tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post6934092135186391158..comments2024-02-29T11:45:01.870+01:00Comments on UK Armed Forces Commentary: Aiming for the Whole Force - UPDATE Gabrielehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01623558391676151582noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-18139420227956124862013-01-28T01:17:04.236+01:002013-01-28T01:17:04.236+01:00The discrepancy between the TA being presented in ...The discrepancy between the TA being presented in PR as expanding and TA units being cut is down to the difference between manning and establishments. The TA is currently established for about 36000 trained posts. Until very recently untrained soldiers (recruits) could be held against a these 36000 trained posts. In order to make the TA similar to the regular army this facility was recently withdrawn and the untrained are no longer held against trained establishment posts.<br />The reserves review report mixed up manning and establishments prior to the change above. It refers to a trained TA of 30000 in terms of increased manning with about 8000 recruits in addition and so envisaged no real change in the size of the TA. In fact, it talked about a modest increase. <br />However, in the Army's eye only trained TA posts count towards TA unit establishments now. Therefore, the TA of the future is being constructed to achieve the manning target with an establishment of 30000 not 36000. This means a cut of 6000 trained posts and so this many TA units will actually disband and TA centres will close. <br />I'm amazed no-one has noticed yet...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-33525097361518347892012-11-13T11:51:54.870+01:002012-11-13T11:51:54.870+01:00Other way about - 4/73 would become a patrol Squad...Other way about - 4/73 would become a patrol Squadron of the HAC Regt on general mobilisation; HAC now back to three Patrol Squadrons plus HQ Sqn.Benjamin of Wighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03638987247523360801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-50184703476256708502012-11-12T11:41:59.176+01:002012-11-12T11:41:59.176+01:00Not really. I'm not necessarily arguing to spe...Not really. I'm not necessarily arguing to spend that money on something other than aid. I'm arguing to spend it better. <br /><br />It was Indian ministers that called the british aid "unwanted peanuts compared to our expenditures". <br />Frankly, it is kind of humiliating to waste useful peanuts on them after they said that, among other considerations. <br /><br />280 million in aid money can help people in other countries while building more consideration for the UK. Because that is what aid is about, like or not. In India it possibly is helping to save people, but it not gaining influence for the UK at all. Gabrielehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623558391676151582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-16873556514818346102012-11-12T11:36:08.298+01:002012-11-12T11:36:08.298+01:00On a unrelated point this post, in reply to your t...On a unrelated point this post, in reply to your tweet on aid to India, I think you fail to see the rationale.Jeneral28https://www.blogger.com/profile/16332640271661260029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-45337442425817339312012-11-10T20:22:20.088+01:002012-11-10T20:22:20.088+01:00The toffs in HAC will do whatever it is they pleas...The toffs in HAC will do whatever it is they please and which gives them the biggest ego boost. POW! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-57568581549431966642012-11-10T19:12:14.517+01:002012-11-10T19:12:14.517+01:00I think the units will be undoubtedly large, but y...I think the units will be undoubtedly large, but yes, i'm definitely puzzled by the look of that ARQ scheme. It looks wrong, doesn't it...? <br /><br />As for the Scorpion, i have no idea of what might be happening, i must admit. Let's keep the issue under a watchful eye, though. It might prove interesting. Gabrielehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623558391676151582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-8036538944136141882012-11-10T18:33:01.757+01:002012-11-10T18:33:01.757+01:00Gaby
Surely something must be wrong with the numb...Gaby<br /><br />Surely something must be wrong with the numbers of units as displayed in that graphic.<br /><br />We have been told that "a deliberate decision has been taken to reduce manpower disproportionately in logistics, engineers and REME, which will require a disproportionate growth in the reserve strength in those three areas."<br /><br />Yet in the first two of these areas, Logistics and Engineers, we seem to be seeing a considerable loss of units. Where are all the extra personnel in the Reserve going to go in that case? Doesn't make any sense to me, unless the units left are going to be much larger. <br /><br />Just an interesting aside. Managed to catch part of the Lord Mayor's show on telly this morning. Many TA units were represented, including 106 (V) Regiment, based in London. Interestingly on one of their trucks, they paraded a Rapier fire unit (nothing odd in that as they are an Air Defence unit) but also a Scorpion light tank. Now this struck me as odd. My immediate thought was that it must be a gate guardian vehicle or something brought along by the Regiment to look impressive but then I linked it to a remark made by a guide at the Tank Museum, Bovington, on a guided tour I was on recently. He talked a fair amount about Scorpion and said, "And we think it might be coming back!" Now there is almost certainly nothing in this but the two things together made me think. Could it be that the extra firepower provided by the 76 mm has been missed? But why in an Artillery regiment? Don't think I'm barmy. It was definitely a Scorpion. Saw the gun and the commentator called it that. MikeWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-13308264163677562212012-11-10T18:11:58.111+01:002012-11-10T18:11:58.111+01:00I hope they will do more than now, if that's t...I hope they will do more than now, if that's the case. They are currently pretty limited, and even on paper their role is to supply patrols in support of 4/73 battery. It is quite a niche, and i'm hoping for something more substantial, to say the least. <br /><br />If the HAC is unchanged, at least i hope the "MLRS" regiment will continue to also line the current two STA batteries in support of 5th Regiment. <br />Otherwise it will be another loss, not an improvement. <br /> Gabrielehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623558391676151582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-33882803021064294292012-11-10T18:07:59.621+01:002012-11-10T18:07:59.621+01:00The STA RA Regt will be the HAC (which is what it ...The STA RA Regt will be the HAC (which is what it does now)Benjamin of Wighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03638987247523360801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-8730845029864796932012-11-10T15:58:04.820+01:002012-11-10T15:58:04.820+01:00I've just finished updating the article with t...I've just finished updating the article with the info provided by ARQ, the reserve's magazine, and for now, the focus on Logistic and Engineer roles is a bit hard to spot. <br /><br />As for the manning targets, that is the point. There are obviously good reasons to be worried, in fact. <br />Gabrielehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623558391676151582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-40336064444541581552012-11-10T14:31:34.432+01:002012-11-10T14:31:34.432+01:00Gaby
I think it a good thing that the emphasis wi...Gaby<br /><br />I think it a good thing that the emphasis will be placed on Logistic, REME and Engineer formations in the new Reserve.<br /><br />However, I am extemely dubious about the growth in overall numbers in the TA from "25.430 now, to 38.000 by 2020, with a Phase 2 Trained Strength of 30.000". That seems to me to be over-ambitious and wildly optimistic. I would by no means go along with a recent commentator in the "Telegraph", who said that the Reserves would be lucky to get an extra 2,000 peronnel fit for active service but really the above aims are unrealistic.MikeWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-56289137662858277882012-11-10T12:04:11.251+01:002012-11-10T12:04:11.251+01:00You are right. As it is described, 101 (V) Regimen...You are right. As it is described, 101 (V) Regiment is to have its current double role split: currently it has 2 MLRS batteries and two STA batteries. <br /><br />In the new force model there is one regiment for MLRS and one for STA, and the Light Gun regiments in exchange as seen decreasing from 3 to 2. <br /><br />I'm also disappointed in seeing that there is no growth envisaged for the number of reserve infantry battalions. <br />In this way, any talk of pairing even just every regular light role infantry battalion with a reserve battalion is already proven false, as 4 PARA is given in the Air Assault role supporting 16AA Brigade, leaving only 13 light role infantry battalions against 14 regular ones. <br /><br />The Army 2020 paper also said the 6 regular battalions on Foxhound would be paired with a reserve formation, but there's no sign of that in the plan described here. Gabrielehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623558391676151582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-68483661121213604972012-11-10T11:48:49.335+01:002012-11-10T11:48:49.335+01:00Thanks for the head up, i'll go give it a look...Thanks for the head up, i'll go give it a look right away. Gabrielehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623558391676151582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-83311553573305326212012-11-10T11:47:53.918+01:002012-11-10T11:47:53.918+01:00Page 5 of the latest Army Reserves Quarterly (Autu...Page 5 of the latest Army Reserves Quarterly (Autumn 2012) has a breakdown of the new structure by Corps and by force allocation. If I have read it correctly 1 light gun regiment is to go.<br /><br />IanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-52583306172254677282012-11-10T00:16:21.460+01:002012-11-10T00:16:21.460+01:00I fear the Fuchs are already gone forever, unfortu...I fear the Fuchs are already gone forever, unfortunately. And i also do not think there is any chance for now to see such an ambitious plan of re-equipping of the reserves, unfortunately. Gabrielehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623558391676151582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-23706488827509157752012-11-09T22:40:07.922+01:002012-11-09T22:40:07.922+01:00Gaby
Like you, I consider the consultation paper ...Gaby<br /><br />Like you, I consider the consultation paper quite promising. You have posted a very clear summary and analysis of it. <br /><br />I am especially interested in the equipment the Army Reserves might receive. There is good news with the fact that they already seem to be receiving the MAN SV trucks and Wolfs with WMIKs going to some units.<br /><br />However, I see the strengthening of the Reserves as an ideal opportunity to retain some of the kit that has been withdrawn or gapped in the recent defence cuts. I am thinking particularly of equipment such as the Fuchs CBRN vehicle. I am convinced that sooner or later we shall be faced with a scenario where we need armoured, mobile CBRN vehicles and I thnk the 11 Fuchs would be well placed with the Reserves. After all, the TA did have sole responsibility for them for a while. There is other kit they could operate too. Do you know what has happened to the Fuchs? Are they still in storage or have they been slyly shunted off , as so much other good kit seems to have been over the years. MikeWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-43753995179505211942012-11-09T15:55:41.756+01:002012-11-09T15:55:41.756+01:00There are not ships crewed entirely or even just m...There are not ships crewed entirely or even just mostly by reserves, but men get called into service on ships (and even more so in shore jobs) all the time, in all kinds of roles. And of course, the RN reserve covers the Fleet Air Arm too, and all branches of the force. <br />http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/The-Fleet/Maritime-Reserves/Royal-Naval-Reserves/Roles-in-RNRGabrielehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623558391676151582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-61534985931821359112012-11-09T15:51:29.743+01:002012-11-09T15:51:29.743+01:00How do Navy reserves work? Are ships made up of ac...How do Navy reserves work? Are ships made up of active and reserve personnel? Which type of ships?Jeneral28https://www.blogger.com/profile/16332640271661260029noreply@blogger.com