£1.9 bn portable radio system gets a poor reception from Army

The Telegraph ^ | 04/01/2005 | Michael Smith

[ijcr]

The Army's new £1.9 billion (almost US $4 Billion) communications system is facing such serious problems that the Director of Infantry initially refused to accept the portable radio into service.

Brig Jamie Balfour was ordered to take the radio "for political reasons" despite a series of issues that make it "totally unsuitable" for use in front-line infantry operations.

Troops complain that Bowman is not strong enough for combat use

Brig Balfour told a recent briefing at the School of Infantry: "All the rumours you've heard. It is as bad as you've heard.

"But we have been told that, politically, we have got to make it work. Now you guys will have to go out and find a way of making it work."

He concluded the briefing by warning: "Hang on to your cellphones."

The Royal Anglians, who were given the radio to test in July, found that on some settings the signallers were receiving radiation burns when they tried to transmit.

The MoD subsequently claimed that the problem had been overcome. But this was achieved simply by not using the affected settings, cutting down the usefulness of the radio.

The problems are now far more extensive, defence sources said.

The radio, which weighs 15lbs, is three times as heavy as its predecessor.

Troops complain that it is not strong enough or flexible enough for use in front-line combat.

The call sign has to be "squirted" into it with a special programme key. Once that is done that particular radio set is tied to that call sign.

This allows for absolutely no flexibility in a battlefield situation where radios might have to be moved between call signs as they are lost or destroyed.

The signaller has a complicated web of wiring which runs up from the radio pouch through his webbing via the chest control pad up to his head set.

"If a guy has this on his body and he goes down, you can't just take the radio off him," a source said. "You have to disentangle the wiring, which breaks very easily, from his webbing."

The section radio was originally supposed to be accompanied by a keypad and data terminal/screen that the section commander would wear on his arm, as you would a watch.

But the keypad and data terminal weigh 2 kg, which made them far too heavy to wear. They have now been ditched.

The batteries are more limited in life than the Clansman radio that Bowman replaces.

Clansman used AA batteries, which could be obtained easily. Bowman uses unique batteries, which are not robust and are not readily available.

General Dynamics won the £1.9 billion contract to produce the Bowman system to replace the Clansman radios.

Lord Bach, the procurement minister, announced last March that Bowman had been brought into service.

The MoD said: "The technology within the Bowman system is both complex and cutting edge, and consequently there have been set backs. The trialling process, as you would expect, has identified issues which everyone is committed to overcome."

[ijcr]

These pieces of crap were part of the arms deal with Canada that involved the transfer of four submarines. The Brits screwed the Canucks with the subs and in return the Canadians set back British military communications by 50 yrs.

If soldiers lives were not at risk this would be the deal of the century.

[jigsaw]

Sounds like these radios were designed by anti-war engineers.

[68skylark]

I'm no commo experty, but a few of the radios I've used in the U.S. military don't sound much better than the ones described here. They were mostly dead weight.

[Decombobulator]

Are these those radios which don't have batteries but instead draw their power from teh soldier's boots which have little generators so that each step the soldier takes charges the rechargeble battery in the boots a little bit and can be used to power anythign portable? That is cool... Think of all the unused energy that could be harnessed from ever step a person takes. If we forced everyone in the country to wear shoes with generators in them and charge batteries which could later be used to power things, we'd save billions of dollars.

[Redbob]

"Brig Jamie Balfour was ordered to take the radio "for political reasons" despite a series of issues that make it "totally unsuitable" for use in front-line infantry operations."

Fortunately for the Brits, their troops are very seldom on the "front lines" anywhere; that's what the U.S. Marines are for!

[tjwmason]

Fortunately for the Brits, their troops are very seldom on the "front lines" anywhere; that's what the U.S. Marines are for!

May one ask a little question? Who fought alongside U.S. Marines and the U.S. Army in Iraq?

Answer the Royal Marines, and the British Army.

Oh and that's not what U.S. Marines are for, the U.S. Marines are for defending America, and fighting for her interests. Her Majesty's Armed Forces are for defending Britain and fighting for her interests. In recent years those interests have coincided and so we became allies, it's just a pity that some of you seem intent on destroying any goodwill which Brits have towards your country.

[Yo-Yo]

He concluded the briefing by warning: "Hang on to your cellphones."

Edited for the American market? He almost certainly would have said "Hang on to your mobiles."

[rocksblues]

Here Here!

[sausageseller]

In recent years those interests have coincided and so we became allies, it's just a pity that some of you seem intent on destroying any goodwill which Brits have towards your country.

SS. The truth is you do not want to admit that there is a segment of British who don't have any "goodwill". Troll!

[jjbrouwer]

You're the one following him around, Sausagemeat.

[tjwmason]

The truth is you do not want to admit that there is a segment of British who don't have any "goodwill".

Hello old chap, having fun selling your sausages?

Far from it. There are lots of British people (I'm guessing that you meant to add in a noun like 'society' after the word 'British') who have no goodwill towards the U.S. - just as there are plenty of Americans who have no goodwill towards the U.K. (such as your good self, and the gentlemen running groups such as NORAID). On the otherhand, there are thankfully plenty of us who have the good sense to rise above such mindless nonsense and rejoice in mutual goodwill.

Troll!

With such a childish display I can only respond as I did when I was five.

I know you are, you said you are, so what am I?

[sausageseller]

No. I just reading the thread and saw your Freeper & American bashing post.

Why do you lie so much, jjtroll?

[sausageseller]

just as there are plenty of Americans who have no goodwill towards the U.K. (such as your good self,

SS. Proof, Troll?

No, just another lie I can add to your long list!

[jjbrouwer]

I just reading the thread and saw your Freeper & American bashing post.

Can you direct me to it? The only posts I've made on this thread have been this one and my post to you just now.

You are either very very stupid or very dishonest. I suspect it's a combination of both. No wonder you can only get a job selling sausages.

[insider_uk]

You're not wrong there JJ.

Or should that be 'your'.

[jjbrouwer]

My theory is that Sausagemeat believes all the British posters here are the same person.

With his inward attitude, it's unlikely his American sausages will ever be exported to the mother country.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Bismark said that the most important fact of the 19th century was that the United States spoke English. There can be no rational explanation for U.S. entry into WW-I other than a sentimental regard for the "Mother Country", although by 1917 more Americans were of German than British descent and the affinity to the Vaterland was closer, given that the immigration was more recent on average.

[sausageseller]

it's just a pity that some of you seem intent on destroying any goodwill which Brits have towards your country.

SS Who then is "some of you"? Point out something factual to back up your posts! Generalizations are your hall mark. When you made your "raped and robbed" comment was that promoting "Goodwill'?

Your a two faced liar, troll!

[sausageseller]

The Countries That We Love and Hate (How Brits view the outside world) Posted by jjbrouwer to VeritatisSplendor On News/Activism 01/03/2005 5:42:44 PM EST · 113 of 124 I agree. America is great unless you don't like being raped or murdered...

SS. Was this your "promoting goodwill"? Troll?

[insider_uk]

I think General Dynamics are American.
It is headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia after all.

[tjwmason]

SS. Proof, Troll?

I'm not quite sure what you're (note the ability to use the apostrophe key) saying here; it reads rather like a line from a modernist poem.

If you are stating that my suggestion that you have no goodwill for the U.K. proves that I am a troll, then I must reply that it does not. It you are asking the same thing; then again I must reply that it does not.

If it means something else, then please use actual sentances in order that you meaning may better be conveyed.

R.E. the 'Troll' title, I have had a little look at your past posts (purely for the sake of interest), and I notice that in those listed there has been no exposition of conservative thought at all. There is commentary on sport, a fair dash of religion (your religion appears to be conservative I must admit, though little is actually said in your posts), and many many bitchy comments directed at other FReepers for infractions of your interpretation of 'the rules'; therefore I propose that it is not I who deserve the title of 'Troll' but rather yourself, I do contribute thoughts on conservatism to this conservative discussion site afterall. You merely bitch and moan.

No, just another lie I can add to your long list!

I realise that you like to hurl around insults without meaning, sense, or discrimination; but I would like to know when I have lied. Even one from my 'long list' will be sufficient for me to shut up.

[jjbrouwer]

it's just a pity that some of you seem intent on destroying any goodwill which Brits have towards your country.

When do you claim I ever made this post? Please attribute your posts correctly, Sausagemeat. No wonder everyone wants to ban you.

[sausageseller]

jjbrouwer 01/03/2005 1:34:55 PM EST My guess is that Brian and Sausagemeat cooked up this thread to get as many foreigners banned as possible. Mission accomplished so we won't hear from them for a while.

SS. I did not cook up any thread.

I sought to have no one banned! Liar!

[Bon mots]

it's just a pity that some of you seem intent on destroying any goodwill which Brits have towards your country.

Aw come on, most of us Americans just love the Brits. We've always been there for you, whether it was Germany or the Falklands, and you guys have backed us up too. Don't let a couple of sour posters on this board change things.

Now if someone could only teach you guys the correct way to pronounce "water". ;-)

[insider_uk]

The troll is a poster, that posts articles or replies, that induces flamers to make themselves look even more clueless than they already do.

You have succeeded in this. Without a doubt. I can think of a certain flamer that has without a doubt made themselves look even more clueless.

[jjbrouwer]

You were fantasising about me being banned last night, my apostrophe-challenged friend. Who actually buys your sausages? If the venom that your pour into your posts is anything to go by, I would certainly not want to eat any of your cuisine. You probably sprinkle poison into it.

[insider_uk]

You should hear how they pronounce it in Surry.
All the way up there in the North.

[tjwmason]

SS. I did not cook up any thread.

I never said that you did.

I sought to have no one banned!

I never said that you did.

Liar!

Really dear shouldn't you be running to your mother for milk and cookies rather than disturbing the grown-ups' discussion. Call us back when your actual age or I.Q. gets into double-figures.

[dljordan]

Easy there big guy. Not all of us feel that way.

[jjbrouwer]

He attributes my posts to you and your posts to me. The boy's not all there.

[tjwmason]

Aw come on, most of us Americans just love the Brits. We've always been there for you, whether it was Germany or the Falklands, and you guys have backed us up too. Don't let a couple of sour posters on this board change things.

Don't worry, it'll take more than a few idiots to convince me that America and Britain should not be closely allied. We have plenty of our own fools, and so we have enough experience to know that they do not represent the whole nation.

Now if someone could only teach you guys the correct way to pronounce "water". ;-)

Is that the way in which the 't' is removed and a 'd' is put in its place? ;-)

[sausageseller]

You just pinged me to another thread!

And how does that mean I am following him or you? BTW Take me off of you pinglist, troll!

[jjbrouwer]

If you are really a purveyor of sausages, then you should be alerted to all sausage-related threads. Otherwise, you are a fraud who is probably on the dole.

[tjwmason]

Easy there big guy. Not all of us feel that way.

We know, and we're delighted by the support which we receive from pro-British Americans.

[tjwmason]

If you are really a purveyor of sausages, then you should be alerted to all sausage-related threads. Otherwise, you are a fraud who is probably on the dole.

I can think of two options, first he does not wish for the surprise of the next edition of 'Sausages Weekly' to be spoiled with internet articles; secondly, sausage is a metaphor for something which we shouldn't mention on this a family forum.

[tjwmason]

Liar, liar, pants are on fire!

I'm cut to the quick by that accusation, and will probably have to report you to the moderators before going to cry at my mother about how beastly these people are.

[sausageseller]

SS To help straighten you confusion out here:

Americans who have no goodwill towards the U.K. (such as your good self

SS. You comment was directed at me. I asked you for to prove it.

[Stand Watch Listen]

That is cool... Think of all the unused energy that could be harnessed from ever step a person takes. If we forced everyone in the country to wear shoes with generators in them and charge batteries which could later be used to power things, we'd save billions of dollars.

Hmmmmm...as we are now in our 2nd/3rd generation of 'couch potatoes (tv/video/computer/internet) perhaps if we connected these 'generators' to thumbs/fingers instead. ;)

[jjbrouwer]

You may have hit on something there. Poor Roger Mellie was onto a similar theory and was banned for his trouble.

[TChris]

If we forced everyone in the country to wear shoes with generators in them and charge batteries...

Would you become the first U.S. Director of the Department of Generator Shoes? (The DGS or Shoe Police) *Chuckle*

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[tjwmason]

You have acused me of being a liar, and therefore I refuse to enter into conversation with you until you prove that accusation or withdraw it.

Specifically in post number 23 you stated that I had falsely accused you of 'cooking up' a thread, and of seeking to have FReepers banned. I did no such things.

[jordan8]

These are essentially the same radios as the PRC-117 and 150 used by the U.S. Military. Don't see why they are having so much trouble with them.

[Bon mots]

Is that the way in which the 't' is removed and a 'd' is put in its place? ;-)

My British friends HATE how we say that!
;-)

[sausageseller]

You have accused me of being a liar, and therefore I refuse to enter into conversation with you until you prove that accusation or withdraw it.

SS Here...Far from it. There are lots of British people (I'm guessing that you meant to add in a noun like 'society' after the word 'British') who have no goodwill towards the U.S. - just as there are plenty of Americans who have no goodwill towards the U.K. (such as your good self, and the gentlemen running groups such as NORAID).

SS. You have accused me. ie (such as your good self) SS. You have no words of mine to prove that I have no "goodwill".

BTW Your accusation was Post 11. Making you the first to attack.

[tjwmason]

SS. You have accused me. ie (such as your good self) SS. You have no words of mine to prove that I have no "goodwill".

That would involve proving a negative which is, as anybody knows, generally impossible. The greater allegation (by far) is that I lied, and this is easily proved (if it is true).

BTW Your accusation was Post 11. Making you the first to attack.

Attack, me? I merely mentioned your apparent antipathy towards your country's closest ally.