The MSM is publicising the start of a massive 'simulated war' involving ships, aircraft and submarine to be staged off the west coast of Scotland as part of a Nato military exercise.
The Royal Navy's flagship aircraft carrier, HMS Illustrious, will take the lead role in Exercise Joint Warrior.
Forces from the USA, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Turkey and Brazil are also taking part in the 21-day exercise which starts on Monday.
The scenario involves three nations fighting over disputed territory.
State-sponsored terrorism will also be introduced to the exercise, along with a period of built-up tension,, followed by simulated war fighting and open hostilities.
Ships have already begun to arriving at the Faslane Naval Base, which will host more than 100 British personnel and their allied counterparts.
HMS Illustrious will be the biggest ship involved and lead a nine strong task group. Her Harrier GR9 jets will be among 50 warplanes flying about 75 sorties a day. Type 23 frigates HMS Northumberland and HMS Portland are also taking part.
The United States Navy is sending four ships, as is Canada and there will be other ships from Denmark, France, Turkey along with the Brazilian frigate BNS Defensora.
Helicopters will be deployed from the UK, Canada, Brazil the USA and Denmark, while planes will fly from the UK, Germany, France, Canada, Norway and the USA.
Ground forces will be provided by the UK, Belgium and the United States Marines.
Certain areas of Scotland are often used for military exercises but these are never given publicity. This one is different. Why? I understand the message but to whom is it directed? Iran, Russia, the middle east?
Source: BBC
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13 comments:
The SNP?
This exercise got off to a bit of a rather inauspicious start when an Army Truck travelling to Cape Wrath crashed through a bridge closing the A838. Locals now have a sixty mile detour.
See:- BBC Highland News
‘Joint Warrior’ is a regular tri-service MoD/NATO exercise here in the north. (I believe it has been extended for an extra week on this occasion.)
Although not ‘advertised’, as such, there is always mention of the exercise either in the local press or on local radio, and no one could fail to notice the jets screaming overhead. This one is no different to previous, just appears that some sections of the media have picked up on it.
If delegates from Iran, Russia, the middle-east, or from the SNP, wish to come along I’m sure the local hoteliers will make them most welcome, and believe me they will be impressed by the military display.
I have my camera at the ready hoping to catch a low flying fast jet, now these boys really do impress.
SR,
Maybe to show Salmond what will happen if he attempts to 'play with the Big Boys'?
Ah Conan, nothing would surprise me.
John isn't this one much bigger than any other? The jets fly over here enroute and I've heard more this weekend than ever before. Usually I'm unaware of them.
I know your area is used a lot, same as around here is used for specific purposes.
Do hope the closure of the A838 doesn't affect you. I could tell you a few stories about army trucks - but we'd be here all night!
WfW, nothing surprises me with Brown but what this does is put Scotland even more on the map - with it being a NATO exercise.
I think that
"Witterings from Witney,"
has his the nail, fore-square on the head.
Spot on old chap.
SR,
JW is a NATO Exercise, we used to have 3 Joint Maritime Courses (JMC) per year. They've always been held on the northwest side of Scotland, no sabre rattling just a legacy of Westmidden and an opportunity for NATO sailors to spend spondoolies in Helensburgh and see a bit of Scotland.
Roll on our Independence, when this cold war dinosaur is relegated to the bin where it belongs. Pity they bombed the shit out of Cape Wrath - another Union dividend.
Time for many a Stornoway fisherman to get his pots and nets cast a bit further into deeper water to claim off the MoD as they get trashed by Warships screaming around like they own our TTW!
Crazy D
I just thought it strange the amount of publicity this one was getting CD because I know these things go on here.
Stornoway fishermen won't be behind the door in the claims section CD, not if they're still as smart as they were back in the late 60s.
Dear Mum & Dad,
I am well. Hope youse are too. Tell me big brothers Doug and Phil that the Army is better than workin' on the farm - tell them to get in bloody quicksmart before the jobs are all gone! I wuz a bit slow in settling down at first, because ya don't hafta get outta bed until 6am. But I like sleeping in now, cuz all yagotta do before brekky is make ya bed and shine ya boots and clean ya uniform.
No bloody cows to milk, no calves to feed, no feed to stack - nothin'!! Ya haz gotta shower though, but its not so bad, coz there's lotsa hot water and even a light to see what ya doing!
At brekky ya get cereal, fruit and eggs but there's no kangaroo steaks or possum stew like wot Mum makes. You don't get fed again until noon and by that time all the city boys are sugared because we've been on a 'route march' geez it's only just like walking to the windmill in the back paddock!!
This one will kill me Brothers Doug and Phil with laughter. I keep getting medals for shootin' - dunno why. The bullseye is as big as a bloody possum's bum and it don't move and it's not firing back at ya like the Johnsons did when our big scrubber bull got into their prize cows before the Ekka last year! All ya gotta do is make yourself comfortable and hit the target - it's easy.
You don't even load your own cartridges they comes in little boxes and ya don't have to steady yourself against the roll bar of the roo shooting truck when you reload!
Sometimes ya gotta wrestle with the city boys and I gotta be real careful coz they break easy - it's not like fighting with Doug and Phil and Jack and Boori and Steve and Muzza all at once like we do at home after the muster.
Turns out I'm not a bad boxer either and it looks like I'm the best the platoon's got, and I've only been beaten by this one bloke from the Engineers - he's 6 foot 5 and 15 stone and three pick handles across the shoulders and as ya know I'm only 5 foot 7 and eight stone wringin' wet, but I fought him till the other blokes carried me off to the boozer.
I can't complain about the Army - tell the boys to get in quick before word gets around how bloody good it is.
Your loving daughter,
Sheila
Thanks KBW, lovely story for a Monday morning.
"The scenario involves three nations fighting over disputed territory."
The US, UK and Scotland all have an interest in Scotland's oil?
"State-sponsored terrorism will also be introduced."
The spooks are working out how to frustrate the SNP?
-Aangirfan
Aangirfan, haven't they been doing that since oil was discovered? Problem is it's far more obvious these days.
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