chrism_scotland

Pro Gaddafi forces have entered Benghazi, UK, French and US airpower needs to get over Libya within hours of theres going to be a massacre.

In addition to Egypt, there's also several bases in Greece and an RAF facility in Cyprus. Not to mention enough bases in Italy to do the job. I think it's a bit early for that yet. I'd say that many nations in the region are probably crafting their responses to the No Fly Zone. I'd also like to know the just what the treaty between NATO and Italy says with regards the use of NATO bases in Italy. Bettino Craxi is quite dead and I don't think we'll see Berlusconi [sp?] call up Gadaffi and warn him that the first cycle is on it's way. Italy gets about 25% of it's oil from Libya so I can't say it's very cheap from there at the moment. In fact, oil isn't very cheap anywhere..... Enterprise is in the Northern Red Sea. She is about 1000nm from Tripoli so if she's going to be involved she has to transit the canal. Vinson is on Camel Station and isn't going anywhere due to commitments in Afghanistan and the situation in Bahrain. Kearsage is in company with Ponce and is south of Cyprus. I'm assuming there's at least one DDG with her. Last I heard Stout was in the area. Charles de Gualle's location is unknown but she recently [about 3 weeks ago] finished exercies in the Indian Ocean. So she could be in the area. No idea where the Italian carriers are. That's it for flight decks. The remaining US carriers are helping in Japan [Reagan and Essex], undergoing PIA [Eisenhower, due out in April], DPIA [Nimitz] or RCOH [Roosevelt, she's down for the duration, late 2012], are way out of position or are tied up in CONUS. It's going to take more than one carrier to do the job if Italy doesn't allow the parties involved access to their turf. Later D There were reports earlier in the week that Italy would refuse the use of its bases to enforce the no-fly zone, so I doubt we'll see Italian Carriers in action, its beginning to make David Cameron look a bit silly, HMS Ark Royal was decommissioned last week, I bet that Ark Royal with 9 or 10 Harriers could have been really useful in enforcing this no fly.

Actually, they're saying 5 total, including Russia and China; you need 9 votes to pass a UNSC resolution with no votes against from the permanent five. Ah I must have mis-read!

Latest BBC and Sky reports on the TV are that China, Russia and 5 other nations are expected to abstain from the vote and that the British and French Air Forces with logistical support from Arab Allies would launch the first strikes, vote scheduled for 22:00 GMT (an hour and 20 mins from now) Also reports that Gaddafi has broadcast a radio message to residents of Benghazi saying that an attack will come tonight and there will be no mercy, if the resolution is passed I would expect to see British and French planes in the sky very quickly or I fear Benghazi is going to be a massacre. Also an interesting note from earlier that the Libyan regime has apparently said that no civilian or military ships or aircraft would be safe in the Mediterranean if military action was launched, bit of a chilling thought that Gaddafi could start targeting civilian airliners...

Reports that Gadaffi forces are driving Rebels out of Brega and that they are close to Misrata, he could have re-taken control of most of the country before the UK/NATO/UN/whoever does anything about this. God help the people in Benghazi if Gadaffi loyalists manage to get within striking distance. BBC: BBC: Libyan troops driving rebels from Brega

Ark Royal officially commissioned today in Portsmouth BBC: Ark Royal Decommisioned

It seems to be heating up a little, the pro-Gadaffi forces seem to have been posted missing over the last week retreating into their strongholds but they do now seem to be trying to regain control of some areas, this could get messy.

Looks like everyone is getting cold feet on a no-fly zone with just Prime Minister Cameron remaining steadfastly behind it, I have have to say I support him, we've sat back too many times and watched a tyrant murder his own people. When we know that its happening how can the world sit by and watch? I hope Cameron goes ahead and does it by himself someone needs to help the Libyan people defend themselves. On another note the Telegraph is reporting this morning that the SAS are likely to be called upon to secure Gaddafi's remaining Mustard Gas stockpiles.

Well looks like military options are being prepped, David Cameron saying that the UK is consulting with "allies" over a possible no-fly zone and reports that a Department of Defense Spokesman has said that US Naval and Air Assets are being repositioned including the USS Enterprise carrier group which has been ordered back into the Red Sea just a few weeks after leaving the Mediterranean for the CENTCOM region for a 6 month deployment.

BBC Reporting that Two RAF Hercules C-130 Aircraft have landed and rescued 150 Briton & Foreign Nationals from the desert south of Benghazi, Well Done RAF! Link to BBC Story

Doh! Had a different database open, hadn't remembered changing it was weeks ago I last opened it!

I am aware that we can just move bases if they are "off map" but what about base names, etc? I'm considering a possible Libya scenario but in the HCDB database there are no Libyan bases, I know its just a name but I think it looks silly if Tripoli airport is named as "RAF Kinross" just because the name isn't there...

They certainly are taking a kicking, looks like its finally getting into gear now, hopefully they can get the oil workers evacuated as well.

Apologies Tony I wasn't aware, amendments made.

Its sad to see our surface fleet being pared back so horrendously with little prospect of like for like replacement. First the Type 22's there going to be nothing left soon! Link: Royal Navy Website

Russian involvement is something I'd thought about, perhaps not directly but Russian Equipment being sold to Argentina or even Venezuela,

Still working on this, piecing together something a bit more exciting involving the Brazilians and some hypothetical "modernised" Argentine Air Force Aircraft in the shape of a few Rafale M's, the Argentine forces are pretty awful now and even a watered down British Task Force with HMS Ocean a couple of SSN's and a mix of Type 45 / 42 / 23 destroyers / frigates would seem to be able to destroy most of the Argentine Navy. So I'm thinking about something around Oil being found off the Falklands and Argentina and Brazil joining forces to claim the Oil for "South America", the Argentine Navy Rafale M's purchased from France as part of a deal to convince Argentina to order new French Warships due in the next decade. The Rafale M's could operate off the Brazilian Carrier Sau Paulo (former Foch) creating a true threat to the weakened British Task Force comprising HMS Illustrious, HMS Ark Royal and a smattering of other Surface Combatants along with 12 Harrier GR9 Aircraft hurriedly rushed back into service. HMS Ambush and HMS Artful along with HMS Talent provide submarine support for Anti-Shipping and Land Attack capability. Will keep you's updated, hoping to have a first try ready next week!

Oh, I was pretty sure you had. Actually I stand corrected, I did look at the Americas Database!!!!

I never thought of trying the Americas or South America DB, probably should as there will be a lot more Argie platforms.

I think you can take any existing base and change it's position with 'ctrl p' or some menu function. Not sure if that's what you want, though. I'l give that a go, would be better if it was possible to add new bases to have them with the "proper" names

Quick question, obviously none of the British bases on the Falklands are present in the databases, how can I get round this when adding bases?

From the BBC - Rest in Peace Brian, a man who was intertwined with Britains Miliary, famous for his reporting from the Falklands and even while in his final stay in hospital gutted not to be able to report on the final flight of the Harrier, rest in peace and my regards to his family, he will be sorely missed.

but the RN is getting the conventinal F-35.... right? Oh yes indeed!!

Very sad that for 10 years we now have no seaborne fixed wing aviation capability, I personally think its a fairly short sighted fiscal move with little military thought having been put into the SDR by the coalition but whats done is done but god help the government if the planes are actually needed in the next few years....

Well I've managed to get the Scenario Editor working via the Windows Virtual PC - XP Mode software which I was entitled to by buying Windows 7 Professional so I'm well chuffed with that, hoping to get cracking on the actual scenario next week, want to make sure my research on Argie forces is spot on first!