Two C-130J Hercules aircraft out of RAF Brize Norton have conducted a low level formation training sortie across the South West of England, say the Royal Air Force.

The RAF say here that the aircraft, after departing Brize Norton, practised low-level altitude flying near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.  The pair then climbed before practising close-formation airdrop procedures over land.

“With the sun setting, the aircraft flew out over the Bristol Channel where the pilots from 47 Squadron and 24 Squadron conducted simulated formation airdrop training for operations in support of maritime forces.”

Flight Lieutenant Manson, an RAF Pilot, said:

“The finesse required to fly these large aircraft in such close proximity is a special skill that requires regular practise. When you add night time into the equation it becomes even more essential to rehearse and refine these skills even further.

Closure speeds and distance are incredibly hard to judge at night as you simply don’t have the same visual references as day.  On a dark night even with night vision devices attached to our helmets it can be almost impossible to make out the other aircraft in any real detail, so we need to be exact in knowing what we’re seeing and interpreting that into safe and accurate flying to accomplish the mission.

It’s really important to remember that if and when the C-130 is called to perform a maritime airdrop for real, lives will likely be at stake. ‘Train hard, fight easy’ as the saying goes really does hold weight here, we must be ready to deliver whenever and wherever we are called upon.”

You can read more here.

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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129 COMMENTS

      • Probably part of the same exercise but I was around Welshpool last week and saw a good number of A400Ms too

    • Rumor has it, that 6-8 Herc’s are staying in service due to the lack of airdrop capability by the A400 fleet.

      • Why bother keeping so few.

        it becomes self defeating from an accounting perspective as the unit operating costs skyrocket.

        Might as well retain the lot?

        • Retaining all of them would be a good thing, but someone on the Air Force Board thinks cutting them all was the better option. There’s a bit of a battle still going on within the MOD on this, between both the RAF and the Army Boards. Until A400s are cleared for Airbourne deliveries C130s it is. Pallets can be pushed out, but no PAX can be.

          • Really interesting, I hope this is true. UKSF need their own dedicated aircraft and 22 Atlas cannot cover the SF mission and all the other tasks without yet more overstretch.

          • It has v good short field capabilities and of course could do the role.

            My beef has always been numbers, 22 Atlas taking on the SF mission that we have 14 Hercs to achieve. DSF get priority quite rightly, are deployed and need dedicated support in numbers, now the Atlas force has to do that mission too.

            It’s nonsense. We are one of the most deployed and used militaries on the planet and other nations have more transport assets doing far less.

            AT should be a growth area not a cut.
            “More agile and global” the MoD spin doctors call it.

            I hope the additional Atlas arrive, and not just 2 or 3.

          • As you say, Atlas is a very capable aircraft and we could certainly do with more (plus other kit as well but I won’t go on). But it still needs more runway than a C-130, is more expensive and a bigger target. A sledgehammer to crack a nut in some cases. Of course there is always the C-27 . . .

          • The C-295 has better versatility and is used by more Air Force’s, the USAF did buy C-27 but gave them to USCG! i understand that they have same cargo box dimensions but the short field performance is not much better than C-130. The Atlas has good STOL but max weight is 100tons where max landing is 123tons so if they are going SF and need round trip fuel with base weight of 70+ tons doesn’t leave much useable weight! if you need 20ton round trip fuel only have 10yon payload and not sure how far it will get on 10ton? 7-800 miles?

          • Not personally enjoyed the confines of the A400m, but agree entirely with your sentiments. SF deployments heed every kilo of extra ability, whether you use it or not.

          • The C-235 / C-295 is essentially your air transport of choice for second world airforces. Lot of countries use them for moving troops around but also as a gunship.

          • Workarounds have been tried to no avail! M400 is a good transporter, but not so very good for SF or other tactical roles.

        • To be honest, the Hercs should be maintained in full at present. The events in Eastern Europe and today’s unilateral commitment by Bozo means we could be left short handed in air transport (amount other things).

    • I would guess the theory is that once you get into visual range of the enemy, your under most threat and that threat is increased further once your in drop range and so you want to keep the element of surprise as long as possible. You don’t want the first plane arriving to prewarn the enemy and give them time to react ahead of the second, better to get all the drops done as fast as possible so that the planes are out of dodge before the enemy is able to organise and react.

      • Not so much close formation flying mate as they will normally fly in stream when approaching the drop zone, and pop up from about 250 feet AGL to 500-700 feet AGL on the run in to the drop zone. But you right in that the aim of any drop is to get the sticks to get to the ground asp, hence the LLP drop height of 500 feet on ops (700-800 in training) and as close together as possible 👍! As for the article, sad to say that this used to be a common training scenario, rather routine but now we are at the sad, reduced platform stage where the RAF PR people put it out as a noteworthy news story. Cheers mate.

  3. I wonder if a daring do rescue mission is being planned for those besieged Mariupol fighters? Imagine if we pulled something like that off!

    • The only way that is happening is via negotiations or a massive attack elsewhere to divert forces then a 2nd massive attack on Mariupol to try to secure a land bridge for extraction. Basically an all out attack on Mariupol. Not sure that will happen.

      • I like the sound of what you’re suggesting. We’ll have to wait to see. Those fighters must be on their last legs and low on ammunition. I wonder if small drones can be used to get some supplies to them? Hope Ukrainian forces can one day reclaim Mariupol and the rest of their country back.

        • I was publicised that this had been done a few times.

          It is the only reason I can think of that they are keeping going with ammunition and food drops.

          Some very tough boys and girls in there. Mind you if the choice was to surrender to a murdering bunch of rapists you would probably hold out as long as possible to? I don’t see much respect for the Geneva conventions round there?

          • Apart perhaps from the 1300+ Ukrainian marines who seem to have successfully surrendered from the surrounding area 3 or so weeks ago.

          • you mean the russian soldiers dressed up as ukraine soldiers because the images i saw from osint there were no visible wounds and looking happy with clean uniforms,, if i was surrendering i certainly would not be looking happy,and i doubt my uniform would be anything but clean that’s for damn sure

          • Give yourself a break son with your Putin rapist fetish! Any condemnation of Putins illegal invasion of Ukraine yet?

          • Showing your true colours now!…I’m all for an alternative perspective… but if you’re not a troll your a sympathiser that shows no regard for civilian life. Know personally what they did in Eastern Europe to your kind in the 2nd World War and during the Cold War.
            Give your rubbish a rest…you insult the intelligence of not only every one on this site…but every decent upstanding European citizen.

          • Been in touch with them recently have you to check on how well they have been treated? Maybe ask the guy pulling your strings to put you in touch.

        • Ironically those fighters are the ones that use Nazi flags etc and so are the very ones that Putin used as an excuse to attack. They therefore know there is no surrender for them and it’s hold and go out in glory or a very painful existence in some russian prison. At this stage I can’t see a third option for them.

          What surprises me is there are so few of them actually there, I read somewhere around 1k. It’s amazing they are still holding out against massively higher numbers of Russian forces.

          • Fighting your way into that place would be effectively urban warfare and I bet that every time they try it the Ukranians cause a heavy toll on them. It looks a great place to defend (as long as you have supplies) but a horrible place to attack…

          • You are correct, for many of them, especially those with tattoos, there is no real alternative but there are large numbers of ‘normal’ Ukrainian soldiers in there, marines in particular, who could have a life but are not allowed the choice. The Russians have reported that they hear 6 languages over the radio nets so there are probably mercs or even NATO operatives in there. At least, according to the Ukrainian Government, all the civilians are now out.

            Estimates range up to around 2.5k including the injured. They are in a massive bunker complex with few access/vulnerable points. Very difficult to overcome regardless of force size, much easier to besiege in an attempt to starve them out. Reducing the blockade force to a minimum allowed the rest of the forces to be redeployed or rested.

            As might be expected, the Azov groups are using every opportunity to make it harder for the Russians, there are overhead pictures showing mine laying underway under the cover of the extraction of the civilians. Partly no doubt as they thought that no-one on their side would use that route again.

            The Russians control land access out to at least 50+ miles now, total air and sea dominance so there is very little to no chance of supplies getting in let alone any rescue attempts. The last time it was tried, the Russians allowed the helicopters in but shot them down on the way out.

          • Sorry- fresh out of T34 – lost them all in Angola in the 1980’s. Same for theT54/55 -all gone: Yom Kipper invasion, Syria, Angola, Afghanistan!

            The never ending list of Soviet backed mis-adventure. The gift that keeps giving to this day!

          • I saw on Twitter a typical Soviet, ahem Russian, tank reserve. One often reads they have many thousands in store?
            They looked like rusted hulks, the Russian version of Davis Monthan, only the US keep their kit beautifully in those hot desert conditions.

          • Hi DM. A brief anecdote from my SAAF days in the early ’80s. I participated in a cross border operation into Southern Angola (Ops Askari). The army captured vast amounts of soviet kit including someT54 tanks.

            Brand spanking “new” , so we figured they were brought out of the soviet reserve. Not surprising, considering they built about 35,000 units of the thing. Overall impression, really cramped- don’t know how they go three blokes into that turret with that huge 100mm gun breach. Stank of diesel fumes and couldn’t see a bloody thing from inside- wouldn’t be much fun fighting inside the thing .

          • Hi K.

            I enjoy those from you vets. Thanks

            Built en masse, lost en masse seems to be the Russian modus operandi no matter what the mark.

          • cheers DM

            Another small story to share. On this ops, we were forward deployed at an airfield near a town called Ongiva inside Angola. On an airstrike, an Impala jet (SA version of the Aermachi MB326 jet) took a sam hit . Emergency landing followed. Promptly gave the pilot an ice cold beer which was gratefully received. Fella looked a little pale when we viewed the damage.

            The right side tail fin /horizontal stabiliser was shared clean off at the root with a nice big accompanying hole in tail pipe. Inside the tail, we found the missile seeker head of what was later identified as a SA 9. A C130 took the kite back for repairs a few day later. Very lucky pilot!

            I wish I had my old kodak instamatic with me , but photographing anything was a serious offence and being 19 I did as I was told, Mores the pity!. TodayI.m 58 years old I still do what iI’m told -al be It by my dear wife.

            Enjoy that Surrey weekend sun!

          • You never respond to the questions you are asked, and for the record once more, any condemnation of Putins illegal invasion of Ukraine?

          • JIMK wrote:

            “Apologies for the delay but I’ve only just re-found the link to the Ukrainian pontoon being struck.”

            “Velen dank”
            I responded to your post where you stated and I quote:
            “”The alternate view is that Ukrainian forces, when hunkered down in built up areas are very difficult to defeat, but when they are out in the open they are far more exposed. Time will tell if it is a trap and they have been lured out of relative safety. The Ukrainians did instal a couple of pontoon bridges, fixed just below the surface of the river as a kind of natural camouflage, but one has been bombed.””

            I’ve been  keeping  very close tabs on what is happening across the Ukraine simply because I am most interested in the tactics used (you can blame B. H. Liddell Hart and his book Strategy where I was introduced to Belisarius, a truly amazing general whose achievements via the use of out flanking the other I feel should be made compulsory reading for all military officers) So the battle in the east. Moscow after a hard drawn bunfight took the town of Izium in April resulting in opposing forces holding either side of the Siverskyi Donets River. Using that river as a holding shield Moscow has advanced south east towards Lyman which will then put them in a position to threaten Sloviansk and Kramatorsk which if you look on the map is what Moscow needs to capture in which to remove the Ukrainian salient into their recent captures in Donetsk Oblast. The problem is the wooded areas favours the Ukrainians and Moscow is having an extremely hard time in advancing , which after a month and a half has cost them dearly . Whilst Moscow has concentrated its BTGs  in that direction, the Ukrainians have taken to the offensive around Kharkiv and pushed back Russian forces to the Russian border.

            But this is where it becomes most interesting. Remember I said that both sides are separated by the Siverskyi Donets River well the Ukrainians opened another front at the town of Protopopivka and built a bridge across it, the video you showed was the destruction of one such bridge on the 4th of May. But the fact remains the Ukrainians are taking the battle to the Russians and in the wooded areas on the other side of the river from Protopopivka  to Yampil NASA’s FIRMS fire map, shows that Ukrainian artillery is taking a very heavy toll on the invading Russian forces which can be verified by the numerous videos across the net showing a lot of Russian forces on their knees getting painfully battered around the ring.
            https://i.postimg.cc/vZB8qhKs/Opera-Snapshot-2022-05-11-233136-upload-wikimedia-org.png

            Don’t get me wrong, Moscow has brought a lot of firepower to the game, the problem is, they are losing men and equipment on a rate not seen since France capitulated to the Germans in 1940. Now in 1989, the USSR pulled out of Afghanistan after losing 14K men over 10 years (120 months) resulting in pressure across the USSR to end the war and bring their boys home. Well Moscow is only 3 months into its foray into the Ukraine and the lowest estimates show they have lost around 15K troops, its still the honeymoon period , but when the Russian public start to wake up to the fact that they have lost so many of their fathers, brothers and sons then expect outrage. We are already seeing some of that with how Moscow is clamping down on people objecting to this war. Thousands arrested , we are seeing signs of sabotage, we are seeing young men leaving Russia than serve and as I said it is still early days.
            Back to the destruction of that pontoon bridge , I cut and pasted in the post you replied to that Moscow on the retreat had destroyed 3 bridges in which to stop the Ukrainians crossing water lines of demarcation , the Ukrainians in turn built a bridge in which to continue their advance , which was taken out by Moscow and you tried to paint that as a brilliant tactical move , whilst omitting from the narrative  that the Russians are retreating in that neck of the woods and the Ukrainians are advancing  

            Anyway we are now 3 months down the line, lets come back in 1 months time and see where were are. Oh don’t get me wrong Moscow has the means in which to capture the entire region, the problem is, they are going about doing so in the most expensive way (men, equipment, moral) going, and as I hinted the real battle for Putin has yet to be fought and that battle will see him face off the families of the soldiers he has had killed. Everybody thinks Glasnost was a rude awaking for Russia, well what Putin has in store is going to be even worse.

            Oh and BTW, I started life as a Sapper, I’ve built many a Bridge be they:
            MGB single or double span
            With Pontoon
            HGOB
            Bailey Bridge
            Air portable bridge

            I was also a Combat Support boat operator , designed to replace the Mark 7 Tug regards to building bridges on the rivers of Germany, so I think I know a little something about Miltary bridges, such as they are designed to be put up quickly (as in hours) usually at night which explains why in that video you linked in, there are no troops to be seen, now contrast that with the images of the destroyed Russian bridges. As I keep saying about the Russians :
            All the gear, no idea.

          • But no real response by you to Farouk excellent detailed reply debunking your other post! You post propaganda and RT lies, then when handed your arse, you have not got he balls to defend your “opinion or version of events” as you know they are absolutely wrong even as you post them. A monitored and controlled account, hence why you are unable to condemn Putins illegal invasion of Ukraine! Pathetic! No wonder the West will always outmatch and overmatch your Russian peasants if you are a good example of the stock!

          • Beautiful read farouk. Things make more sense to me in that area now. Thank you.

          • Another instalment in Johninmk’s regular fantasy slot. Next week he will move into the Lord of the rings

          • He is just a sad apologist, who ignores realty and continue to post in his one troll echo chamber!

          • Are those the fighters where you were pleased to say the “Russian forces had special measures for the Azov” even though they are uniformed fighters? Do you want me to cut and paste that post again, so we can all see your agenda? You sad troll still giving it the bike! And, for us all to see once more, any condemnation of Putins illegal invasion of Ukraine?

          • You really seem obsessed with denigrating the Mariupol defenders, why is that?

            I’ll ask again, why does someone who is supposedly resident in Milton Keynes get so worked up about the activities of a few far right headcases on the far side of the Carpathian mountains?

            How does the same person, supposedly resident in Milton Keynes, turn a blind eye to the adventurism and expansionist nature of Russia’s invasion, it’s execution of civilians, its deliberate targeting of civilian areas , its contempt for human rights and freedoms, its jailing / murder of dissidents, its hatred of any culture that isn’t natiivist ethno Russian , its use of mercenary fascist death squads (Chechens, Wagner etc), constant attacks on its smaller neighbours, its baseless propaganda and twisted ideology and then conclude that Ukraine, with its democratically elected Jewish president is somehow nazi??

            Just how twisted and delusional do you need to be?

          • Agreed, I’ve asked similar many times (but maybe not as eloquently as you) but he will choose not to answer you, and if he does he will cherry pick a single point and try to deflect from the original question! He will not condemn this illegal invasion and therefore, he supports the actions of the rapists, torturers, murderers and looters who wear the disgusting Russian uniform!

          • An apt description of him is a ‘useful idiot ‘, to which I’d add a moral coward. 😉

          • Hallelujah!…in a nut shell.👍
            Dont agree with some of the suggested far right beliefs of the trapped regiment…but they’re real Patriots who are willing to fight for their nation.
            I for one doff my hat to that.
            John in Milton Keynes?…hows the bedsit?.

          • To be fair Putin seems obsessed with them too, and it’s not hard to see why:
            a) they have some dodgy geezers in the mix, great for anti-Ukraine propaganda
            b) they are all that stops Russia’s complete control of the Azov Sea and the completed link up between Eastern Donbas and the Crimea. When/if Russia takes it, they can declare a victory of sorts, both in terms of land and “denazification”. They have the option to negotiate a peace if Zelensky is willing, handing back Kherson, or to try for Odessa and the link to Transnistria, but Putin can do neither while Mariupol is still in play. Those 1000 people are really screwing up his plans.

          • Mercs? FFS ha ha ha haaaa no one, ever, calls them mercs!!!! But anyway I bet the Russkie rapists are getting excited, a battle they may yet just about win, with all the innocent Ukrainian women at their mercy! You support this type of war crimes, so it must excite you also!

        • Events in and around Mariupol remind me a great deal of ancient or medieval warfare, where investing the town or city, much of which was outside the citadel walls which are all that now remain in many instances, did not give you control. There’s seems no doubt that the Azovstal site reflects this concept, in essence, as it’s underground fortifications illustrate. Even it’s position next the sea contributes to the similarily, where such citadels and castles generally had sally port access for resupply, asseen here in the Welsh forts contructed by Edward 1, though from an original idea by the Romans, for instance, though there are many others, of course.

    • I read a report from evacuated civilians that the surviving soldiers have lost 15-20 kilos in weight during the fight. For me that would be a cause for celebration but it tells you how bad things are in Azovstal.

    • We should’ve committed troops far earlier to repell all Russian forces from Ukraine. I’m ashamed we’ve left Ukraine carrying the fight. So much destruction could’ve been avoided. Only Ukranian valour has prevented a complete Russian take-over.

      • Given the choice between a Proxy War contained within Ukraine and World War 3 i think id choose the Proxy War thanks.

      • Sorry, I disagree with you @Frank62. Russia should not be allowed to succeed. That said, it would be WWIII if any NATO country puts troops in Ukraine. It’s not even possible for any NATO nation to be part of any UN peace plan/Peacekeepers.

        • Exactly thats one of the major issues, if some sort of peace deal is brokered its highly likely a UN monitoring force is going to be needed.

          Russia will not accept any military personnel from Nato nations that will be for certain.

  5. Just been on BBC, Boris has supposedly agreed to pledge UK support to Sweden if they are attacked. Would be interesting to know where this support would come from considering we have increased military forces in Estonia, Romania, Poland, and now sent some to Finland too.

    With these additional commitments, this government seriously can’t be continuing to consider cuts to troop numbers, surely.

    • Cleary you don’t live in the parallel universe that Doris and before him Blair, Brown, Cameron & May lived in where forces are more or less constantly deployed and cut every time with the excuse that there is no foreseeable use for XYZ.

      There comes a point where the balloon going up becomes a serious vote looser….

      • We are indeed living in a parallel universe, in which the fortunes of the 99% of the country is being determined by a few dozen English Brexit Evangelicals and a handful of Orange (aka Masonic) lodges in NI. We need to stop pandering to these recidivists.

        • Total bollocks….a few dozen English!?…
          European failure as a whole over the last 30 yrs has caused this…dont blame the man who loves his country.

          • Loving your country, yourself is good. Someone who truly loves themselves will manifest that love in the respect they show to their neighbour and to the vulnerable in society.

          • I manifested it with the aid of a magazine until my eyesight went. (Come on. You were all thinking it!)

          • Not in this lifetime Jon: which doesn’t of course stop the world attempting to deceive me into believing I am of no value. Never run yourself down. There are lots of people just waiting to do it …..

          • Yes, tend to agree. I voted to remain but am not disappointed with the way things are turning out so far. I hold what could be described as off piste views. The EU shot itself in the foot when it declined Pope Benedict’s suggestion to include a reference to its Christian heritage in the Lisbon Treaty. The Irish saw that Lisbon presaged the end of national sovereignty and voted against but they were bullied into voting for it. Trump was a barbarian but his supreme court appointees have given the US back its moral backbone after Obama. As Alexis de Toqueville wrote ‘America is great because America is good. And if it ever ceases to be good it will cease to be great’. Mutti Merkel tried hard to mother a series of unteachable philandering presidents of France and Russia and has failed. Putin has gone ‘full Tonto’ after his marriage breakup in 2014. Meanwhile as the West threw away the philosophical and religious heritage which made great it in favour of liberal ( me, me , me ) democracy over 100 countries have signed up to China’s Belt and Road program. The 3 top news items on Sky News tonight were 1. A 17 year old footballer coming out as gay. 2. The latest on the law libel suit between Depp and Amber and 3. The libel law suit between Mrs Vardy and Mrs Rooney.. No mention of the millions of children starving in Africa, Afghanistan….
            The West is fciked and needs to get back to basics asap. In all this the regeneration of NATO is a positive and although he is an infuriating chancer Boris is the best leader the west has got. Just my take.

        • and/or the liberal elite…and socialist inteligencia who are systematicaly destroying Biritshness ness ness on the pious diversity and inclusion altar

          • Everybody wants to be an ‘elite’. That’s our problem ( and also the EU Commission’s, to fair to the Brexiteers).
            As they say, it takes one to know one. 🙂

          • Not much stereotyping there then! I have come to appreciate the shared interest in defence on this site amongst many different politcal persuasions (trolls excluded). You can vote Labour and be for a strong defence you know. Similarly there are many in the Tory party who are isolationist and would only defend the U.K. (See the G.O.P fringe across the pond too….). Also I believe there are elites on the right politically?

      • A part of me likes to think that at some point, that that these politicians will realise their stupidity and that common sense will win in the end, but then again, another part of me realises that I am just being completely delusional.

      • Forget “at times”. He makes me wonder all the time. Just how, how does a clown become the Prime Minister?

        • The only thing he has done right is to back Ukraine.

          He has, accidentally, smoked out Putin.

          All because he believes he is Churchill reincarnated.

          I wonder if we will discover a large load of outsized cigars were delivered to No10? Or that he paces the Cabinet War Rooms at night looking for inspiration? I’m only half joking knowing how daft he is.

    • This subject was fully discussed following an article on this site on 6 May, why raise it again on this thread?

    • The support would not necessarily be deployed British forces. It could be supply of warlike materiel.

      • Whilst it includes various means of support, military support is included, but point is what support is he supposedly committing because we have enough commitments across several European countries and that is before we include the recent decision to send a small number of troops and Chally 2s to Finland.

        • Such agreements never can detail what support will be provided as it all depends on what assistance that country asks for and what is available. In the case of Ukraine we supplied firstly training and then defence equipment and munitions and further training.
          Our current deployments of course go way beyond Europe.
          You are right that there would not be that much in the way of British- crewed equipment to go to Sweden or Finland. In army terms it might be difficult to send more than a BG to both countries, and even that may be a struggle.

    • Strange how Bozo can commit the UK to such security pact without Parliament’s blessing. He has committed everything to our Nuclear forces to Finland and Sweden. That’s a major step and how we entered into WWI & WWII.

      We will be running into issues with spare parts and manpower soon. The number of Typhoons, Challenger II’s etc, will underline the UK military has been cut too far to the bone over the past two decades.

  6. Interesting enough I have seen plenty of low level flying of German A400Ms on ADSB lately, as well. Not just some miles, but from Rügen to Wunsdorf accross the country. Not that this is entirely unusual, but the number of exercises has certainly skyrocketed. Also I recently saw a British C130 land at Paderborn Airport. Also that is not that surprising given the fact that Gütersloh is closed and this is the closest airport to Sennelager, nevertheless pretty rare nowadays.

    • From what I’ve been hearing Michael, the German Armed forces are currently scrambling to improve readiness across all three services, availability and training allowed to slip to a level of being virtually useless over the last 20 years.

      That’s a good thing, high time Germany took its responsibilities seriously and stopped riding our coat tails …

  7. The RAF Herc force have long had the capability and training for night stores- and para-drop, as well as no-lights ‘assault landing’. The RAF Regiment trained to be dropped to seize and hold airfields for air-landings. I have little doubt that the SFR were/are included.

    It is to be remembered that the South Africans executed a ‘vertical envelopment’ of a defended base, on May 4 1978, using a force of 6-8 Hercules/Transalls preceded by a SEAD strike by Canberras and Buccaneers, followed several hours later by extraction using a helicopter force. All airborne elements used low-level penetration techniques familiar to those involved with Brit/NATO operational requirements of the time.

  8. I’ve seen them over Dartmoor the last couple of days. We usually get the shorty so unusual to see the J-30 mark.

  9. Yesterday afternoon while walking dog approx 1825bst 2 x dirty cam no noticeable ID markings c130s (Hercs) flew over us at just above tree top height, out of the nw heading se towards RAF Leeming,, thought they have been throwing out over CTA LZ, but sounds like these 2???

  11. Think I saw these two Herc’s late last week (think it was Wednesday or Thursday) flying just east of Chippenham and assumed they were on their way out of Brize Norton. Looked like a C4 and a C5 flying in close formation with the C5 (short fuselage) leading, impressive.
    Always had a soft spot for the Herc. Back in the early1980s the RAF would do a seemingly weekly 3-ship of C130’s doing low(ish) level runs down the River Dart in South Devon, which and made a great sight from my school’s playing fields…far more interesting than playing Rugby😀

  13. So, the Russians have allowed the Chinese to report from the Ukraine and this reporter from Phoenix News did just that from around Mariupol, however I don’t think the audience expected what aired. Not going to state what, but damn even I was surprised at how high things can get:

  15. For anyone like me who’s a novice on the issue there’s a very good video on the Russian VDV on youtube.
    The Weakness of Russian VDV Airborne Force Structure

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