This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8361336.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| British troops get delayed Merlin | British troops get delayed Merlin |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The first RAF Merlin helicopter has arrived in Afghanistan to provide reinforcement to the heavily-stretched air support for British forces there. | The first RAF Merlin helicopter has arrived in Afghanistan to provide reinforcement to the heavily-stretched air support for British forces there. |
| It will be reassembled and tested at Camp Bastion in Helmand province before being available for combat use within weeks, the Ministry of Defence said. | It will be reassembled and tested at Camp Bastion in Helmand province before being available for combat use within weeks, the Ministry of Defence said. |
| A total of six Merlins will arrive by the end of the year, the MoD added. | A total of six Merlins will arrive by the end of the year, the MoD added. |
| The government has been criticised for delays in helicopter deployment, which some say have contributed to UK deaths. | The government has been criticised for delays in helicopter deployment, which some say have contributed to UK deaths. |
| The Merlins have undergone a £42.5m upgrade since returning from Iraq in order to prepare them for the different conditions encountered in Afghanistan, including high altitudes and very wide temperature fluctuations. | The Merlins have undergone a £42.5m upgrade since returning from Iraq in order to prepare them for the different conditions encountered in Afghanistan, including high altitudes and very wide temperature fluctuations. |
| They can carry up to 20 people and will be used for tasks such as moving troops and equipment around Helmand and resupplying bases. | They can carry up to 20 people and will be used for tasks such as moving troops and equipment around Helmand and resupplying bases. |
| The Merlins will join the UK's Chinook, Apache, Lynx and Sea King helicopters already in use by British forces in Afghanistan. | The Merlins will join the UK's Chinook, Apache, Lynx and Sea King helicopters already in use by British forces in Afghanistan. |
| Dead officer's warning | |
| Referring to the new helicopters, Col Richard Kemp, a former commander of British forces in Afghanistan, said: "It's not everything we need, but it's a good step forward certainly. | |
| "It still doesn't probably give us the ability to lift more than about 400 people at any given time, probably less than that. | |
| "We've got a relatively small number of helicopters in Afghanistan compared to, say, the Americans, even on a pro-rata basis. | |
| Col Kemp said there was a need "to multiply the effectiveness of each and every one of our combat units, to make our troops safer when they're travelling around the country". | |
| The government has faced harsh criticism over the lack of helicopters to provide air support for troops. | |
| In October, a leaked memo revealed the most senior UK officer to be killed in action in Afghanistan had sent an e-mail three weeks before his death warning about the risks posed by a shortage of helicopters. | In October, a leaked memo revealed the most senior UK officer to be killed in action in Afghanistan had sent an e-mail three weeks before his death warning about the risks posed by a shortage of helicopters. |
| The fleet has already successfully flown thousands of missions in Iraq, often in the face of significant danger Ministry of Defence | The fleet has already successfully flown thousands of missions in Iraq, often in the face of significant danger Ministry of Defence |
| Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe, who was killed by a roadside bomb in July, wrote that too many trips were by road, leaving forces vulnerable. | Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe, who was killed by a roadside bomb in July, wrote that too many trips were by road, leaving forces vulnerable. |
| And last week Jacqui Janes, whose 20-year-old son was killed in Afghanistan, told Gordon Brown he had bled to death because there was no helicopter available to rescue him. | |
| An MoD spokesman said: "The Merlin is a well-protected helicopter and the fleet has already successfully flown thousands of missions in Iraq, often in the face of significant danger. | An MoD spokesman said: "The Merlin is a well-protected helicopter and the fleet has already successfully flown thousands of missions in Iraq, often in the face of significant danger. |
| "We are, however, taking measures to further improve the Merlin ballistic protection. | "We are, however, taking measures to further improve the Merlin ballistic protection. |
| "We do not, however, discuss specific defensive capabilities of our aircraft. To do so would potentially offer enemy forces a tactical advantage and compromise the safety of our personnel." | "We do not, however, discuss specific defensive capabilities of our aircraft. To do so would potentially offer enemy forces a tactical advantage and compromise the safety of our personnel." |
| And armed forces minister Bill Rammell said: "We recognise the importance of helicopters for operations in Afghanistan. | |
| "The deployment of the Merlin helicopters is evidence of our ongoing commitment to increase capacity and further improvements to helicopter capability in Afghanistan will follow over the next 12 months." | "The deployment of the Merlin helicopters is evidence of our ongoing commitment to increase capacity and further improvements to helicopter capability in Afghanistan will follow over the next 12 months." |