14.1 | Military equipment (post-conflict)

and high conditions and heavy lift requirements singled out Chinook as the obvious

favourite to support operations in this demanding environment.”506

960. On 4 May 2005, Mr Hoon was briefed that the JHF‑I comprised eight Sea Kings,

four Merlins, and four Lynx.507

961. In Iraq, the developing threat in MND(SE) meant that ground movement had

become restricted, increasing the demand for support helicopters to move personnel

and supplement surveillance.

962. The impact on civilian personnel is addressed in Section 15.1.

963. On 5 July, General Sir Timothy Granville‑Chapman, the Vice Chief of Defence

Staff, asked General Sir Kevin O’Donoghue, the Chief of Defence Logistics, to assess

the “logistics related factors” affecting flying hours and operating fleet size for support

helicopters.508

964. On 27 July, the minutes from the Chiefs of Staff meeting stated:

“Following the recent attacks in Maysan, procedures have been modified to counter

the threat … The current cycle of attacks had ‘fixed’ CF [coalition forces] in the area

and, as a result, progress on SSR had stagnated; PJHQ had therefore asked for an

urgent review of UK SH [support helicopters] priorities, to see if further assets could

be allocated to MND(SE). Given that SH were always in short supply, DCDS(C)

[Lt Gen Fry] highlighted the need to ensure that current asset availability was

maximised.”509

965. Air Vice‑Marshal Kevin Leeson, Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Logistic

Operations) (ACDS(Log Ops)) was asked to review the current availability of support

helicopters within theatre.

966. On 8 September, MOD officials provided Gen O’Donoghue with an estimate of

what increases in output were available from the existing support helicopter fleet.510

The officials advised that, “given appropriate funding”, there was potential to increase

both flying hours and the operating fleet size for all types of support helicopter, with the

exception of Merlin.

967. The officials advised Gen O’Donoghue that several factors had to be taken into

account, including that any increase in operational flying would require an increase

in Deployable Spares Packs (DSPs), the lack of which had been a recognised issue

recorded in the Land Equipment Capability Shortfall Register.

506 Statement, 14 June 2010, page 8.

507 Paper DJC AD Pol 1 to APS/SofS [MOD], 4 May 2005, ‘Iraq – UK Roulement and Force Level Review’.

508 Minute DCom JHC to CDL, 8 September 2005, ‘Improving the Availability of Support Helicopters’.

509 Minutes, 27 July 2005, Chiefs of Staff meeting.

510 Minute DCom JHC to CDL, 8 September 2005, ‘Improving the Availability of Support Helicopters’.

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