It's based on the illfated DeHaviland Comet, but a sturdy re-design in its' day. God bless the crew...............FRegards
Posted on 09/03/2006 5:28:27 PM PDT by blam
The dead of Kandahar
By Thomas Harding, Defence Correspondent and Richard Westmacott in Kabul
(Filed: 04/09/2006)
The RAF's ageing fleet of Nimrod reconnaissance aircraft was grounded last night after a crash in Afghanistan claimed the lives of all 14 service personnel on board in the worst single military loss of life in action since the Falklands conflict.
The remaining fleet of 15 aircraft operated by 20 crews was having emergency checks before being allowed to resume operational flights.
There were immediate Opposition claims that the RAF had to operate with old aircraft and equipment.
advertisementThe Tories accused the Government of failing to overhaul the "ancient" fleet, including the Nimrods, VC10s and Tristar passenger planes.
"Our forces are too reliant on very ancient equipment," said Gerald Howarth, the shadow defence minister. "The MoD budget has been subject to a 2.5 per cent cut and people are attempting to scrimp and save at the height of operations."
Sir Menzies Campbell, the Liberal Democrat leader, said a "detailed and far-reaching investigation" was needed into reports of a technical failure. "We owe nothing less to those who risk their lives every day."
Des Browne, the Defence Secretary, said there was "no correlation between the crash and those who consistently comment about the nature of the resources in Afghanistan".
The loss of the 29-year-old Nimrod MR2 near Kandahar, came during the most intensive period of fighting in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. British troops have suffered 29 deaths since the 4,000 strong force deployed to Helmand province in June.
Canada has suffered similar losses and four more of its soldiers were killed yesterday as Nato mounted Operation Medusa, a push involving 2,000 troops, 155mm howitzers and attack helicopters, to clear pockets of Taliban resistance in the Panjwayi district of Kandahar.
The Nimrod, which was carrying 12 personnel from 120 Squadron, one Royal Marine and a soldier from the Parachute Regiment, was supporting Operation Medusa when it crashed on Saturday.
Yesterday RAF Kinloss, where most of the men were stationed, was in mourning with flags at half mast as families were told of the loss.
Gp Capt Chris Birks, the station commander, spoke of his deep sadness. "As well as first-class personnel, these were colleagues and friends of myself and my personnel," he said. "This is a day no one ever wants to have to experience. The station is in mourning."
Defence sources said the crew had enough time to report "an incident" on board before contact was lost. Witnesses in the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar reported flames leaping from the back of the Nimrod, away from its four engines.
"Flames were coming from the tail," said Niaz Mohammed Sarhadi, the district chief of Panj-wayi. "It was flying very high, maybe 10,000ft. As it fell there were flares from both sides." The Taliban spokesman, Abdul Khaliq, claimed the plane had been brought down by a Stinger missile. But Mr Browne told BBC1's Sunday AM: "The Taliban regularly lie in response to events in Afghanistan.
"From the earliest time that we knew of this incident, the indications were very clear that this had been some sort of tragic accident."
The loss of the £90 million aircraft with its highly sophisticated surveillance systems did not mean there was a "capability gap" over Afghanistan because American aircraft were quickly moved in.
Mr Browne said the RAF had an "exemplary" record in maintaining aircraft and the Nimrod had a very good safety history but despite regular maintenance, it appears that the aircraft suffered a major technical fault.
Gen Sir Richard Dannatt, the new chief of the general staff, was reported last night as saying that his soldiers were fighting at the limit of their capacity. "We are running hot, certainly running hot," he said. "Can we cope? I pause, I say 'just'."
Sir Richard, who took over from Sir Mike Jackson last week, said Britain was "doing more than its share of what is required in Afghanistan" and that the army was "meeting challenges on the hoof".
Speaking before the Nimrod crash, he said there was "room for debate" as to the amount of public spending earmarked for defence.
"There should be a national debate about whatever [is] enough," he told The Guardian. Sir Richard also spoke out about the poor state of accommodation for soldiers and their families.
Soldiers had to "feel valued by society and feel well looked after", he said.
Military sources said the remaining Nimrods would have "routine" safety checks on the basis of what the pilots were able to "talk through what was going on and what actually happened".
Amen
G-d bless the Brits always! (the real ones.)
UK aviators ping.
It's based on the illfated DeHaviland Comet, but a sturdy re-design in its' day. God bless the crew...............FRegards
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