Our involvement in 1 war is obviously not enough for some people. 
RAF jets attack Gaddafi forces.
- Thread starter Shadeyman
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RAF jets attack Gaddafi forces.
hopefully this shouldnt end in a war.. this should be just to create this no fly zone.. but i can see us getting involved in this
hopgully should be an easy war as theire is lines.
shame its cameroon tho,
was is the reporter americanish /computer.
rebals must win this.
anyways who is libia V the world?
shame its cameroon tho,
was is the reporter americanish /computer.
rebals must win this.
anyways who is libia V the world?
Colonel Gaddafi is a bit of an odd beast in as much as he is a Dictator on the edge of Europe. All the others, Hitler, Mussolini, Franco, Ceucescu, Tito and Stalin have gone. Some to be replaced by "respectable" alternatives, Putin, for example, and others by democracy in one form or another.
Gadaffi though, is hanging on for grim death. He has fostered civil war in Chad to the south of Libya which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians there and his quid pro quo has been the appearance of Chadian mercenaries in the early stages of this uprising.
He is also a close friend of that other doyen of free speech and lively, free political debate Robert Mugabe. His country was also responsible for several shipments of arms and explosives to the IRA, most of which were, admittedly, intercepted, but some of which got through and resulted in the deaths of British civilians and soldiers. He was responsible for the first appearances of Semtex on British streets.
It was staff from the Libyan People's Bureuraux (sp?) who were responsible for the death of WPC Yvonne Fletcher who was on duty outside protecting the building from Libyan exiled protestors. She was shot from within that building.
Then there was the downing of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie........
A "No-Fly " zone in itself would do little to help the rebels in Benghazi or Tobruk. I think that the UN resolution empowered the Coalition to take steps to protect those areas under attack, or ".....threatened by attack....." which would allow aircraft to attack Libyan army units that could attack the rebel positions. That would be something like the stance taken by the British during the Flaklands campaign when the decision was taken to sink the Belgrano, the Argentinian cruiser; not because of what she did, but of what she was capable of doing.
According to news reports I saw today, it was French aircraft that attacked the military column. British and US elements launched raids against Air Defence Command and Control systems.
Gadaffi though, is hanging on for grim death. He has fostered civil war in Chad to the south of Libya which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians there and his quid pro quo has been the appearance of Chadian mercenaries in the early stages of this uprising.
He is also a close friend of that other doyen of free speech and lively, free political debate Robert Mugabe. His country was also responsible for several shipments of arms and explosives to the IRA, most of which were, admittedly, intercepted, but some of which got through and resulted in the deaths of British civilians and soldiers. He was responsible for the first appearances of Semtex on British streets.
It was staff from the Libyan People's Bureuraux (sp?) who were responsible for the death of WPC Yvonne Fletcher who was on duty outside protecting the building from Libyan exiled protestors. She was shot from within that building.
Then there was the downing of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie........
A "No-Fly " zone in itself would do little to help the rebels in Benghazi or Tobruk. I think that the UN resolution empowered the Coalition to take steps to protect those areas under attack, or ".....threatened by attack....." which would allow aircraft to attack Libyan army units that could attack the rebel positions. That would be something like the stance taken by the British during the Flaklands campaign when the decision was taken to sink the Belgrano, the Argentinian cruiser; not because of what she did, but of what she was capable of doing.
According to news reports I saw today, it was French aircraft that attacked the military column. British and US elements launched raids against Air Defence Command and Control systems.
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I can't help but feel we're meddling in affairs which don't concern us. Other than the cost of fuel .
Yes innocent people are dying etc, it's all a big shame blah blah.
Millions die in Africa from a disease that has a vaccination that costs £0.33.
At least we get to test our new multi billion £ jet fighter... oh no wait we used our 35year old Tornado GR4's.
.Yes innocent people are dying etc, it's all a big shame blah blah.
Millions die in Africa from a disease that has a vaccination that costs £0.33.
At least we get to test our new multi billion £ jet fighter... oh no wait we used our 35year old Tornado GR4's
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Don't knock the GR4. Amazing bit of kit. Used to love while on holiday in the Lakes watching them low-altitude training down Ullswater. Once got to the top of a hill for the Tornado to come over the top.. about 100ft up. I could read the signs on the underside it was so close.
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Don't get me wrong I'm not. However I find it rather annoying they spend all that money on a new all singing all dancing multi-role fighter-bomber and they use the old one .
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i thought the eurofighters were going ??
Just because it's old doesn't mean it's dead. Look at the Swordfish.
That aircraft saw two world wars, was still in service depite attempts to replace it and crippled the Bismarck.
Then there's the Antonov an225
Despite losing the chance to carry the Buran when the iron curtain fell at least it now has a respectible career as a courier. One of the largest in the air. I especially like how balanced it looks compared to other giant planes.
Or also from Russia, The Tu 95.
It's engines and props alone are cool enough making it the fastest turboprop in the world, still in use today.
That aircraft saw two world wars, was still in service depite attempts to replace it and crippled the Bismarck.
Then there's the Antonov an225
Despite losing the chance to carry the Buran when the iron curtain fell at least it now has a respectible career as a courier. One of the largest in the air. I especially like how balanced it looks compared to other giant planes.
Or also from Russia, The Tu 95.
It's engines and props alone are cool enough making it the fastest turboprop in the world, still in use today.
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My granddad worked with Stringbads! He was an officer on the Ark Royal in WW2 and helped in the pursuit of Bismark The Swordfish was an amazing aircraft - slow, but stable and very fast in a dive. He mentioned many stories of them making it back, shot to pieces.
Bit off topic, I know. Sorry
He was an officer on the Ark Royal in WW2 and helped in the pursuit of Bismark The Swordfish was an amazing aircraft - slow, but stable and very fast in a dive. He mentioned many stories of them making it back, shot to pieces.Bit off topic, I know. Sorry
Seems the Eurofighters aren't ready to carry the stormshadow missiles so the GR4s did the job. 3000 miles, 7 hours, hope the seats are comfy!
On the topic of Libiya though, someone has to draw a line somewhere. The question is if this is the action when it is passed - will they be willing to go to the UN against Bahrain or other middle east countries that we are much more pally with?
On the topic of Libiya though, someone has to draw a line somewhere. The question is if this is the action when it is passed - will they be willing to go to the UN against Bahrain or other middle east countries that we are much more pally with?
Whats the risk on Fiat? I though he owned a major majority of the company? And other companies involved.. (Sorry, was watching this on the news and remembered this thread!)
(Sorry, was watching this on the news and remembered this thread!)I think part of the reason we're involved in this is, partly old score settling and partly because Libya is on the edge of Europe. If there is large scale migration of refugees and asylum seekers because of repression or persecution then they aren't liable to move into sub-Saharan Africa; they're going to move north, which means Western Europe which in turn means Italy, France and the UK. So there is also a degree of self-interest.
Personally, I think we need a balance between the luxury we have of democracy, and the stability of more autocratically run states such as Saudi Arabia.
Personally, I think we need a balance between the luxury we have of democracy, and the stability of more autocratically run states such as Saudi Arabia.
Actually, the Swordfish only saw one World War although it owed its design more to the First than the Second. It's survival in spite of all the firepower of the Bismark was largely due to them flying too slowly for the Kriegsmarine AA gunners and the fact that its structure allowed shrapnel to pass between the wings and cause relatively little damage to the fabric skin. The pilots of those aircraft would have been knackered had they come up against an aircraft such as the Messerschmidt Bf 109.Just because it's old doesn't mean it's dead. Look at the Swordfish.
That aircraft saw two world wars, was still in service depite attempts to replace it and crippled the Bismarck.
Then there's the Antonov an225
Despite losing the chance to carry the Buran when the iron curtain fell at least it now has a respectible career as a courier. One of the largest in the air. I especially like how balanced it looks compared to other giant planes.
Or also from Russia, The Tu 95.
It's engines and props alone are cool enough making it the fastest turboprop in the world, still in use today.
As for the Antonov, that kind of aircraft have an incredibly long life span. The Lockheed C-130 Hercules has been in front line service for almost 50 years, having started its service life when the Beach Boys were still in the charts. The AN-225 looks well proportioned in comparison with, for example, the A380 because of its length to height ratio. The A380 is an enormous aircraft, but because it's double decked for its entire length it actually looks shorter than a B747.
The TU95 was in the same boat as the Swordfish in as much as had the Cold War got Hot, they would have stood no chance against even the English Electric Llightnings we used in the '60s. As the Swordfish would have fallen to the Bf109, so the TU95 would have suffered the same fate at the hands of the Lightnings and U.S. F4 Phantoms.
Holy Smoke, I'm turning into a Cabbage!!!!!!
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