RAF useless in Afghanistan

XabbaRus · 09-23-06, 05:51 PM

Don't know if anyone ahs been following this but UK ground commanders and troops in Afghanistan are unhappy with the RAF syaing their CAS is essentially rubbish and they prefer to call in A-10s if needed. One Major (I think) even exclaimed that one Harrier pilot dropped phoshor bombs closer to his own troops than the Taleban.

Now this go me thinking. In the UK we like to pride ourself that are pilots are the best even without all the gadgets that our American counterparts have but obviously this isn't the case in this instance. I remember a similar assertion that in gulf war II (or III depending which way you look at it) for UK troops to call in air support they had to radio back to command who then tasked a patrolling Harrier flight to target. Troops couldn't get into direct contact with the overhead planes unlike US troops.

It led me to think if the doctrine that the RAF is designed for and flies to doesn't include CAS so much. It seems that the RAF is primarily a strike force for attacks on long range tactical targets ie airfields bridges etc for which the Tornado is used, then Harriers are used for spotted battlefield targets, eg bridges the enemy is using, prepositioned troop formations and tank units that are stationary or in transit.

They are not set up for and don't train to much for CAS in support of frontline troops who are in contact with the enemy and whose positions are fluid and not far from each other.

It is my opinion that the US airforce and Marine Air Corp practice this more regularly and for the US Marines a core part of their air doctrine. Hell they kept the A-10 as it is the best CAS COIN aircraft about.

Any comments?

On a side note Des Brown the Minister for Defence is reported to be send an extra Harrier to Afghanistan. Surely he meant to say one extra squadron. Seems that the UK government should up its defence spending to get mroe kit to the boys out there, speed up procurement of needed kit and cut a few other programmes of questionable use.

09-23-06, 05:51 PM	#1
XabbaRus Navy Seal Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 5,330 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	RAF useless in Afghanistan Don't know if anyone ahs been following this but UK ground commanders and troops in Afghanistan are unhappy with the RAF syaing their CAS is essentially rubbish and they prefer to call in A-10s if needed. One Major (I think) even exclaimed that one Harrier pilot dropped phoshor bombs closer to his own troops than the Taleban. Now this go me thinking. In the UK we like to pride ourself that are pilots are the best even without all the gadgets that our American counterparts have but obviously this isn't the case in this instance. I remember a similar assertion that in gulf war II (or III depending which way you look at it) for UK troops to call in air support they had to radio back to command who then tasked a patrolling Harrier flight to target. Troops couldn't get into direct contact with the overhead planes unlike US troops. It led me to think if the doctrine that the RAF is designed for and flies to doesn't include CAS so much. It seems that the RAF is primarily a strike force for attacks on long range tactical targets ie airfields bridges etc for which the Tornado is used, then Harriers are used for spotted battlefield targets, eg bridges the enemy is using, prepositioned troop formations and tank units that are stationary or in transit. They are not set up for and don't train to much for CAS in support of frontline troops who are in contact with the enemy and whose positions are fluid and not far from each other. It is my opinion that the US airforce and Marine Air Corp practice this more regularly and for the US Marines a core part of their air doctrine. Hell they kept the A-10 as it is the best CAS COIN aircraft about. Any comments? On a side note Des Brown the Minister for Defence is reported to be send an extra Harrier to Afghanistan. Surely he meant to say one extra squadron. Seems that the UK government should up its defence spending to get mroe kit to the boys out there, speed up procurement of needed kit and cut a few other programmes of questionable use. __________________