Shogun Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 What's a 'live' base? As you say, all soldiers do their basic infantry training. I know that, and we both also know that a bunch of REME electricians working in a bay fixing radios aren't the same in terms of their field effectiveness as a honed infantry unit that is formed up and equipped as such. Denying that would be silly - you could hand them a rifle and put a bergen on their backs, and while they'll still be better soldiers than most nations can put forward they will not have the combat effectiveness of soldiers from a pure teeth regiment. You also overlooked what I said about the people down there - it's an airbase, so most of the people at MPA are RAF personnel. For non-RAF Regiment personnel, their annual ground defence training doesn't even include live firing - just a few rounds down the SAT on a simulated rifle. In recent years their pre-deployment training has become more realistic than the gesture it used to be, but it still has its limits. They have some elementary training, but they're not soldiers by a long, long way. I dont know about REME blokes but I can assure we were as competent infantry men as any infantry unit we had to be. live base I just used that word it basically is a base that is fully operative and supplied ready to go for want of a better way of explaining it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrSmith Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 What's a 'live' base? As you say, all soldiers do their basic infantry training. I know that, and we both also know that a bunch of REME electricians working in a bay fixing radios aren't the same in terms of their field effectiveness as a honed infantry unit that is formed up and equipped as such. Denying that would be silly - you could hand them a rifle and put a bergen on their backs, and while they'll still be better soldiers than most nations can put forward they will not have the combat effectiveness of soldiers from a pure teeth regiment. You also overlooked what I said about the people down there - it's an airbase, so most of the people at MPA are RAF personnel. For non-RAF Regiment personnel, their annual ground defence training doesn't even include live firing - just a few rounds down the SAT on a simulated rifle. In recent years their pre-deployment training has become more realistic than the gesture it used to be, but it still has its limits. They have some elementary training, but they're not soldiers by a long, long way. It’s always protected by an army regiment. Falkland Islands Defence Force (FIDF) is the locally maintained volunteer defence unit in the Falkland Islands. The FIDF works alongside the military units supplied by the United Kingdom to ensure the security of the islands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dandare Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 Does any one care about about a tupny hapenny place like that anyway? yes, those of us who are non cowards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conrod Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 I dont know about REME blokes but I can assure we were as competent infantry men as any infantry unit we had to be.Would you have been better if you'd trained at it all year round? live base I just used that word it basically is a base that is fully operative and supplied ready to go for want of a better way of explaining itI thought that might be the explanation, just not an expression I've heard used, either at MPA or a variety of Gulf units. I've probably been to MPA more than most people, know how the units works and its defensive capabilities through to present. It's still a bit of a windy Butlins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conrod Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 It’s always protected by an army regiment. Falkland Islands Defence Force (FIDF) is the locally maintained volunteer defence unit in the Falkland Islands. The FIDF works alongside the military units supplied by the United Kingdom to ensure the security of the islands. No, it isn't - it's defended by a company strength unit from a regiment. Look up the size of an infantry company. . . . .. Aside from the resident infantry company down there, . . . . . (Though the FIDF does largely its own thing, and is a token element). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyclone Posted February 7, 2012 Author Share Posted February 7, 2012 Our soldiers are like walking armies in thier own right the amount of firepower they can bring to bare. The RAF are amonst the best pilots in the world and currently have the best fighter in the world. We also have some of the most advanced subs that are most likely already there watching the Argies get red faced a puffy chested. Modern infantry don't have much more firepower than they did in WWII. A squad will be armed with personal SA80s and an LSW, nothing else is standard issue AFAIK. The RAF are probably better than the Argentinian pilots, but given the very few planes that are relevant to the potential conflict is that really important? If we still had an aircraft carrier and fleet air arm then the point would have been a good one. We certainly don't have the best fighter in the world, the US do. Subs, quite true, we are at the forefront of sub technology and the Astute is probably the best in class in the world at the moment. Subs aren't much use in retaking an island of course... Nor in stopping it being taken unless you're prepared to fire first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
famillyguy Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Modern infantry don't have much more firepower than they did in WWII. A squad will be armed with personal SA80s and an LSW, nothing else is standard issue AFAIK. The RAF are probably better than the Argentinian pilots, but given the very few planes that are relevant to the potential conflict is that really important? If we still had an aircraft carrier and fleet air arm then the point would have been a good one. We certainly don't have the best fighter in the world, the US do. Subs, quite true, we are at the forefront of sub technology and the Astute is probably the best in class in the world at the moment. Subs aren't much use in retaking an island of course... Nor in stopping it being taken unless you're prepared to fire first. ill bet you a tenner that we would win, if the argies try it again:hihi: we would win with one regiment, a dozen spitfires and hms victory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrSmith Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Modern infantry don't have much more firepower than they did in WWII. A squad will be armed with personal SA80s and an LSW, nothing else is standard issue AFAIK. The RAF are probably better than the Argentinian pilots, but given the very few planes that are relevant to the potential conflict is that really important? If we still had an aircraft carrier and fleet air arm then the point would have been a good one. We certainly don't have the best fighter in the world, the US do. Subs, quite true, we are at the forefront of sub technology and the Astute is probably the best in class in the world at the moment. Subs aren't much use in retaking an island of course... Nor in stopping it being taken unless you're prepared to fire first. If the Argentineans have the capability to take the Falklands, a couple of aircraft carriers wouldn’t be enough to take it back. Any attempt to take it back would be significantly harder than last time and would be unlikely to succeed unless we were prepared to bomb Argentina. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balpin Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 ill bet you a tenner that we would win, if the argies try it again:hihi: we would win with one regiment, a dozen spitfires and hms victory. Leave them alone. Let the armchair generals have their day. They have never been anywhere further than the end of the street. Never mind been in the forces. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agent Orange Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Leave them alone. Let the armchair generals have their day. They have never been anywhere further than the end of the street. Never mind been in the forces. Care to put your money where your mouth is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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