tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.comments2024-02-29T11:45:01.870+01:00UK Armed Forces CommentaryGabrielehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01623558391676151582noreply@blogger.comBlogger7585125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-86345249144052659502024-02-01T15:32:12.265+01:002024-02-01T15:32:12.265+01:00Janes reports the followings numbers ordered for e...Janes reports the followings numbers ordered for each Boxer build configuration.<br />Infantry carrier 146 (additional 61 in 2nd order)<br />Specialist carrier 200 (no additional)<br />Command post 212 (additional 35)<br />Ambulance 65 (additional 4)<br />The Janes report uses the term Command and Control which was one of several role kits for the Command Post build configuration. This may indicate the army dropping the other role kits or it may just be a change in terminology.PaulSergeanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04668398532455852427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-34153594444719284142024-01-17T09:39:12.648+01:002024-01-17T09:39:12.648+01:00Fascinating article on the evolving lethality of t...Fascinating article on the evolving lethality of the British Army infantry! The focus on lighter, more accurate weapons like the upgraded SA80A2 and the L129A1 Sharpshooter is certainly interesting. While the article mentions the L105A1 pistol and other sidearms, I'd be curious to see how <a href="https://www.eurooptic.com/sig-sauer-optics.aspx" rel="nofollow">Sig Sauer Optics</a> could further enhance the close-quarters capabilities of the British infantry. Their micro red dots like the RomeoZero are known for their rapid target acquisition and precision, and I believe they could be a valuable addition to the standard loadout.Sig Sauer Opticshttps://www.eurooptic.com/sig-sauer-optics.aspxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-78119180430131852472023-11-09T00:56:01.510+01:002023-11-09T00:56:01.510+01:00I still think the Army is stuck in its habitual mo...I still think the Army is stuck in its habitual mode between major wars. It's an infantry dominated force with an experience base to match. Its top heavy in officers - with a General per tank . It's still largelybfocused on colonial wars in their counter insurgency form. And its strike brigade looks like a relative of the theory behind cruiser tanks to fight the German army in 1940.its very short on means to actually kill a serious heavy armoured force like Russia. And cuts have removed most of the RAFs air to ground capability.<br />It's still to catch up with the lessons of Ukraine. Wars may be much longer than expected. That requires more ammunition , equipment and men. Ajax predates the era of much larger numbers of drones , allied infantry and home guard eyes on the ground in Europe, and other unit and strategic intelligence assets. We know more about what's coming , we need more tanks, missiles and artillery to stop it.<br />Beefing up artillery and GMLRS moves in the right direction. But it's not going to help without buying a lot more shells and rockets - which hasn't been seen so far.And the Russians are now far more interested in using large numbers of drones. That needs much more , air and active defence capability . <br /><br />If we want an army , and to keep Americans happy that Europe isn't freeloading on them , we also need a credible force helping defend Europes border which means a brigade forward deployed and 2 brigades with forward deployed equipment to join them. Token battalions wont convince allies or enemies however much the Treasury believes in tokenism , and no one and not even the reality and threat of major wars in Europe has shifted them from that stance. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-56506859020812359372023-09-07T14:31:09.580+02:002023-09-07T14:31:09.580+02:00What will be interesting is Deep Reconnaissance St...What will be interesting is Deep Reconnaissance Strike. I know it has its detractors but the big question is how to shorten the time between identified a potential target, take an engage/don't engage decision and engaging it with a weapon (e.g. GMLRS). Tactical doctrine, C3I, technology and organisation all needing to come together.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-85215406067018001232023-09-05T21:56:56.366+02:002023-09-05T21:56:56.366+02:00Future Soldier is not/will not be quite right. Th...Future Soldier is not/will not be quite right. The army seemed to acknowledge this and looked to get a ready status with operation Mobilise. But that seems to have just generated project Wavell to get a different structure. To get to a different structure there will be Next Steps. I doubt the next step will get anywhere.<br /><br />The way to go is combined arms - at unit (regimental/battalion) level.PaulSergeanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04668398532455852427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-67223008859066518162023-09-05T14:35:03.920+02:002023-09-05T14:35:03.920+02:00Future Soldier: Next Steps, that is. Apparently th...Future Soldier: Next Steps, that is. Apparently that's how it is known, being informed by the internal Project WAVELL / New Land Operating Concept. Gabrielehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623558391676151582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-59592750305577599222023-09-05T14:18:24.828+02:002023-09-05T14:18:24.828+02:00Thank you. But Next Steps? I'm guessing nothin...Thank you. But Next Steps? I'm guessing nothing to do with Strictly (Come Dancing)?Iannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-81577478335868458592023-09-05T13:01:07.914+02:002023-09-05T13:01:07.914+02:00An excellent question with no easy answer. I guess...An excellent question with no easy answer. I guess i'd like to hear the British Army talk a bit more about Next Steps first. Let's see if DSEI brings any news. Gabrielehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623558391676151582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-33584824852103348802023-09-05T12:57:36.630+02:002023-09-05T12:57:36.630+02:00So Gabriele when do you think your next blog post ...So Gabriele when do you think your next blog post will be, and on what subject?Iannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-83695624086810441852023-07-27T15:36:35.279+02:002023-07-27T15:36:35.279+02:00Officially, it has been denied. But it wouldn'...Officially, it has been denied. But it wouldn't surprise me too much if some of the WARRIORs lived on past 2030. 2035 is a bit far away, though. Gabrielehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623558391676151582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-20675989845706620732023-07-27T15:30:52.367+02:002023-07-27T15:30:52.367+02:00Hi Gabriele,
I noticed this on ARRSE .
The Britis...Hi Gabriele,<br />I noticed this on ARRSE .<br />The British Army is extending Warrior to 2035 as an Out Of Service Date.<br />Is this true?<br />Phil (the cynical ex pongo).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-59306898571491630232023-07-26T11:52:57.616+02:002023-07-26T11:52:57.616+02:00Penny just dropped that out of 7 UK 4 stars, 4 com...Penny just dropped that out of 7 UK 4 stars, 4 come from naval service (3 x RN, 1 x RM), 2 from army, 1 RAF. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-23665136853413877522023-07-17T12:56:37.446+02:002023-07-17T12:56:37.446+02:00I found this via Wallace on twitter. Do you know m...I found this via Wallace on twitter. Do you know many other locals or non Anglos with a similar interest in the British army. How is the British army seen in Italy? Italy is one of the least sympathetic Western countries to Ukraine, why is that?Annnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-40295153949027957042023-06-17T17:21:26.953+02:002023-06-17T17:21:26.953+02:00continuing... the British army armoured divisions ...continuing... the British army armoured divisions of WWII had just 2 bdes, 1 x armour (i.e. tank) and 1 x infantry (pre-APV/ IFV era), perhaps this is an indication of what's the most workable solution. 2 x bdes armoured divisions were also the cold war norm for UK. WWII Brit infantry divisions were however 3 x bdes strong. <br /><br />So perhaps history in pointing towards a force of an infantry division (3 x bdes) and an armoured division (2 x bdes)? The armoured division including 4x Boxer bns, 4x Ajax (& variants) regts, and 2 x Challenger regts might not be perfect (no tracked IFV) but could still be very potent, especially against a Russian army seriously downgraded after its disaster in Ukraine. <br /><br />If I'm mischievous, I might even think about renaming the wheels (Boxer) and tracks (Ajax, Challenger) armoured division, as the Strike Division ! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-7060589052733314712023-06-17T16:20:16.592+02:002023-06-17T16:20:16.592+02:00The Strike bde story provides lessons. The main qu...The Strike bde story provides lessons. The main question however is the British army goes forward, which may not be able to be fully answered until after the next general election; although the upcoming RUSI land conference might give some insight.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-51354535538894860182023-06-02T16:36:32.218+02:002023-06-02T16:36:32.218+02:00Nice post thank you LizNice post thank you LizAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-42348987242013957652023-05-21T22:21:41.617+02:002023-05-21T22:21:41.617+02:00The army answer to your question in No to both opt...The army answer to your question in No to both options. 3x58 = 174 + training, possible with life extension of 227 CR but the army has contracted 148 lethality extensions.PaulSergeanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04668398532455852427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-50560528429153691542023-05-12T13:17:42.381+02:002023-05-12T13:17:42.381+02:00Force cycles would favour the first option but wou...Force cycles would favour the first option but would also null the point of rapid deployability of Boxer Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-26640829331240162622023-05-07T19:15:40.760+02:002023-05-07T19:15:40.760+02:00Okay Gaby, a bit of a Blur versus Oasis question f...Okay Gaby, a bit of a Blur versus Oasis question for you. Would you rather a Div with a) 3 x armd Bde each with a type 58 Regt, an armd cab regt, an IFV btl (of 4 rifle coys), and a Boxer btl (of 3 coys) or b) 2 x armd bdes (each 2 x type 44 Regt, with a 4th armd cab sqn, + 2 x IFV btl (each of 3 rifle coy) plus a mech bde of 3 x Boxer btl (each of 3 coys) plus a 4 sqn armd cab regt? The force totals are more or less the same but organised differently.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-44536189842502460292023-05-05T18:06:04.835+02:002023-05-05T18:06:04.835+02:00hihihhhttps://www.manchesterphotographer.today/manchester-wedding-photographernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-5515021713031393002023-04-30T19:19:41.687+02:002023-04-30T19:19:41.687+02:00Wonder what you thought about this from TD ? https...Wonder what you thought about this from TD ? https://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2023/04/future-soldier-pallet-and-bridge-chap/#Field_Army_Design_Principles_and_AssumptionsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-45819550050818143922023-04-29T11:43:51.632+02:002023-04-29T11:43:51.632+02:00A few thoughts. Strike Bde appears in significant ...A few thoughts. Strike Bde appears in significant measure to have been driven by a perceived need for a medium weight force in non-European expeditionary scenarios while still retaining a divisional war-fighting capability. The two strike brigades effectively took turns to be the manoeuvre support formation enabling whatever armoured infantry brigade was at higher readiness, while outside the divisional construct being double-hatted in an expeditionary role. For me a question going forward is whether the army will decide it needs an A2020 style force with 3 armoured brigades, thus dispensing with the medium weight expeditionary/ manoeuvre support force, or not. The answer to this question will determine whether the Strike Bde is somehow reborn, or consigned to the history books.Iannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-37706207471739120442023-04-24T20:10:49.304+02:002023-04-24T20:10:49.304+02:00I might write something once it is published; i do...I might write something once it is published; i don't think i will be writing before. Gabrielehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623558391676151582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-82276595500593859072023-04-24T20:05:53.704+02:002023-04-24T20:05:53.704+02:00Out of interest are you going to produce an articl...Out of interest are you going to produce an article predicting what the update to the defence command paper is likely to say, or do you envisage an article analysing it after its publication? Or both?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-49448702788420827632023-03-21T15:56:15.321+01:002023-03-21T15:56:15.321+01:00My proposed 9 battle groups or Combined Arms Regim...My proposed 9 battle groups or Combined Arms Regiments combine Boxer, CR3, and Ajax. I would have 12 Ajax, plus 3 in a fire control role, in each CAR. That’s 135 Ajax. Future Soldier 1DRSBCT has 2 regiments with Ajax, say 42 per regiment, putting the total up to 219. Training at Bovington would add perhaps 12 leaving 14 spare from the order of 245.<br /><br />The initial Ajax squadron will not be operational before July 2025 and full operating capability will be after September 2028, maybe up to a year after. CR3 IOC will be 2027 and FOC 2031. Boxer deliveries will extend over a similar period. A future structure needs to be an effective combined arms force with future equipment. There also needs to be a credible short-term plan.<br />PaulSergeanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04668398532455852427noreply@blogger.com