In a recent Twitter thread, UK Defence Journal analyst @Sierra__Alpha highlighted the misconceptions and misinformation surrounding the UK’s response to the crisis in Sudan.

As social media platforms continue to be a hotbed of criticism and confusion, it’s important to set the record straight and provide accurate information about the situation on the ground.

There has been a surge of criticism on social media platforms, particularly Twitter, targeting the UK Armed Forces and the Government’s response to the crisis in Sudan. It seems that a significant number of people lack accurate information about the situation and the repatriation efforts being undertaken. In this article, we will address some of the misconceptions and provide insight into the complexities of the operation.

Many are quick to assign blame for the perceived inadequacy of the UK’s response to either “wokeness” or Brexit. However, the reality is that most people commenting on the operation have little to no understanding of the actual circumstances on the ground.

One common criticism is that the UK is lagging behind France in its repatriation efforts. However, this comparison is flawed, as it ignores the vastly different number of citizens each country has in Sudan.

The UK has 4,000 British passport holders, while France has less than 200. Sending in 120 members of the Armed Forces into a hostile environment without proper planning or logistics could have disastrous consequences, which is why the UK is taking a more measured approach.

Critics who claim that the UK is relying too heavily on the EU are also missing the point. They seem to be unaware of the role of international organisations like the United Nations (UN) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

The objective is not to showcase independence or self-reliance but rather to work together as a military force to achieve a common goal: the safe evacuation of citizens from Sudan.

The criticism directed at the UK Armed Forces and Government is largely based on misconceptions and a lack of understanding of the situation in Sudan. Before jumping to conclusions, it is essential to be informed about the complexities of the crisis and the efforts being made to address it.

The goal should not be to score political points but to support a collaborative approach that ensures the safety and well-being of all those affected by the crisis.

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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162 COMMENTS

  1. On a different note, I did notice that the Hercules were being used to support this mission. Won’t their numbers be missed hugely once they’re gone. Can’t help but think that we must hurry up and sign up for more unwanted A400s!?

    • Wasn’t sure if this from Forces Network could be described as trying to score political points…
      Announcing the completion of Germany’s evacuation efforts, the country’s foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said Berlin would not leave civilians “to their own devices”, in an apparent swipe at the UK’s approach
      Perhaps 🤔

      • I kind of doubt it on the surface. Generally speaking the Germans don’t give nearly as much of a s**t about us as we do about them, it’s probably much more for internal consumption and assurance. Use of military force is a bit of a hot button issue in Germany, so it’s probably just saying ‘See? This was 100% the right thing to do.”

        • Certainly in general I’ve found the Germans among the most considerate and polite, either here or in Germany. It was more the juxaposition between the comment and the direction of responsibility of the Foreign Minister; but politicians are agenda driven wherever, of course. The 100% right issue will need to await more considered judgement of all the factors involved from numbers, dispersal, jointness of operations, security in place, and any other issues not party to. At the moment, I’ve have her down as a bit ‘Boris’, but we’ll see!

        • I see it as a ‘use it or lose it’ thing, after all if they figure out a way of not needing the armed forces now then they’ll have a harder time explaining to the German public why they’re needed at all.

    • I don’t know where you are now getting your news from since Fox news admitted in court that they are not a news channel and in fact lie about what they present to their viewers. Now with Tucker fired you must be near depression. Stay strong.😂

      • If they’re willing to admit that then it suggests that they are marginally more honest than the other ‘news’ channels.

    • I don’t know why people think some random person on social media is going to factually correct in everything they say. While I can be useful for group opinions, discussions, viewing content, anybody can post anything so fact checking is essential.
      News outlets are mostly correct in the U.K, but they cannot be guaranteed to 100% all the time.

    • Social media is the curse of a generation and is wiping out sensible thought. That’s why I like you guys so much!😂

      • I don’t really use any socials. I had Facebook but never used it for years. Occasionally look at something if it’s linked to Twitter. Was thinking of signing up for telegram just to see Ukraine war stuff.
        Mostly look at Websites, YouTube or play games.
        When I stopped using Facebook etc it was a huge relief and life became peaceful again. It takes over people’s lives.

      • I suppose its been this way for years… “there’s this guy down my local who was telling me… blah, blah blah”. It’s just that the guy down the pub now has a lot more people to listen to his/her BS. 🍺

  5. People were confused beforehand at least when things are talked about there is an opportunity to correct perople’s understanding.

  6. I think it is fair to say that sensible people see through this sort of nonsense and sensible people (generally) have have a lot of influence in the world. If they didn’t we would be in serious trouble.😀

    • Less though unfortunately Mark, the Woke have an increasingly loud voice and as we know, politicians pander to any and all large minorities to gather votes….

      • I think I’m still to meet one of these woke people. What did they used to be called before the new woke term starting getting used?

        • Fanatical social extremists, would be my best guess. A movement intent on the total destruction of the fabric of civilised society…

          What did they used to be called, Anarchists…..

          Or as Damo said, Virgins….

        • Oh you will have you just wont have realised it yet….The extreme virtues..nesseseses didnt exist before social media which just exacerbates their perception of their own self importance.Empty vessels make the loudest noice….

          • Best solution is to ignore them. They will soon figure out when they spout there nonsense outside of there peers people look at them like they’re idiots.

    • And that’s being shown to be the penny pinching folly that it truly is. If the a400 is so much more capable why is the c130 being used for this job?

      Could it be that it’s more suitable for this particular job? Not enough a400s to be in multiple places at once?

      If we had enough a400s and it’s so capable the c130s would be sat doing nothing whilst the go to platform does what it does best. The fact they’ve been flying non stop despite “no longer being required” says it all.

      It’s the typical accountants approach. X is so much more capable than Y that you won’t need so many of them. Apart from nothing allows X to be in 3 places at once. Can’t expect these pampered suit wearing morons to grasp something as simple as that though. All they see us numbers and £ signs with no understanding of what they actually represent.

      • IRL it probably is accountancy driven: to use up allocated flying and maintenance hours and spares stocks?

        May as well wear out the frames/engines you are getting rid of anyway and run them hard to the next major maintenance interval?

        I agree that C130J should have been kept as it is mid sized and useful to SF and for this.

      • I don’t necessarily disagree with you, but there is an entirely logical reason why the RAF is using the C130 so much relative to the A400: because its being retired.

        If you know you don’t need to sustain the capability anymore, why wouldn’t you abuse the shit out of the platform and keep the shiny new kit at home with low mileage? Aircraft accrue wear and tear so quickly that in an ideal world you wouldn’t use them for anything except their primary purpose. I certainly wouldn’t blame the RAF for leaving Atlas in the shed and throwing Hercs at everything until they drop

      • If the C130J is still in service then why not use it? If you think that it should just sit around doing nothing just because it’s going out of service at the end of the year then why not get rid of it now and save maintenance costs?

      • On the first day i thought I saw a C130 and an A400 heading to Cyprus from Sudan so I assume both types are being used.
        They both have there places just now and as pilots are still trained on C130 and they are still in service it makes sense to use them.
        We know the RAF will adapt and use what they have for the roles needed.
        The choices are kind of keep C130 and lose something else, don’t fund tempest etc. Increased funding isn’t going to happen unfortunately

        • You’re right that increased funding isn’t going to happen. I bet the £250m per year given yo Pakistan (a nuclear power), India (a nuclear power with a space programme) and China (at or on its way to becoming the world’s largest economy) would cover the cost of keeping the C130 in service or getting more A400’s. No chance of that happening though.

          • Justify it to whom??…us on here? He would be preaching to the choir regards those 3 particular protagonists.

          • Each has large and diverse economies that include significant natural resources and who, particularly in the case of both China and India through their BRICS memberships, are endevouring to create an alternative new world economic order which, of course, they are entitled to do. Just don’t see why the West should help fund / subsidise it. Plenty of more deserving cases both internationally and domestically IMHO that would benefit from the aid with enhanced levels of goodwill in return.

        • I note that France & Germany, although big buyers of A400M, have also bought small numbers of new C130J/KC130J, for those roles best done by a Hercules.

  8. It helps a lot if people are provided with a brief backstory leading up to the start of hostilities.

    The bunfight inside the Sudan is between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) (a paramilitary force set up by Bashir in 2013 out of the Janjaweed militias who ran riot inside Darfur Since its birth, it has seen combat in Libya and Yemen. Interestingly the RSF has the support of the UAE and Wagner and on the other side of the table we have the Sudanese military.

    Sudan has been in political turmoil after the ousting of no longer leader for life Bashir in 2019 which saw him removed by a coup that year, followed by an attempt by his supporters in Sept 2021 and a successful one a month later in Oct which included the RSF

    The military seeing that the RSF was a loose cannon set in motion a plan for it to be fully absorbed into the Sudanese military in Feb this year. Whilst the RSF publicly agreed to this, they started recruiting heavily paid for by goals mines they had captured in Darfur and started massing forces at strategic points around the country, on the 15th of April the RSF carried out a pre-emptive strike at Sudanese military bases across the country and here we are today.
    Both sides of the bunfight are heavily armed, which includes aircraft and anti-aircraft weaponry, with reports that civilian aircraft have been fired upon (Saudi airliner on the 15th, a Indian one which saw 3 people killed)

    The situation inside the Sudan has been on a downward spiral since Bashir was removed from power in 2019. Which explains the quest for hegemony and why Governments have advised people not to travel there since the 2021 coup. which brings me to the main theme of this article. The widely promoted view that the UK has been slow to rescue its citizens from the Sudan.
    As of lunchtime Tuesday this was the situation (Picture is a GIF with a 6 sec delay)
    https://i.postimg.cc/y89sCZkR/Untitled-1.gif

    • Now regards the contentious matter of the Uk been slow to recover its citizens. I posted yesterday that this can be broken down into 3 categories:
      1)    British Diplomatic staff and their families
      2)    People working in Sudan (Business, Aid workers and such)
      3)    Holiday makers
      Well the Uk government as per its remit removed those at serial one on Sunday, which has led to the rise of failure to act by the usual suspects. But here’s what these arm chair travel agents fail to mention, the Sudan has been on the UK Govs no travel list since the coup in 2021 and yet those who disregarded that advice are been allowed surreptitiously by the media to play the R card. So Ive been doing as little digging on which people the likes of the media have allowed to play the victim card;
      Well theses the 80 year old bloke from Cambridge who travelled out to Sudan to visit family for Ramadan which started in late March.
      How about Amar from Edinburgh who flew out to spend Ramadan with family
      Then there’s Mo, from Reading, said he was “very scared” for his family, who had arrived in Khartoum the day before the violence broke out.
      The Daily Mirror is reporting that there are 71 NHS doctors on holiday inside Sudan demanding help

      I’m not saying people who are caught up in all of this should not be rescued, but I do question why they decided to visit a country which was one spark away from going up on holiday which the media is using as a vehicle to berate the government for their own political agenda. To that end, I suspect there’s a lot not been mentioned seeing as the 80 year old bloke from Cambridge refused 2 British embassy convoys to safety in which to remain with family

      • Oh, you and your facts!

        Well done for excellent research. But you can see why our useless legacy media warm to ‘we are a washed up country’. Scare stories and bad news always sells better. Brexit and Covid have rescued media companies from doom.

        • Looks like George has gaffed when he says, “goals mines” I think he means Gold mines. Sudanese Gold being a major part of their economy. Great article.

      • Can’t say I disagree, it’s been clear for a while that things are not stable in Sudan. I assume though the people on holiday aren’t really on holiday but instead visiting relatives. I am guessing most are either 2 or 3rd generation Brits or have been nationalised themselves. I can’t imagine anyone sane would have gone there purely for a holiday in the sun. Can’t really blame people for wanting to see family members but things started going south a week or two before it all kicked off, these people really should have got out then.

      • Not that the press will comment on the obvious or a British Government will question why it was harder and slower for us to evacuate our key staff.
        But aren’t there some simple lessons to be learnt here and also in the case of U.K. citizens who decided to go to live with ISIS.

        1. If you are a U.K. diplomat, member of their family or an Aid worker (you have a legitimate official reason to be there). Then we will move heaven and earth to get you home safely.
        2. If the FO says don’t fly somewhere then just like your travel insurance don’t expect to get any help.
        3. What is the sense of having SF or Airborne forces and a massive force of Chinooks and not be able to refuel them in the air ?

        So either tell Airtanker to do one and use the A400m or buy a
        dozen new C130J’s and equip them to do it.
        I would really like to know if someone in this site knows what is
        In the contract that stops us refuelling helicopters ?

        • I note France has bought 2x new KC-130J & Germany has bought 3x new KC-130J. They cost around $100m each & you only need a small number.

      • Excellent contribution! How come the Foreign Office’s no-travel policy hasn’t been mentioned by the mainstream media? I’ll draw my own conclusions on that one.

    • It is the same for the Brexit deal, hardly a man read the bloody treaty, but feel the need to spout utter ballocks about it online.

      • Robert,
        I haven’t a clue where you are going with your post, would you care to elaborate. But you interjected into my thread, where I was going to highlight the media’s love of the use of misinformation regards anything they can use to make a sensational headline.

        We saw that in 2021 with the fall of Kabul, where the Uk was berated for how slow its response was and how few people it rescued. Yet when we take a step back and look at numbers the UK rescued, we find the second highest number of people from Afghanistan for a Western nation.
        US: 88000
        UK:15000
        Germany: 5100
        Italy: 4400
        France: 2100
        Belgium: 1400
        Holland; 1000+
        Denmark: 1000
        Poland: 900
        Sweden: 771
        Hungary: 540
        Norway: 374

        We saw similar, with the Ukraine, the Uk was too slow, little Ireland is taking in more and yet the facts tell a different story:
        Poland: 1.5 million
        Germany:1.05 million
        Czech: 504000
        US:221000
        Italy: 170000
        Spain:170000
        UK: 154000
        Bulgaria: 146000
        France:119000
        Moldova:109000
        Oh and Ireland 70000

        We see similar regards asylum seekers, the UK gov was berated for placing migrants into Army camps, (The only complaints I heard when I lived in them was from the left of the poilitcal centre who saw us as all as mass murderers) which saw them all relocated into Hotels, now they are returning to army camps and floating barges (good enough for me in the falklands) Yet across Europe (including Dublin) we see hoards of migrants openily living on the streets of capital cities , in Calais they live in makeshift camps and yet only the Uk is attacked by the media.

        • Is this another one of those punching above our weight things that have been hearing about for the last 40 years?

          • It’s yawn time, here comes the sad cuckold! And it’s not “we” and you know that, as you are not from the UK (as you have previously claimed, then denied, then claimed) muppet!

          • Thank God I am not part of your embarrassment and what the hell is a Muppet? And the only way you are going to be airborne anymore is if your wheelchair got launched from something. Try not to be such an arrogant bigoted ass.

          • I love it when you make continuous mistakes in your sad trolling! You state “your not pert of our embarrassment” (confirming your not a Brit) and second you don’t know what a muppet is! It’s hilarious, you are the worst US fanboy, incompetent saddo we have seen for some time! Now hurry up and get A Coys laundry done, they’ve got things to do. Good boy.

          • Ah those squaddie socks in your laundry have appeared once more! It’s ok to be a bit angry I suppose cuck boy!

          • One was being polite. I was brought up proper. Now, about your homophobia (a new addition to your many failings old thing) …

        • It boils my piss seeing the constant flow of inaccurate news’s across the news networks at the moment about the Britsh response to Sudan. And seem to be deliberately picking people who will slag the government response off, or they are just making things up.

    • Hi Farouk, as always lots to digest in your posts. Have to admit I can’t take it all in at once. Just a quick comment. If the Wagner group are involved with the PRF can we bet our bottom “rouble” Russia’s involved with all this. Aren’t they negotiating with Sudan for a naval port? Obvious strategic location slap bang in the middle of the Red Sea, access to Suez, opposite Saudia Arabia, Chinese in Djibouti as well as the US, all sounds like a “rush to the Suez”, monitoring and maybe then controlling access to from the Indian Ocean. UK in the neighbourhood too. A whole lot of Naval chess going on. Linking in with China, Russia, South Africa, another control point into the South Atlantic. And just saw in the news today big Lithium prospects out of Argentina, bet China will have its eyes in that unless Western interests get in first. Not sure if the UK is pursuing any rapprochement or increases trade with Argentina? Something better than nothing could be worth it. Anyway, that’s my 5c.
      Regards from 🇦🇺

      • Good Afternoon Quentin. (Its 3 am here, and I’m paying the price for falling asleep early on)
        Whilst I don’t want to go down the tin hat brigade route, I do believe that Moscow (as well as its sycophants) have it in their best interests to destabilise the world as we know it for their own nefarious agenda. Just read that South Africa which is hosting the BRICS summit in June has stated it is going to leave the ICC, because if Putin tips up , they would have to arrest him.

        Also interesting is the fact that 19 countries have expressed an interest to join, its as if they are building a new world order with the likes of Russia, China and India in control. Seeing as the first 2 like to splash the cash, I wonder if this will weaken the UN, by dint that many 3rd world countries see it as a bastion of Western (read that as white) hegemony. 

        • Hi Farouk. Particularly concerning that South African forces recently hosted military exercise with China and I believe some Russian participation as well.

        • I’ll need more time digest all this. Forgot to mention that the Red Sea gives access for southern Israel too. Lots of jostling in this neighbourhood going on with China also cosying up to Saudi Arabia and the UAE I believe. Just add Russia, Iran and Syria. Glad I’m here in 🇦🇺!

      • Hi Quentin – speaking of the Russian rouble, it is now worthless in world finance and those sanctions busting countries who still buy oil, gas and fertilliser from them are being asked to pay in $US. Russia sold 3 1/2 tons of gold so far this year, doubtless to pay countries supplying artillery shells and drones.

        • Hi Quentin – speaking of the Russian rouble, it is now worthless in world finance and those sanctions busting countries who still buy oil, gas and fertilliser from them are being asked to pay in $US. Russia sold 3 1/2 tons of gold so far this year, doubtless to pay countries supplying artillery shells and drones.

        • Evening Klonkie, I haven’t had time to read it through and I’m no certainly officiando, but from a skim read and the news here it seems like the Army here is losing out the most with cuts of 300 odd new IFVs and 20 new SPGs. Lots of long range fires, HIMARS, missiles and drones being acquired, which all sounds good. Looks like there’s a bit of a review on naval vessels underway too which might see reduction to 6 T26s, 6 Arafuras but a possible 3 more AAW ships. All seems very focused on handling the current and future Chinese threat levels and upgrading of domestic bases and improved interoperability with allies. I’d like to see an additional oiler in the RAN which would be very helpful. Like the RAN to retain some diesel subs too as NZ won’t let nuclear subs in their waters either and I would think some other countries in our region might feel the same way. Anyway, have to leave all this to those in the know.
          I’m was happy to hear that NZ is look for some 9 new helo’s to replace the Kama SeaSprites…finally, something new! Lol! It’ll be interesting to see what NZ purchase, whether SeaHawk or something different? Hope there’s some more new good equipment on the way for NZ including more personnel!

          • Thanks Quentin. I have struggled to find any detail on the 2023 SDR, heme me reaching out to you on the topic. Interested to see your comment re a further oiler for the RAN. I’ve often thought the same, particularly in light of the 2 LPH Carrier/docks. I’m hoping the SeaHawk is on the table for the RNZN, fingers crossed!

          • Morning Klonkie, I’ll try and copy the url here on the publicly released SDR. A watered down and prettied up version.

  9. Slightly off topic, the Russian media has reported that they have deployed the T14 tank to the Ukraine in an indirect fire role. they claim that extra ERA has been fitted to the front, top and rear of the vehicle.
    https://i.postimg.cc/635sj9T2/Opera-Snapshot-2023-04-26-025310-www-scmp-com.png

    Russia has begun using its new T-14 Armata battle tanks to fire on Ukrainian positions “but they have not yet participated in direct assault operations,” the RIA state news agency reported on Tuesday, quoting a source close the matter.
    RIA said that the tanks have been fitted with extra protection on their flanks and crews have undergone “combat coordination” at training grounds in Ukraine.

    • New all singing and dancing T14 “indirect fire” role! Mmmmm maybe they want some AS90s for that, we have a few left! “Combat coordination” er we like to call that basic training.

    • Big PR move but they don’t want to risk them getting destroyed. Kinda too little too late, Russia has lost the war, they need to focus on finding a way out rather than trying to do PR moves.

      • Sure – in practical terms what are they?

        If Putin gives in he is dead.

        If Ukraine starts to win Putin is dead?

        It is why, in times before ICC, nasty retired dictators went somewhere sunny with a decent % of their cash and a promise of protection to enjoy their ill gotten gains.

        That way dictators retired. Now they cling on until they die one way or the other.

        • Not really sure, as I’m not an international diplomat. How I would approach it would be to stop attacking and move into a defensive stance, as the first move to peace is to de-escalate. Come up with same vague statement around the mission to weed out the nazi in Ukraine has been successful and a buffer zone has been created to protect Russia. Then open serious discussions with Ukraine on a ceasefire, probably involving an independent country, maybe China.

          It won’t be easy for Russia, since the spring offensive hasn’t happened yet. Peace will be far easier when that has run out of steam.

          • The Ukrainians won’t freeze things as they are gently making progress and getting better and better.

            The point that is totally mused is that with western precision howitzers their munitions needs are 1% of what they would have been as the hit to kill probability is so much higher. Also with the higher hit to kill the time to successfully engage is a tiny % so efficiency increase exponentially…..

            I still don’t see Putin’s off ramp as he is scared for his own neck.

          • Where are you seeing Ukraine making progress? They have taken some marsh land to the south, whilst are day by day losing ground in the east. Overall if you look at the map progress it’s shows constant but slow progress to Russia. The big question though is the offensive, and how effective thst will be, if highly effective then Russia only exit plan is to well exit Ukraine.

          • “day by day losing ground in the east”
            Are you referring to Bakhmut? If the Russians are prepared to take staggering losses daily just to advance a few metres then the Ukrainians aren’t going to mind. The Russians appear to have successfully recreated the siege of Stalingrad in Bakhmut, with them playing the Nazi invaders this time.

            There are reports that the Russians are evacuating Zaporizhzhia and that they are withdrawing away from the left bank of the Dniper in Kherson, having previously abandoned the right bank. There is certainly Ukrainian activity on the left bank.

            What is certain us that the Ukraine counteroffensive is likely to be fast, led mechanised divisions, circumnavigating and isolating Russian strongholds and targeting depots, stores and logistic routes at the rear. The Russian military, being slow to respond, reorganise, with poor delegation of command authority in the field, is vulnerable to collapse in such a situation, as we saw with the routs at Kyiv and Kharkiv.
            With speed and mobility being essential the Ukrainians are not going to start the counteroffensive until the current rasputitsa ends.

          • Yeah. But it’s not as simple as Russia losing heavily in Bakhmut, so it’s Ukraine. The leaked pentagon papers indicate their losses are way higher than being reported (no surprise as all sides are playing PR games). We do however know for sure that it’s a meat grinder on both sides and both sides have committed their best forces to the battle and so both side will come out of it heavily weakened, just a question of who is hit hardest.

            The upcoming offensive will be interesting. We don’t really know anything about it so far, such as we don’t know the force strength, the aims etc. We also don’t know if Russia has learnt lessons from the last one or not. Too many unknowns to say it will be a success or otherwise.

          • It’s not about numbers, it’s about proportions, and Russia is losing proportionality far more due to its human wave attacks. Which is why they are increasingly getting resistance from troops to follow orders and have employed blocking troops to prevent desertions.
            We also know the figures in the Pentagon briefings were doctored to make it appear Ukrainian losses were higher than US estimates.
            Russia is clearly being hit the hardest.

            We know the Russians haven’t learnt lessons. The mistakes they made at the start of the war are the same ones they have been making since the creation of the Red Army. To learn lessons you have to recognise mistakes were made, that’s a near impossibility in a totalitarian regime, which is what dooms them all to fail.

          • We don’t know they were doctored, we just know they don’t align with the official position and that the assumption is they were doctored. No one has confirmed either way, because they can’t comment on classified document, even if they are in the public domain.

            A number of Ukraine soliders have reported the losses are higher than official position, but it’s impossible to know if that is at a local element or across the board. It will take decades before the full truth comes out, based on grave numbers etc.

            All we know for sure if it’s in all sides interest to downplay their losses and up play the other sides, and that includes western governments.

          • We do know they were doctored because it was so badly done by the Russians. If they’d just been doctoring PowerPoint slides they photoshop efforts might have gone unnoticed. But these were photographs that they were attempting to doctor.

            There has not been any reports of Ukraine soldiers reporting losses higher than the official position. For two obvious reasons
            • the only Ukrainians in a position to actually know would be the commander for the Bakhmut area upwards
            • the Ukrainians haven’t published an official position on losses in that area

          • This isn’t a way to validate facts. You can’t say something looked doctored and jump to conclusions that it was. We know the files were leaked and the US gov and accursed a US soldier of doing it (he hasn’t been prosecuted yet so innocent to poven guilty apples). We also know the version of the leaked documents that was reported had the figures on them.

            We know the file was altered at some point (based on their appearance) but we don’t know if that the source files were altered at the last min before a presentation (I have many work presentations with edits on them) or if the soldier/leaker changed them, or if russian hackers somehow changed the post before anyone else saw it.

            Difference between assumptions and facts is important.

          • If it’s done sloppily then it’s obvious when a photograph has been doctored. The photographs of the presentations were doctored, NOT the original presentations that were photographed.

            It’s proven because there are copies available of the originally leaked undoctored photographs.

          • Another proportion that’s relevant…. ukraine aren’t throwing as high a proportion of available forces into the front line. They are using the western doctorine of rotating them between training, resting and front line.

          • The map shows a stalemate apart from Bakhmut where the only gains look like a tactical withdrawal on the part of the Ukrainians! They have bled the Orcs there and the troops can be used elsewhere on the offensive.

          • Stalemate means neither side is making any progress, in this case that’s not true. Russia is making slow but steady progress. Their approach seems to be attack for a few days and then rest and then attack again. I assume the big rest periods indicate their supply lines are still messed up. Ukrainine is doing a steady strategic retreat but that isnt voluntary, they want to hold the city but can’t.

            The issue with this war is I don’t know what success or victory looks like, or what it would take for Russia to lose. You would normally consider loss of life in that equation (US could have won Vietnam, but loss of life to get there wasn’t considered worthwhile), but if the war really is about asset grab by russian elite as most believe, then normal russian lives don’t come into the equation, they are just pawns into getting the money.

          • You do follow daily reports don’t you? The only place any gains are made is in Bakhmut with massive casualties! There still days when the Ukr actually push them back as well! Distance gained by either side is measured in yards if that can be described as steady progress well I will leave that to you! Everywhere else the Orcs are not gaining anything.

          • I didn’t say the gains were big just that it’s steady. If you track the map and it’s only going one way for months. Yes Ukraine has has had some minor gains but they have all been retaken other than their minor gain in the south.

            For sure it’s at huge losses for Russia but also Ukraine. Hence my comment about what is success, it all depends on who’s perspective you have. If it’s russian as a nation clearly they have lost big, but if it’s the ruling class that isn’t so clear.

            Wars aren’t won on daily updates they are won over months and months.

  10. Thank you George-well said! Social media has changed the world and given a voice to dare I say, ordinary people, but the flip side is that among them are many ignorant and evil people spouting damaging nonsense. The mail online is one of the worse offenders “No aircraft for the carriers” “PoW should be scrapped” “We need at least two more Carriers” ” We don’t have an army” “Send in the battleships”. In the case of the mail online matters are made even worse by the”Journalists” assigned to write on Defence matters(Morning Freda-let someone else do beauty tips this week-it’s your turn to do Defence😉)
    Cheers

    • A carrier would be quite useful with F35B on overwatch for the extractions. However, T23 is probably good enough for the Bay.

      Protecting the big transport aircraft is something else. I’m assuming that it is Typhoon from Akritori?

      This isn’t Sierra Leone #2!

      Yes, the Sudanese’s (various) may have aircraft but nothing that would get near an F35B or Typhoon.

      T23 would very useful with its Artisan particularly if its Sea Ceptor umbrella can be held over the Bay that is in theatre. Really makes the point that the Bays and Albions should have containerised Sea Ceptor on board so self defence to create a ‘don’t dare come near me’ sterile zone. Although that is more moot if RN goes down CAMM-ER route.

      • I agree, the large RFAs and amphibious ships need the means to protect themselves from both air and surface threats, sub-surface will be a little more difficult. Even if that is just a 12 round box of CAMM. It would require a update or inclusion of combat management system along with a decent radar. Where Albion and Bulwark already have Artisan.

        The benefit would be that it is a plug and play system. So could be rotated amongst the vessels. One of CAMM’s main advantages though is that it is radar agnostic, So if a radar can provide range, bearing, height and relative velocity to a threat. Then CAMM has enough information to be sent to intercept the threat. Where its own on-board radar deals with the terminal phase of the intercept.

        The other major benefit is that these CAMM can be controlled by another ship. Which therefore means the task group has a bigger war load to deal with threats. Therefore, if the purse is nearly empty. The ship could get away without a top end radar and CMS. Where it becomes a magazine extension for the escort ship. Plus the escort ship can move closer to the threat’s direction, thereby extending the radar surveillance umbrella, so long as it remains line of sight with the other ship.

        The other elephant in the room is Phalanx. Yes, it is a self contained system. But it is range limited and can only deal with targets successively. I’d propose a Fleet fit of the BAe/Bofors 57mm weapon system. As it would give a step change in capability, not only over Phalanx but also the smaller 40mm system. The reason for this is that the system can fire guided rounds and smart ammunition, such as BAe’s ORKA and 3P, L3 Harris’s Alamo and Raytheons MAD-FIRES.

        MAD-FIRES in particular is the answer to replacing Phalanx in the close in weapon system (CIWS) role. As it has a “published” effective range of 12km, compared to the Phalanx’s 2km. Moreover, because the round is guided, speculatively by semi-active radar homing (SARH), a single gun can therefore engage multiple targets in very rapid succession. Where the ship’s CMS can then control the rounds to engage multiple threats nearly simultaneously.

        The main downside, is that the weapon system is not plug and play, plus its significantly heavier than Phalanx. It has to rely on the ship’s radar and EO sensors for threat detection, targeting and gun laying. Though to be brutally honest installing a search/tracking radar and optics to the turret is not that difficult. Plus BAe did advertise a pedestal magazine for the Mk110, that houses an additional 120 rounds. Which would mean it can get away without a below deck magazine.

        The other benefit is that ok its HE shell doesn’t have the same explosive effect as a 76mm HE or 5″ HE shell. But being able to bang-off nearly 4 rounds in a second, means it could provide very effective harassing fire, especially against targets in the open.

        • I think containerised 6/12 CAMM is more likely than putting quite expensive and heavy 57mm everywhere.

          As you say the Albions have BAE CMS and Artisan so there is no issue there. The Bays as we have both said could be cued from any other ship with radar and comms coverage.

          As you say the thing with CAMM is that it doesn’t need a brilliant ship’s radar it just needs to detect a threat and send a CAMM in the right direction.

          Let’s but it this way creating another 25+km sterile bubble in which air warfare isn’t really possible is a big advantage to a task force.

      • Evening SB, yes, containerised CAMM/ER, surely they could go on all the RFAs, River B2s, Waves, Tides, Points, Argus and maybe the carriers(?), all sounds useful and sensible. And even on the back of a truck for a bit of GBAD! Basically an Iron Dome configuration in a container. Just wait, someone else will do this while we watch. I’d also like to see the LMM/StarStreak made into a Streak-ER and given a lightweight launcher and even paired with the Phalanx’s.
        That’s it for tonight.

  11. I’ll not see criticism of BritMil response, caveat to say, we need more assets in more places able to react – the River B2 with no aviation assets is not up to task.

    However, once more, Brit Govt have hollowed our ability to quickly respond.

    We were a tad slow to respond, and piggybacked off the US.

    I’ve read quite a few posts that high light the fact that if you take the bucks don’t expect young Tom’s to rock up and get you out of trouble – quite a valid point; counter point, we need involvement in the world to counter Chinese hegemony of the 3rd world, where is the balance?

    We need soft power, FCDO (how much has their budget been cut?) with hard power where we need the platforms able to make credible interventions.

    We are in a very turbulent world where we need influence and hard power coercion to secure ourselves against China and to a lesser extent Russia.

    Finally, we need to fund a response that does not rely on partners; a multi-year CSG, a self sustained deployable Div. An air force able to deliver effect across the spectrum, where the other two forces are operating.

  12. Thank you so much for this George! It’s not just “Social Media”; mainstream is also very good at interviewing one individual on a bus in the dessert who feels he has been left out, that view then translates as being the whole story, when clearly anyone with a rational mind will know a single individual case is not representative.

    Excellent article, pity you cannot get this relayed onto mainstream media.

  13. ‘Lies travel around the world before the truth gets its shoe laces tied up.’

    The Grouse should really have been our national bird emblem.

  14. A bit of odd reporting. It talks about not sending in troops without support and logistics and surely the same applies to France, and yet the troops are there meaning they got their logistics sorted. All that this highlights is they moved faster. The whole we have more people there is a red herring, as you have to start somewhere and build up, the key is to get started as soon as possible to minimise losses, you don’t wait to you have the perfect option.

    Not saying there is anything wrong with our response, as there are too many factors at play, but the article completely fails to debunct the arguements it sets out to do.

  15. Its fairly common, those with agendas (political or otherwise) use social media to misinform. They know users rarely read beyond the headline in their feed and thus consume the headline as fact. The article the headline is from may well go onto qualify the headline so the media outlet can claim its not misinformation but they know very well most won’t read the article and will re-share the headline. Its not new concept old school papers do headlines to grab the eye but at least if you bought a paper you read the article, this is no longer the case with social media.

  16. George Allison:-
    Thank you for speaking out on this issue. Anyone that has ever served in the Armed Forces will know that much of social AND mainstream media haven’t a cooking clue about the complexities of military deployment.
    Digital (instantaneous) ‘news’ coupled with wokeness / wokery is part of our lives.
    Rudyard Kipling had this right – “Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools”.

  17. So WHAT is the situation on the ground then – what are we doing, what are the logistical issues we are facing , how are we overcoming them ?
    I see the statement “Before jumping to conclusions, it is essential to be informed about the complexities of the crisis and the efforts being made to address it.”
    However I do not see any of this information in the article- so this doesn’t actualy inform anyone about any misconceptions merely slates those that critcise the misinformation it does nothing to rectiify thise misconceptions.
    A dissapointing article with a a misleading headline.

    Oh and before anyone says I should go on twitter to read the original article ..I don’t ‘do twitter’ for the exact same reasons highlighted in the article – and I never will.

  18. The line being pushed by the BBC last night was that the govts reaction had been slow because most of the UK passport holders in Sudan are of Sudanese decent and therefore not worthy of the effort.

    • Probably many of the 4,000 did not file their contact details with the British Embassy on arrival in-country and are hard or impossible to contact.

      • Believe that you Brits will eventually develop, organize and implement a rational plan for evacuation of UK civilians, despite all obstacles, man-made or otherwise. Remain to be convinced US will develop a similar plan, especially w/ the apparently indifferent attitude of the current administration toward civilian evacuations. Conceivably a justifiable attitude, if this administration had not recently experienced/directed/presided over a truly chaotic and abominable withdrawal from Afghanistan. Numerous opponents are appraising the professionalism of the conduct of our foreign and military policy, and drawing conclusions. A conclusion drawn that this will become an Afghanistan Redux could become a quite unfortunate harbinger of future crises. 🤔😳

  19. Unfortunately, the public leaders and press headlines do little to defuse the situation. The unnessesary claims that the British had to wait for “German permission” (technically, one nation is responsible for the airport coordination – in the beginning it were the French, later Germany took over, who now handed it over to the UK) put the situation in a wrong light. The same goes for the German claims by Annalena Baerbock, our foreign minister, implying “we already evacuated our people”.

    After all, it seems to have been a rather well coordinated operation.

  20. Excellent context & fact-checking George. It’s shameful that so much media neglets this instead of it being a basic step in all news. The public don’t need anybody’s agenda, they need the news, truthfully, responsably reported & anylised. Clearly we need a much larger window to try to help evacuate thousands than other countries with just a few hundred citizens out there.

    But humanity is humanity, so we pray for resolution that also protects as meny Sudanese as possible, ending the violence soon.

    Our C130s provining their worth. Bean counters proving their inability to grasp military realities.

  21. Our fantastic Home Secretary has stated that no Sudanese has recourse to claim asylum in the UK. Let’s build our walls high.

    • Blimey she really knows when to make compassionate statements and when to come across as a cold power munger without an inch of humanity…..she did say there were safe routes to apply…but was shot down by the UNHCR:

      “But the UNHCR quickly responded, saying it was “aware” of the statement and “wished to clarify” that there is “no mechanism” for refugees to seek asylum in the UK through the organisation.
      “There is no asylum visa or ‘queue’ for the United Kingdom,” it said. The UNHCR added that an “overwhelming majority” of refugees have no access to safe and legal routes to the UK, noting that only a “very small” number seek asylum here.”

      I have no issue with management of migration, but this Home Secretary’s lack of compassion is disturbing…also why was she even butting in and making statements….it’s a balanced situation in which their are UK forces and nationals potentially in harms way…it’s the foreign sectaries job to be speaking on this.

    • Seems a bit short-sighted statement from the HS but maybe was taken out of context a bit? Need to keep the ”global Britain” vision alive. Too easy to lose friends and influence and dispose of partnerships and history just like that and then try to regain it later. We all know whose likely to step in once we leave. Humanitarian relief, working with the UN, all good soft power that we can and should continue to do. It’s worth all the significant global trade that goes through the Suez and Red Sea every day and the recent CSG.

  22. NavyLookout’s Twitter is reporting HMS Lancaster will be in Port Sudan tomorrow, there’s a Point class in the Red Sea and Cardigan Bay is being brought out of maintenance early. I’ve read (I think it was in the Thin Pinstriped Line article) that the UK has 4,000 nationals in Sudan, and it certainly makes the point that it’s a big country. It will have taken several days for the ships to get to Port Sudan, but it’ll possibly take even longer before the UK nationals wanting to be evacuated can get there from around the country.

  23. People may wonder why I am being quiet at the moment and not being my usual gobby self. After the weekend I may be in a position to do some commenting. At present to make any detailed comments or say anything would be remiss of me.

    Those that know what I do and what my work involves have probably worked it out. Lets just say that I am very, very busy, am working long hours and but will be able to chill out this weekend.

  25. One thing that hasn’t been asked is who are the 4,000 British passport owners and what exactly are they doing in Sudan in the first place ?

  27. I think the British ambassador to the Sudan at home in Wimbledon answering his door in jeans and a jumper looking scruffy as hell just says it all really for me. Maybe in the Victorian period, after graduation from the East Indian company college, they were the brightest and best but now we just have the dross and bone idle to boot…how far can the UK sink…really? That is the key question for me.

    • Andrew wrote:

      “”I think the British ambassador to the Sudan at home in Wimbledon answering his door in jeans and a jumper looking scruffy as hell just says it all really for me.””

      He took leave during Ramadan, that time of year in the Islamic world where everything stops, (it’s the Islamic Christmas) very little gets done businesswise and so he chose the correct time to go.
      Also Ramadan is supposed to be a time for peaceful reflection, no bad thoughts, why Muslims are even supposed to do without sex. So the RSF launching a pre-emptive strike on the Sudanese Government during the middle of Ramadan wrongfooted everybody including the Sudanese government.
      From reading the news it turns out that Giles Lever, returned to the FCO and asked to return to the Sudan, that request was denied.

      • This entire article is about misconceptions and I (as have others) pointed out the misdirection’s pushed out by the scum media simply to make a sensational headline , with some using that as a means to attack the British Government. Here is the latest from the BBC:
        https://i.postimg.cc/J49dWQTQ/Opera-Snapshot-2023-04-26-225406-www-bbc-co-uk.png
        British attempts to evacuate its embassy staff from Sudan at the weekend delayed efforts by other countries to rescue their own citizens, senior German political sources have told the BBC.

        They allege British forces landed in Sudan without the Sudanese army’s permission – as other European nations were hoping to airlift citizens to safety. Germany, among others, had planned to use the airfield north of Khartoum from which subsequent evacuation operations have been conducted. But, the sources say, the “unannounced British military presence” so angered the Sudanese army that they refused access to the facility. According to one source, having landed without permission, the British had to pay the army before leaving. And negotiations to use the airfield meant that German rescuers “lost at least half a day” during what was, at the time, considered to be a very small window of opportunity.

        Elsewhere the BBC berates the British for (as I stated) not flying out the entire clan.

        Wathig Ali, a British citizen in Khartoum, has just reached the airstrip with his pregnant wife Haifa and his six-year-old son Oday. He took the risky decision to drive from his house to the airstrip on Wednesday morning. “We left at around 5am. We have managed, miraculously, to reach Wadi Saydna airbase. We are awaiting evacuation now,” Mr Ali said. But Mr Ali’s mother, who is in her late 70s and “very sickly”, will not be coming to the UK with them.”British soldiers checked all our papers. I brought my mum with me but she does not have a British passport. I tried to persuade the British soldiers to let her on the plane too but they would not let her.”It was heart-breaking that I had to say goodbye to my mum.”His wife does not have a British passport either, but their marriage certificate was accepted.

        • Landing without permission, that’s just not cricket!! Did anyone from the UK govt, RAF or MoD not phone ahead? As for the Sudanese Army, there is a civil war going on and their priority should be to stop their country from going further down the plug hole!

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