AREAS FOR FURTHER STUDY
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SECRET UK EYES A
64. A number of further studies are required before firm recommendations can be made concerning the exact numbers of
aircraft necessary to guarantee short notice availability of 4
Wessex and 4 or 3 Scouts. These studies, which will need to
reflect the age of the Wessex and Scout fleets, are indicated
below:
a.
The Sovereign Force's helicopter support and training requirements.
b.
The feasibility of forming a joint RAF/Army helicopter
squadron.
c.
The relationship between AE/IUR mix and Unit Establishment
(UE) to meet the requirements of the above 2 studies.
The financial implications
These aspects are addressed at Annex X.F
COMMAND, CONTROL AND COMMUNICATIONS
it
65. Once the garrison reduces to 3 battalions, it may no longer be either necessary or justifiable to maintain 48 Gurkha Infantry
Brigade as a separate force; there could be merit in re-locating a
reduced staff alongside HQBF, whilst retaining a small tactical
HQ capability. At that stage also, it might be possible to make
commensurate reductions in the HQ BF Staff itself but, equally,
may be necessary to strengthen the joint-service element of the
HQ to plan and coordinate the withdrawal. Finally, communications
will be vital, and to re-locate them out of the Prince of Wales
building would be difficult and costly. The command structure
is currently the subject of a separate HQ BF Hong Kong study.
COS S/172 (1)
31
UK EYES A
SECRET LOCSEN
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