Ungland...
Posted on 05/02/2010 8:21:38 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
Of the 67 in service, just 18 – or 27 per cent – are available for front line operations in Afghanistan or for training pilots in the United Kingdom.
Across all the aircraft types, less than half of Britain's military helicopters are available for operations, with 62 per cent (322 out of a total of 522) out of service.
Ministry of Defence figures obtained by the Conservative Party also show that only 44 per cent of the RAF's Chinook helicopters, 35 per cent of Merlins and 43 per cent of the Royal Navy's Sea Kings are available for service in Afghanistan.
The figures demonstrate how the heat and dust of the Helmand desert and the constant use of the aircraft on combat operations has started to degrade the fighting capability of the entire fleet.
Eighteen months ago 20 Apaches were available for service in Helmand and 53 per cent of the 48-strong Chinook fleet were available for front line operations.
In the last two years the number of improvised explosive devices being used by the Taliban has made travel by road extremely hazardous and many soldiers believe the only safe way to travel in Helmand is in a helicopter.
The Apache provides vital "top cover" for troops serving in the province and is on constant call when soldiers patrol into enemy controlled areas such as the "Green Zone".
The heavily armed Apache, which is equipped with a 30mm chain gun, CRV7 rockets and Hellfire anti-tank missiles, has saved numerous British lives.
The aircraft is now so essential to the military mission in Helmand that troops rarely venture out on large scale operations without support from the Apache.
The helicopter is also fitted with a vast array of highly sophisticated night vision equipment and is often used on reconnaissance missions.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
So, none of their four submarines are. England is 200 years of history unhampered by progress.
The Taliban send their thanks to the Telegraph for that information.
So let me get this straight. 3% of the 62% of the servicable Apaches are 45% less likely to be mothballed due to the 56% availability of manpower in remote regions where approximately 18 man hours are required for the 6% of the 43 aircraft suffering downtime due to a shortage of understanding? /s
Her majesties a pretty nice girl but she doesn’t have a lot to say...
The UK Telegraph is probably the best newspaper in the world. They are pointing this out to help the troops who need those choppers operational.
lol
Man that’s some fine figurin. My thought is that we should have developed the Cheyene replacement as I heard the Apache is too maintenance intensive.
Ungland...
On par with the UK's health care performance... and ours will be right behind..."Eighteen months ago 20 Apaches were available for service in Helmand and 53 per cent of the 48-strong Chinook fleet were available for front line operations."
why does this NOT surprise me?
How many hours of maintenance is required per one hour of flight time?
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