14.1 |
Military equipment (post-conflict)
Army
16
Gazelle
18
Lynx
11
Chinook
7
Puma
10 Sea
King
Royal Air
Force
20
Chinook
7
Puma
20 Sea
King
5
Chinook
13
Lynx
6
Gazelle
4
Merlin
935.
On 11 June
2003, Mr Hoon updated the House of Commons on the
drawdown
of
forces.492
He stated
that “some 80 helicopters” had returned to the UK and that
the
Joint
Helicopter Force (JHF‑I) retained a “balanced rotary‑wing presence,
18 helicopters
comprising
Chinook, Sea King, Puma and Gazelle”.
936.
The DMB was
advised on 26 June that the recuperation of helicopters
deployed
on Op TELIC
could place rotary wing support to operations and training “at
risk”.493
Measures
for contracting out inspection and maintenance for those
helicopters were
being
considered.
937.
On 30
September, the DMB was told that the recuperation process would not
be
complete
until FY 2006/07.494
938.
On 29 January
2004, Mr Hoon requested a short note from each of the
Single
Service
Chiefs on the impact of maintaining the current and forecast levels
of military
939.
Gen Jackson
replied on 3 February.496
He wrote that,
on equipment:
“… in
meeting essential short term operational demands we must take care
not to
prejudice
our ability to meet longer term rebalancing goals … Measures in the
EP
threaten
our ability to meet our strategic objectives in the longer term …
Reductions
in rotary
aircraft are also a particular concern as they are such a vital
force multiplier,
allowing a
modern army to generate the high tempo required for
success.”
491
The report
suggested that some of the Royal Navy’s helicopters were deployed
until May and August.
492
House of
Commons, Official
Report, 11 June
2003, columns 51‑52WS.
493
Paper
Finance Director [MOD], 20 June 2003, ‘Defence Strategic Audit and
Guidance for STP/EP04’;
Minutes, 26
June 2003, Chiefs of Staff meeting.
494
Paper 2nd
PUS, 30 September 2003, ‘In‑Year Management: AP03
Update’.
495
Minute
Zambellas to PS/SofS [MOD], 9 February 2004, ‘Operational
Tempo’.
496
Minute CGS
to PSO/CDS, 3 February 2004, ‘Operational Tempo’.
159