secret weapon in its armoury: Padres are now training with a crook and some even take it on operations

Clergy preparing to go to war as Army padres are training with shepherds’ crooks in place of guns.

Those who sign up for the Professionally Qualified Officer course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in Surrey are given the fine-oak, 5ft crooks by senior officers to carry in drills and exercises alongside other cadets who are armed with rifles.

The Ministry of Defence said the crooks, symbols of Christian leadership, were a ‘tongue-in-cheek’ replacement for guns as padres are barred from carrying weapons under the Geneva Convention.

The idea has been developed since the course for clergy and other military professionals, such as doctors, nurses and vets, was introduced two years ago.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2150523/British-Armys-new-secret-weapon-Padres-training-crook-operations.html#ixzz1wBIPimVE

 

[daftandbarmy]

Soldiers up in arms over their 'shabby' uniform in mutiny over shirt they mustn't tuck in

For centuries British soldiers have prided themselves on staying smart – even in the dustiest combat zones.

So they’re not going to be terribly happy with a uniform that make them feel scruffy.

Indeed, they are aghast at orders from top brass that their camouflage shirt must not be tucked into trousers and the sleeves must be rolled down.

Soldiers say the instructions for wearing the new Multi-Terrain Pattern uniform undermine morale, discipline and professionalism.

Many are demanding a return to the smarter way of dressing with the combat fatigues tucked in and sleeves rolled up.

Now Army chiefs have promised to review the guidelines, a move which will cost thousands of pounds at a time of deep cuts.

They decided to act following a deluge of letters to Soldier, the Army’s in-house magazine.

The criticism is embarrassing for the Ministry of Defence which spent £40million on the outfits – the biggest change to the uniform for more than 40 years. Mick Johnson, who recently left the Army after serving with the Parachute Regiment, said: ‘We all wore it tucked in. If you let it hang out it looks terrible. Soldiers like to look the part and it needs to be smart.’



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2150191/Soldiers-arms-shabby-uniform-mutiny-shirt-mustnt-tuck-in.html#ixzz1wD7g435J