Free Republic

The AS90 - used last night in Iraq - is one of the most awesome battlefield artillery guns in the world. When the self-propelled howitzer was introduced in 1993, the first new field gun for three decades, military experts said it would revolutionise the use of artillery in the theatre of war. With a 155mm gun and an automated loading system, the AS90 Braveheart can deliver a payload of a quarter of a ton on to a single target in less than 10 seconds. Resembling a tank, the gun is engine-driven and can be positioned anywhere on the battlefield and...

The UK has begun preparing key items of equipment for possible operations in Iraq should UN weapons inspectors fail to verify Iraq's disposal of its weapons of mass destruction capability. The move comes as service chiefs expressed concerns about the impact of a prolonged strike by the UK's fire service on the readiness of the armed forces, which have committed more than 19,000 personnel to provide coverage during the strike. However, units from the 1st (UK) Armoured Division based in Germany that previously were on standby to provide fire coverage were ordered to resume training for military operations in late...