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37. Short duration operations.
ANNEX A to
DP 17778(C) (Preliminary Draft) (Continued
Because the Air Transport Force
is invariably tasked to the full, any Priority Two operation will
lead to disruption or cancellation of planned tasks. The size,
nature and duration of contingency operations dictates the level
of cancellations. The Belize reinforcement of 1977 required vir-
tually complete cancellation of routine Air Transport tasks in-
cluding scheduled, exercise and logistic flights. On the other
hand the Kolwezi evacuation and the airlift of Fijian troops to
UNIFIL caused disruption, but only a few low priority tasks had
to be cancelled.
Effect on NATO
38. It is believed that SACEUR (and this probably applies to the
other two MNCs), has regarded United Kingdom requirements to use
earmarked or assigned forces for Priority Two tasks with sympathy.
The UK Delegations in Brussels adopt a robust line, maintaining
that the UK has a right to use national forces as it sees fit for
unforeseen national tasks. This is also the view of those other
military delegations in Brussels whose governments would use their
forces similarly in similar circumstances. They would also expect
an understanding attitude in NATO. There has been no significant perceived adverse military reaction in the Alliance.
Overall Effect
39.
With the exception of the effects on the planned usage of the
ATF caused by the initial deployments in the Belize Reinforcements
and the effect in NATO and the RAF of the continued in theatre
presence of Harriers and RAF Regiment Units, the Services have
absorbed the unforeseen priority commitments which HMC has
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