TNAG-0757-FCO40-961-Strength-of-UK-armed-forces-stationed-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 39

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Other Royal Air Force Resources

ANNEX A to

DP 1778(C) (Preliminary Draft)

Continued)

55. The UK Based Helicopter Force.

Helicopters are

likely to be required as part of forces deployed to conduct

protected evacuations, cr United Nations peacekeeping tasks.

Wessex aircraft cannot be used for distant operations as

preparation for airlift by Hercules takes an unacceptable time.

Resources available are thus confined to Puma aircraft in the

UK. Two squadrons totalling 26 Puma aircraft are assigned

to SACEUR (22 to UKMF(A), 4 to AMF(L)). Additionally 4 aircraft are in

Belize, 4 are deployed to N. Ireland and 1 is maintained at

stand-by to cover national Internal Security requirements.

The only other Pumas in the UK are the 5 aircraft in the OCU,

Thus there are no spare aircraft. Any additional Priority Two

Commitment could only be met by using the aircraft assigned

to SACEUR. The Puma force is already hard pressed; hours

planned for NATO training have in general been reduced by 50%

since 1975, SACEUR's aircraft generation criteria cannot be met

while the detachment remains in Belize, disruption to training

means that ability to survive in the field is now assessed by STC

TACEVAL teams as marginal. Additional Priority Two Commitments would

seriously affect the capability of maintaining commitments to NATO.

56. The Harrier Force and the RAF Regiment. The effects of

Priority Two Commitments conducted since 1975 are described in

Any further commitment would have similar damaging

para 35.

effects.

A 31

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