US loses 8 fighter jets.

[algy]

IS THIS THE SAME ATTACK AS REPORTED IN OUR PRESS, IF SO THERE WAS NO MENTION OF FIGHTER JET LOSSES.

 

RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA OR FACT?

 

US lost eight jets in worst air loss in one day since Vietnam war

 

Reported on RT News.

Published: 17 September, 2012, 20:36

 

After Taliban gunmen destroyed eight Harrier jets at a US camp in Helmand Province, the US military has suffered its worst air loss in one day since the Vietnam War.

 

The Taliban attacked Camp Bastion, the main strategic base in southwestern Afghanistan, on Sept. 14, causing $200 million in damage in the single most destructive strike on a Western base during the war, according to military officials.

 

Two Marines were killed, nine coalition personnel were wounded and six jets costing between $23 million and $30 million were completely destroyed.

 

The approximately 15 insurgents, dressed in US Army uniforms, had penetrated the base Friday night and instantly began shooting and setting fire to parked Navy-AV-8B Harrier jets when they were inside. Three refueling stations were severely damaged during the attack.

 

“It was a running gun battle for a while, two and a half hours, nonetheless they were able to get to the aircraft before we could intercept them,” a military official told the New York Times. Using machine guns, rocket propelled grenades and possibly mortars, most of the aircrafts were demolished.

 

After a drawn-out nighttime battle that made it hard to see the enemy, all but one of the Taliban fighters were killed. The remaining insurgent is now in military custody.

 

Camp Bastion is one of the largest and best-defended posts in Afghanistan, making it troubling that the attackers were able to inflict so much damage.

 

“We’re saying it’s a very sophisticated attack,” a military official told the Times. “We’ve lost aircraft in battle, but nothing like this.”

 

The Taliban made a statement blaming the attack on the anti-Muslim video that sparked outrage in the Arab world. But Wahid Mujda, an Afghan analyst who tracks the Taliban, told the Times that an attack as sophisticated as this one took a lot of planning and training, thereby being unrelated to the release of the video.

 

“I do not think that the Camp Bastion attack had anything to do with the anti-Prophet movie,” he said. “Given the sophistication of the attack one can say with a lot of confidence that the Taliban had been training, rehearsing and preparing for weeks and even months. Everything was not planned and decided overnight.”

 

The detrimental attack comes after nearly 10,000 American Marines have left Helmand Province over the past several months, now that the offensive is over. But more coalition service members have died this year in Afghanistan. After Friday’s attack, four more service members were killed on Sunday in Zabul Province, bringing the total number of deaths this year to 51. Last year, 35 were killed as a result of this type of violence.

 

And as US involvement in Afghanistan trickles down, the Taliban has left its mark on the highest security base with the most destructive attack in the region in 11 years.

[Dizzy]

Seems it's true Algy although I've not actually heard anything about it on the news but then I don't often watch it.

 

The destruction of the 8 Harrier Jets is briefly mentioned on this BBC News article from 17th (just above the word 'serious')

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19627164

 

Probably something they didn't really want broadcasting too much as their defences will be lower now should they be needed

[inky pete]

Yeah, it was on the news over here that they'd had aircraft - including Harriers - on the ground damaged and destroyed. They can afford it though, we sold them all of our 72 Harriers for $180 million only last year!

 

That's why OUR aircraft and crews are kept in a high security compound within the base, not parked along the taxiways near the perimeter fence!

[algy]

Yeah, it was on the news over here that they'd had aircraft - including Harriers - on the ground damaged and destroyed. They can afford it though, we sold them all of our 72 Harriers for $180 million only last year!

 

That's why OUR aircraft and crews are kept in a high security compound within the base, not parked along the taxiways near the perimeter fence!

 

Inky,

 

The yanks paid us £112 Million for 74 and considering those aircraft had just had a £600 Million refit, I would say we were well turned over!.

 

Rear Admiral Mark Heinrich, chief of the US Navy’s supply corps said: "We’re taking advantage of all the money the Brits have spent on them. It’s like we are buying a car with 15,000 miles on it."

 

The aircraft were upgraded over ten years at a cost of £500million and a weapons system upgrade was carried out in the last five years at a cost of £100million.

 

Not sure who climbed into bed with who over that one, but I know who was on top!: :rolleyes

[observer]

..... and where was HRH Harry the lad, while this was going on? Ushered into a bunker surrounded by his bodyguard - wonder how he'll tell it to the debs when he gets home?!

[inky pete]

What should he have been doing Obs?

 

He hadn't completed his in-theatre training so didn't have an Apache assigned to him, hadn't trained with the security forces which were responding to the attack - so would have been just as likely to get shot by them or get in their way as be of any use, he wouldn't have had body armour (pilots don't), and he was armed only with his side arm.

 

ALL non-security personnel were ordered into shelters when the attack started, to allow those security troops to safely bring heavy weapons (including the Apaches flown by the crew Harry will be relieving when his in-theatre training is complete) to bear on the attackers.

 

The result was a 4 hour containment and fire-fight ending with at least 14 dead Taliban for the loss of 2 US Marines - both of whom were killed in the initial moments of the attack.

[observer]

What should he be doing? - getting back to the UK - he's nowt but a liability.

[inky pete]

He performed very well in action last time he was there.

 

No reason to imagine that he won't rack up his fair share of Taliban kills once he goes operational and straps on an Apache.

[observer]

Last time he was there, he was in a bunker on air/ground comms - not exactly risky. You don't actually believe that the third in line to the throne will be placed in harms way do you? :roll:

[asperity]

What is the matter with you Obs. You complain that the royals don't do anything, and when they do you moan that they shouldn't be doing anything. Make up your mind.

[observer]

Nope, I'm not complaining that "they don't do anything", that's merely an observation of historical fact. IF we have a Monarchy, the head of State and possible successors require protection; either that, or treat them all as expendable like the rest of us - one or the other.

[asperity]

As I said in another thread, you don't half talk rubbish Obs :grin:

[inky pete]

Last time he was there, he was in a bunker on air/ground comms - not exactly risky.

 

You don't actually have any idea of what the job of an FAC (Forward Air Controller) really entails, do you Obs?

 

They are always embedded with front line troops, based at small Forward Operating Bases, going out on the same patrols as the other soldiers, with the job of calling in and co-ordinating air support whenever they come under attack - which they do, regularly. In order to do this they need to KNOW where the bad guys are, which means they have to be close enough to be able to SEE the bad guys. They also have to KNOW where all of their own guys are, so they have to be far enough forward to be able to SEE them. And they also have to KNOW of anywhere that non-combatants are likely to be taking shelter, so they need to have SEEN and be familiar with all the buildings and ground features of the area they are operating in.

 

That can ONLY be done by going out on on regular foot and vehicle patrols.

 

You don't actually believe that the third in line to the throne will be placed in harms way do you? :roll:

 

Rubbish.

 

Prince Andrew was SECOND in line to the throne when he served as a Sea King pilot aboard HMS Invincible during the Falklands War - a ship which the Argentinians lost almost half its air-force trying desperately to destroy. They thought they'd succeeded too when one of their pilots put an Exocet into the Atlantic Conveyor, thinking that a radar return that big in a location close to where they knew Invincible to be simply had to be the aircraft carrier.

[observer]

So Camp Bastion is classed as a FOB is it. and young HRH went out on patrol with the lads did he? Dream on.

[Lt Kije]

As a republican the mere fact of him going over their and doing what he was trained to do has done him no harm at all, I feel better about him than I do over the other hangers on. Perhaps if their were more like him in the royal entourage,republicans would be an even smaller minority. Good luck to him he is showing the Royals in a positive light.

[inky pete]

So Camp Bastion is classed as a FOB is it. and young HRH went out on patrol with the lads did he? Dream on.

 

Not letting facts get in the way of your ignorant presumption then Obs?

 

My link

 

My link

 

In 2008 Harry was fully embedded with his unit of the Household Cavalry Regiment as part of the Helmand Battlegroup and worked extensively with Gurkha infantry units. He was stationed at a small Forward Operating Base in Southern Helmand - a long, long way from Camp Bastion - for all of the 10 weeks he was deployed. He was due to be there for another month or so before the foreign media revealed his presence, at which point senior officers took the decision to withdraw him rather than put the small base he was at and the units he was with at unacceptable risk of sustained attacks.

 

Harry most definitely DID make regular foot and vehicle patrols around his area of operations, he most definitely DID come under attack on several occasions, and he has most certainly killed the enemies of this country in the performance of his duties - just like all the other soldiers he served alongside.

[observer]

"unacceptable risk of attacks".

[algy]

Not letting facts get in the way of your ignorant presumption then Obs?

 

My link

 

My link

 

In 2008 Harry was fully embedded with his unit of the Household Cavalry Regiment as part of the Helmand Battlegroup and worked extensively with Gurkha infantry units. He was stationed at a small Forward Operating Base in Southern Helmand - a long, long way from Camp Bastion - for all of the 10 weeks he was deployed. He was due to be there for another month or so before the foreign media revealed his presence, at which point senior officers took the decision to withdraw him rather than put the small base he was at and the units he was with at unacceptable risk of sustained attacks.

 

Harry most definitely DID make regular foot and vehicle patrols around his area of operations, he most definitely DID come under attack on several occasions, and he has most certainly killed the enemies of this country in the performance of his duties - just like all the other soldiers he served alongside.

 

Should introduce WW Forum to the Taliban they'd soon realise that if left alone we infidels are that busy with fighting amongst ourselves and not worth bothering about, they would probably pack it all in knowing that if we were left alone for long enough we would probably destroy ourselves anyway.

[Bazj]

Should introduce WW Forum to the Taliban they'd soon realise that if left alone we infidels are that busy with fighting amongst ourselves and not worth bothering about, they would probably pack it all in knowing that if we were left alone for long enough we would probably destroy ourselves anyway.

 

ladies and gentlemen..... welcome to the human race!

[algy]

ladies and gentlemen..... welcome to the human race!

Is that what we are purported to be Baz.

[Dizzy]

Well I never really had you or Baz down as being ladies (well not for long anyway)

[algy]

Well I never really had you or Baz down as being ladies (well not for long anyway)

Glad about that Dizz!.

[inky pete]

"unacceptable risk of attacks".

 

Yes. A small, remote, Forward Operating Base with a now known high propaganda value target would have been likely to come under almost constant attack.

 

It would have relieved the pressure on other bases as the Taliban concentrated all their efforts in one place, but not much fun for the guys stationed there!

 

So you're no longer disputing that Harry WAS based in a FOB and patrolled as a JTAC FAC with the other troops there Obs? Are you now going to admit your previous assertion claiming that Harry spent all of his 2008 deployment in a bunker at Camp Bastion was ignorant, insulting, wrong, and - given how easily the details of his deployment can be found on the internet - just plain lazy?

 

If you were to tell any other front line soldier who had returned from Afghanistan that they'd spent their deployment hiding in a bunker, you'd be likely to be spending the next hour or so looking for your teeth!

[observer]

Clearly doubt your last para - as most ex-squadies would agree he's a liability - after all, didn't they call him "the bullet magnet"?! Look Ink, believe what you want, but they just ain't going to put this juvenile at risk of capture.

[asperity]

Juvenile???He's 28 years old!! :shock: