14.1 |
Military equipment (post-conflict)
Brigadier
James Everard, Commander 20 Armoured Brigade, explained the
effect
this had:
“The
successful attack on the Lynx … resulted in the cessation of all
daytime …
movement
over Basra City. Critically, the Brigade was therefore unable to
conduct
enduring
surveillance ops during daylight hours without Nimrod MR2 – an
asset
shared with
both [UK theatre forces] and Op HERRICK.”546
1035.
Lt Gen Houghton
visited Iraq from 13 to 15 June. He reported:
“… I do
have some concerns as I look ahead over the balance of the year
…
If we are
to match the wider campaign desire for a decisive six months we
need
to balance
ourselves accordingly.”547
1036.
The elements
of that balancing included protected mobility and ISTAR. He
wrote:
“Resolve
the issue of ISTAR. A plan that depends upon intelligence‑led
precision
detention
operations is neutered if we do not have the dedicated ISTAR (Full
Motion
Video) for
pattern of life studies, target development and operational
queuing.”
1037.
On 17 May, the
JHC provided Lord Drayson with advice on the numbers
of
helicopters
deployed on operations.548
The advice
listed the helicopter numbers available
to Op TELIC
as:
•
four Lynx
AH7 from a JHC total fleet of 95;
•
eight Sea
King Mk 4 from a JHC total fleet of 37; and
•
seven
Merlin Mk3 from a JHC total fleet of 22.
1038.
The House of
Commons Defence Committee visited Iraq from 4 to 8
June.549
The MOD’s
record of the visit stated:
“The
Committee was interested to know whether the UK had sufficient air
capability,
and in
particular whether it was felt that MOD had prioritised funding and
capabilities
appropriately,
for example was there sufficient helicopter numbers to meet
the
requirement
in Iraq and Afghanistan …”
546
Report
Everard to PJHQ – J3, 15 December 2006, ‘HQ 20 Armd Bde Op TELIC 8
Post Operational
Tour Report’.
547
Minute
Houghton to PSO/CDS, 16 June 2006, ‘Visit to Iraq 13 – 15 Jun
06’.
548
Minute JHC
[junior officer] to APS/Min(DP), 17 May 2006, ‘Current Rotorcraft
Fleet and Deployment –
Joint
Helicopter Command (JHC)’.
549
Minute
DJC‑Sec1 to HCDC Liaison Officer, 15 June 2006, ‘Visit Report:
House of Commons Defence
Committee
(HCDC) Visit to Iraq 4‑8 June 2006’.
175