14.1 |
Military equipment (post-conflict)
1142.
In Iraq,
Gen Watt met Maj Gen Shirreff and
reported:
“Richard
also commented that some are making too much of the indirect
fire
attacks in
Basra, which skews perceptions in Whitehall. We should encourage
other
government
departments to see these attacks for what they are – harassing fire
–
and get on
with redevelopment …”
1143.
Gen Watt
also remained “concerned about the paucity of ISTAR
assets”:
“Everywhere
I went I was briefed that a lack of ISTAR asset availability
was
constraining
operations. As we move towards PIC and over‑watch the problem
will
become more
acute.”
1144.
On 14
December, a PJHQ official advised Mr Browne that three 105mm
Light
Guns602
would be
deployed to Basra from early January 2007 at
Maj Gen Shirreff’s
request.603
That was in
response to “a heightened and sustained IDF threat
against
Multi‑National
Force bases in Basra City” which had resulted in the
temporary
withdrawal
of FCO and DFID personnel from Basra Palace.
1145.
The Light Guns
would significantly enhance Maj Gen Shirreff’s options in
“the
ongoing
counter‑IDF operation, augmenting the support already available
such as
helicopter
and fast air capabilities”.
1146.
The movements
associated with the move to BAS would “temporarily
increase
MND(SE)’s
vulnerability to insurgent attack”. The official wrote: “Of
critical concern are
the IDF
threat, and the perceptions thereof of both the Iraqi people, and
the MNF chain
of
command.”
1147.
The official
wrote that although the deployment of the guns was an
enduring
requirement,
there were no immediate resource implications.
1148.
Further advice
from PJHQ on 20 December stated that Counter Rocket
Artillery
and Mortar
(C‑RAM) “Sense and Warn” systems loaned from the US would deploy to
the
BAS
Contingency Operating Base (COB) in “late January/early
February”.604
Again,
that
was
following a request made by
Maj Gen Shirreff.
1149.
The system
“comprises a network of radars working together to provide
early
warning of
IDF”. The DEC was investigating options to provide a UK C‑RAM
system that
could
combine UK assets and UORs.
602
The 105mm
Light Gun is a tactically portable, highly versatile, accurate gun
that fires explosives,
illumination
and smoke rounds. It can be moved by road or air.
603
Minute DJC
[junior official] to PS/SofS [MOD], 14 December 2006, ‘Iraq:
Deployment of 105mm
Light Guns’.
604
Minute PJHQ
J9 Pol/Ops 5, 20 December 2006, ‘Op TELIC: Deployment of the US
Counter Rocket
Artillery
and Mortar (C‑RAM) Sense and Warn System to MND(SE)’.
195