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Perhaps this is incredibly naive of me but what could the purpose of a "Tri-Service" battalion be?

Okay, let's assume that Matelots could be needed on certain SF missions - we can't be looking at a large number of them. RAF guys, too.

The coxwains that drive the Bootneck Rigid Raiders are *Marines* - not Seamen. How about the Landing Craft coxwains - Marines, too?

Marines flew helis in the Falklands, didn't they?

As for RAF, we have the Army Air Corps so I can't see a real need for RAF guys being needed, unless we're to capture and fly off with Osama Bin Laden's hidden fleet of Migs.

Booties work well enough with the army. If we're looking at SF dedicated RN/RAF units, we already have it, don't we?

If "Tri-Service" people are needed for intelligence interpretation, that's a waste of effort for the men concerned. And how many women are going to join because of "Equal Opportunities" legislation?

None of this makes any sense to me.

If I put on my cynical "politics head", I can easily see some sense: cut back on ABF and humour everyone by "creating" a new unit to appease critics. As soldiers we all know the obvious: technology cannot replace the organic seeing, doing, thinking "machine" operating a rifle/MG and holding ground. I don't think any politician who has no military experience should be allowed near the job of Minister of Defence.

David Stirling created the SAS from nothing. The Paras were formed after the successes of the German Fallschirmjagers - for the same purpose. The Commandos were created inspired by Boer Kommandos (initially) to raid the nazis. All were created by serving or previously served soldiers. All had a clearly defined purpose.

Why not expand the SAS/SBS? Introduce a "Ranger" platoon/company in PARA/CDO battalions?

So what's this "Tri-Service" SF unit precisely for? A unit created by politicians with one eye on their purse is hardly a good idea...

Because the politicians have seen that the army can still (just about) cope with the Iraq (mis)adventure, they think that they can afford to cut back. They cut back on those who can't challenge them. They'll never cut back on their (overpaid) wages and expenses. I think our own politicians are as much a threat as the terrorists - if not more.

The politicians would do better to get Paul Daniels to train up a new military unit that could conjure up Weapons Of Mass Destruction or Iraq-based Alqaeda training camps. Blair would like that a lot!

I think someone's been watching the "A-Team" on UK Gold...

4of10 wrote:
As for RAF, we have the Army Air Corps so I can't see a real need for RAF guys being needed, unless we're to capture and fly off with Osama Bin Laden's hidden fleet of Migs.

...

And just how many of your your Black cladded Imperial by the Grace of God SF Stormtroopers are you going to fit in that LYNX exactly?

Hostage_Negotiator wrote:And just how many of your your Black cladded Imperial by the Grace of God SF Stormtroopers are you going to fit in that LYNX exactly?

Reading between the lines, why would RAF Herc aircrew need to be trained as SF? You see my point, don't you? If someone could explain the major benefits of a "Tri-Service" SF unit, I'm keen to read why. The gov plan just makes absolutely no sense, militarily, to me.

Quote 4of10

David Stirling created the SAS from nothing. The Paras were formed after the successes of the German Fallschirmjagers - for the same purpose.

The SAS were formed from the original parachute brigade you twat learn your history

You show Waltor...I mean 4of10 (wink wink) whos boss oldie.
WALTER!

gen mike jacksons way of keeping his beloved paras safe

before you start, not a dig at the paras

Hardly!!! If it goes the way the Govt want the Regt will lose a battalion to Hereford.....

Why don't they just turn PF Plt in to a Battalion sized force with a Platoon always attached to 16 AAB. As it is, they are Tri Service.

4of10, TRI SERVICE means exactly that, for 22 to recruit the best from the Marines, RAF Regt and any other part of the 3 services. Most Herc pilots that are use by SF are to certain extent SF trained.

The SAS were made from nothing in that they were not actually anything to do with the paras, its just that Stirling chose to take men from the Para Reg.

"The SAS were formed from the original parachute brigade"

Thats probably why he wrote that then, not meaning to be funny mate but if the men from the parachute regiment were chosen to be used as the sas then surely they were formed from the original parachute brigade,


To take it literally that is.

I thought the original unit (L Detachment) was drawn from "Layforce" - No.8 Army Commando with whom Stirling had previously had a spell. Stand to be corrected though.