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New Equipment For Troops In Afghanistan
The Telegraph (UK) ^ | Thomas Harding - George Jones

Posted on 02/26/2007 6:35:30 PM PST by blam

New equipment for troops in Afghanistan

By Thomas Harding, Defence Correspondent and George Jones
Last Updated: 1:18am GMT 27/02/2007

The British force in Afghanistan is to be substantially reinforced with armour and artillery as commanders prepare themselves for a major Taliban offensive, it was announced yesterday.

But other Nato countries have come in for severe criticism after failing to provide a second battle group at a time when the country's security hangs in the balance.

Warrior armoured fighting vehicles are to be sent to Afghanistan

The British reinforcements will include, for the first time in Afghanistan, Warrior armoured vehicles and guided multiple launch rocket systems plus extra artillery and a 50 per cent increase in ground attack aircraft.

But the troops, despite the new additions, will not be enough unless other countries make a contribution, Des Browne, the Defence Secretary, admitted in the Commons yesterday.

Earlier this month Nato chiefs requested two extra battle groups of roughly 1,500 men, but only Britain has responded.

The Defence Secretary said he was "not painting a glossy picture" and the mission faced "serious challenges".

MPs from all parties criticised other European countries, notably France and Germany, for leaving Britain to shoulder what Mr Browne admitted was "a greater share of the burden than we might like". Liam Fox, the Tory defence spokesman, said it was "scandalous" that only four Nato nations – Britain, America, Canada and Holland — were contributing the greatest to the security in the most dangerous parts of the country. "We are taking a disproportionate burden," he said.

Mr Brown refused to be drawn on reports that Britain might have to send further reinforcements later in the year.

A battlegroup of more than 1,400 troops will move in the spring, bringing the total number of British troops in the country to 7,700. They are committed until 2009.

With a battery of four multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) the force will bring a new long-distance weapon to the battlefield that can rain high explosives on an enemy 44 miles away.

The tracked vehicles, each equipped with 12 rockets precisely guided by GPS navigation, will be able to protect the far-flung platoon houses and attack convoys of Taliban reinforcements or gun smugglers.

The highly robust force will include Warrior armoured vehicles, which will provide the infantry with great cover and firepower during combat with the Taliban.

Bringing in the 27-ton armoured vehicles suggests admittance by the military that they do not have enough armour to deal with the threat from insurgents. In recent fighting Royal Marines have been pinned down by small arms fire.

The close air support is to be boosted by four GR9 Harrier ground-attack aircraft in addition to the seven already based in Kandahar.

Four Sea King helicopters are being sent to help the severely under-resourced helicopter fleet currently relying on seven over-worked Chinooks.

Later this week, the MoD is expected to confirm that it is withdrawing more than 600 troops from the Balkans.

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New equipment

• 14 Warrior armoured vehicles: equipped with 30mm Rarden cannon and 7.26 chain gun. Carry an infantry section of eight men.

• Four M270 guided multiple launch rocket systems: range of 70kms, GPS-guided rockets. A launcher firing twelve rockets can blanket a square kilometre.

• Enhanced Sea King helicopters: can carry 27 troops. Travels at 125knots. Armed with 7.62mm machine guns

• Four Harrier GR9: Max speed 650mph. Can carry 500lb and 1,000lb Paveway smart bombs for close support of infantry

• L118 light gun: 105mm howitzer with range of 17km. Can fire eight rounds of high explosive a minute.

Reinforcements

• 1 Bn Royal Welsh; 1Bn Scots Guards, Warrior company; 19 Rgt Royal Artillery – battery of light guns; 39Rgt Royal Artillery, battery of MLRS

• 5 Rgt Royal Artillery – brigade surveillance group; 846 Naval Air Squadron – four Sea Kings


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: afghan; afghanistan; equipment; troops

1 posted on 02/26/2007 6:35:32 PM PST by blam
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To: blam

"when the country's security hangs in the balance." Somehow I don't think things are quite as dire as the English press wants it to be.


2 posted on 02/26/2007 7:31:53 PM PST by Parley Baer
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