I wonder if that nobber Ainsworth has told the US Marines operating in Helmand that?


"…US Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade walk towards the helicopter as part of Operation Khanjar at Camp Dwyer in Helmand Province in Afghanistan on July 2, 2009. US Marines launched a major offensive into the Taliban heartlands of southern Afghanistan before dawn as President Barack Obama's new war plan swung into action. With dozens of aircraft ferrying out troops from various bases, the assault aimed to insert forces into insurgent strongholds in Helmand province in what officers said was the biggest offensive airlift by the Marines since Vietnam. Operation Khanjar (Strike of the Sword), involving nearly 4,000 US forces as well as 650 Afghan police and soldiers, would bring security to the Helmand River valley ahead of presidential elections on August 20, commanders aid.…"

Helicopters aren't the answer to Afghanistan though they will go a long way in helping us achieve our mission there.

Originally Posted by Fallschirmjager

Helicopters aren't the answer to Afghanistan though they will go a long way in helping us achieve our mission there.

Yes, but speed and mobility must be a factor in an area as large as Helmond

Hence why I said they will go a long way in helping us achieve our mission there?

I think you need to decide what we are doing to answer this, are we
1, Attacking/fighting
2, Defending
3, Sustaining
4, Containing

each of the above has its own solution

Originally Posted by Fallschirmjager

Helicopters aren't the answer to Afghanistan though they will go a long way in helping us achieve our mission there.

Probably with reduced cas.

For years ptling in S. Armagh was on foot or by heli iot reduce the threat of IEDs - surely that lesson has not been lost on the keepers of the purse string?


Or do they give a fuck?

Not wishing to raise the old Tri-Service thang...

However the fact that the majority of the aircraft budget still seems to end up in the form of whizzy jets is surely a factor...?

Originally Posted by HE117

Not wishing to raise the old Tri-Service thang...

Raise it! Raise it!!

Originally Posted by tropper66

Originally Posted by Fallschirmjager

Helicopters aren't the answer to Afghanistan though they will go a long way in helping us achieve our mission there.

Yes, but speed and mobility must be a factor in an area as large as Helmond

It also avoids the huge 'Here we come up the road, please deploy your IED's' dust clouds that are rather a giveaway to ops.

Did'nt the Red Army give Terry a shoeing by using helicopters? IIRC, the tide only turned against Ivan once Terry started recieving Stingers from Cnuts In Action. Once the helo's started to go down, the Red Army could no longer exploit their greater numbers and firepower.