SECRET UK EYES A LOCSEN
latter helicopters should be held at unit level as protected, contingency
reserve assets during a 6 months evaluation trial period, to be conducted bet-
ween 31 Mar and 30 Sep 89. The aircraft should be maintained in accordance with
an established servicing schedule and flown only to prove serviceability on a
prescribed basis. The IRR Scouts should be subjected to no-notice generation to
meet specified reaction timescales on several occasions during the 6 month
period. The aims of the trial would be: to determine the feasibility of the IRR
concept; to identify any penalties; and to quantify the extent of manpower and
financial support required. Assuming that the trial indicates that a force level
of 6 UE plus 2 IRRs at unit level is practicable and less expensive in terms of
manpower and financial cost than a UE of 8 Scouts, it is proposed that the
former force level be formally adopted by end 1989. If this is not proven, it
is proposed that the current force level of 8 UE Scouts be reinstated by end
1989, subject to the recommendations of the HQBFHK Helicopter Study Scout Force
level analysis (discussed at paragraph 31) and to amendment of LTC planning
parameters, which will need revision to support either solution.
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29. Wessex and Scout Force Levels Post RHKP Border Take-Over. CDS 7/87
prescribed a minimum availability of a contingency force of 4 Wessex to con-
duct a simultaneous platoon lift after the assumption by the RHKP of respon-
sibility for the whole border, and the majority of the garrison's tasks, in
about 1993. To guarantee this capability a minimum force of 4 AE and 2 IUR
Wessex was approved. In addition, as a minimum, an operational contingency
force of 4 Scouts was also approved by CDS 7/87 for that period following the
transfer of border responsibility until such time as the garrison reduces to its
minimum force level - after which event a contingency force of 3 Scouts is
ROW 113 (HONG)
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SECRET UK EYES A LOCSEN