Poll: DELETED_74993

[Firestar_3x]

My fellow Arm-Chair Generals, can I request a status report on applied operations?

I.E.

UK Tornadoes flying all the way (3000) to fire some missiles, using mid-air refuelling.

US launching Tomahawks from their frigates?

French planes fly around shooting at stuff.

UK Sub firing tomahawks?

Is that whats gone on so far? obvisouly it sounds like a lot more hardware is yet to be in place and I'm going to assume the reason the UK took the decision to fly all the way was probably more of an real-time exercise and not very practical?

At easy comrades.

American aircraft are now over Libya taking out ground targets

Unmaned aircraft in the air to take images

GR4's and Typhoons to be based in south Italy

Some operations being run out of Cyprus

 

[ringo747]

Typhoons just arrived at their destination (have a live ATC feed going!)

Some serious kit available - F15, F16, F18, Tonkas, Typhoons, USMC Harriers, B2s, Rafales, Mirages. Nice stuff!

Edit: Apologies wrong callsign - it is actually US F-15s using the Snake c/s

 

[Firestar_3x]

That was quick, any idea how many, 3 took off i think?

 

[ringo747]

That was quick, any idea how many, 3 took off i think?

I think there were 5. Although they sometimes send a spare which can divert back if not needed. I think they were from 11 Sqn. Not sure what is happening at Marham.

Edit: Apparently it was 10. 2 Flights of 5 with 2 VC10 tankers.

 

[Smitho3]

I can see The Arab Leagues viewpoint on this, the whole point was to impose a no fly zone to enable the rebel forces a fairer chance in fighting for their cause, not for us to fight the battle for them!

 

[Merlin5]

Some operations being run out of Cyprus

You sure? Aljezeera news last night said Naples had offered their huge base as head of operations.

 

[loltim]

B2's are so badass

 

[Glaucus]

What has been hit? Just anti air installations?

 

[Firestar_3x]

You sure? Aljezeera news last night said Naples had offered their huge base as head of operations.

Support, logstics, E3D aircraft seem to be based in Cyprus.

What has been hit? Just anti air installations?

Seems to be long and short range anti aircraft facilities, runways have been bombed by B2's, several tanks have been taken out.

I can see The Arab Leagues viewpoint on this, the whole point was to impose a no fly zone to enable the rebel forces a fairer chance in fighting for their cause, not for us to fight the battle for them!

Seems like they simply wanted us to fly overhead, not take anything out and that's it. Talk about basically stabbing us in the back.

 

[Smitho3]

Seems like they simply wanted us to fly overhead, not take anything out and that's it. Talk about basically stabbing us in the back.

Yes it's indecision like this that causes tension between countries. Obama waited for the Arabs to condone a course of action before carrying it out, a smart diplomatic move to make, only to be told later by them that they are unhappy about the way it has been carried out.

At least its a step in the right direction, I never thought we would be partaking in joint operations with Arab states against another Arab country!

 

[Firestar_3x]

I hope it can be pulled back together, UAE fighters have landed in Italy so i've read.

For those interested this is the airbase we are going to be running sorties out of:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gioia_del_Colle_Air_Base

Looks like its around 600 miles from Tripoli

 

[loltim]

At least its a step in the right direction, I never thought we would be partaking in joint operations with Arab states against another Arab country!

That's the concern though. Until an arab country actually does something, it looks like it's the west bullying.

 

[Firestar_3x]

Hopefully the UAE fighters will get in the air soon.

 

[Smitho3]

That's the concern though. Until an arab country actually does something, it looks like it's the west bullying.

There are Quatari Planes in Libyan airspace as we speak. Fingers crossed they have a bombing mission to carry out.

 

[ringo747]

Hopefully the UAE fighters will get in the air soon.

What do they own?

 

[CaptainRAVE]

I don't believe it is about regime change, if Gaddafi calms the head then I think partition of Libya into two separate states may well be the likely outcome. Though if he goes it will be viewed as a bonus.

Korea instantly comes to mind :s

 

[Firestar_3x]

Ref the Cyprus situation and the reason we won't won't be launching fighters from Akrotiri.

15.09 Cyprus has said it is opposed to any use of British bases on the island to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya but conceded it had no power to stop their involvement. Britain has two sovereign military bases on Cyprus.

What do they own?

They have sent some F-16's to Italy i think.

 

[Merlin5]

Support, logstics, E3D aircraft seem to be based in Cyprus.

Cyprus seems to be for british operations. But this article, I don't know, it looks like he proposed for overseeing complete operations of all allied forces to be based in naples.

"I have proposed that the military coordination of the operation be in the NATO base at Naples," Berlusconi told reporters after a meeting of world powers in Paris to plan a U.N.-mandated operation against Muammar Gaddafi's troops. He said Italy's military could also participate at a later stage."

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/03/19/uk-libya-paris-berlusconi-idUKTRE72I3BX20110319

 

[Johno please?]

Good, you should be worried because military interventions like this make terrorism against Britain and Britons abroad all the more likely.

Na, all you need to do is print a cartoon in a newspaper for that to happen.

 

[The Funktopus]

What do they own?

I believe the UAEAF has forward deployed a mix of 24 Mirage 2000-9's and F-16E/F Desert Falcon's, both advanced derivatives of the original design. Some pretty Gucci gear there, as the UAE has the money to buy some really nice shiny toys.