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Opération “Barkhane”

Le petit caporal

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G5 are still not fully Ops for the moment. .
since the time (these countries aren't capable of looking after them selves ,imô! )
 

Le petit caporal

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Barkhane strikes again in north east Burkina Faso (helicopters, Tigre and Gazelles, Mirages too)
Will post more info soon

Can see the troops being posted there soon. ..obvisouly doing such a good job in Mali !
 

Joseph Cosgrove

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Thanks mate, this can only motivate those who are about to join. Get a taste of the action after basic, yes !
 

Le petit caporal

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For them who are about to join. ..this is where you will serve (what ever the regiment)
Dig out your Atlas and check out this part of the world
Beats your ghetto slum any day ?
 

Le petit caporal

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Caporal Abdelatif Rafik of the 14 eme RISLP died in an accident today
Working in the garage a tyre exploded. ..
 

Joseph Cosgrove

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May he rest in Peace, He did his bit just by having joined up and being there.
 

SnafuSmite

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Exploding tyres can do serious damage, knew a guy that almost had to have both legs amputated after a truck tyre blew up whilst he was offloading it.
 

Le petit caporal

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Big difference between truck tyres and armoured vehicules, if it was that he was working on. Everyone knows (army personel) the maximum air pressure acceptable.
 

Rapace

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Below, a picture of Caporal Abelatif Rafik, from 14e RILSP (Régiment d'infanterie et de soutien logistique parachutiste), based in Toulouse (SW France). This unit was recreated very recently, after being disbanded in 1999 when it was known as 14e RPCS (Régiment parachutiste de commandement et de soutien). It fought in the Algeria war as 14e RCP (Régiment de chasseurs parachutistes).

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canuckroyal

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What for? Has it been tried (other than during it's initial trials) in desert warfare? I can't see them coming up against any main battle tanks out there.

Joseph, tanks can be quite effective in a Counter Insurgency Environment, the Canadian Army used tanks in Afghanistan quite successfully. We would put them in Observation Posts and use the main gun to provide over watch with very precise fire at very long distances (up to 5000m). You can destroy a grape hut with a tank round and not worry about collateral damage without the enemy being even aware of what happened or what hit them.

The Taliban referred to our Leopards as fire breathing dragons. We also used them rather unconventionally in roles such as Convoy Escort and Reconnaissance. Modern tanks are actually great surveillance platforms because of their advanced optics and laser ranger finders. Our Leopard 2A6s have a Laser Range Finder that is effective out to 10000m.

We would also use first the Leopard C2 and later the Leopard 2A6s to escort convoys as they were basically impregnable to any IED the enemy built and trying to ambush a convoy escorted by Leopard 2A6s is a very big mistake. When we first sent Leopards to theatre, the Taliban didn't know what they were or their capabilities and engaged them with RPGs and Small Arms. That particular engagement ended very poorly for them with the tanks simply turning on their position and running them down while peppering them with 120mm HE and Coax fire.

The Brits, Americans, Dutch, French, etc were all skeptical of our and the Danes use of tanks in Afghanistan until they saw what the machines were capable of. After that, they were in high demand. The Brits would make regular requests to have our Tanks attached to them for clearance operations. Just another tool in the toolbox and one that the Infantry closing with and destroying the enemy are thankful to have when they are available.


As for a couple of tips for operating in the Desert, umbrellas and cooling suits for the crew are a must. The machines will perform well but the crew need cooling suits to be able to operate effectively.
 

Joseph Cosgrove

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Hey Canuckroyal, it's been a while. As always your input is well appreciated. I see your point on escorts and firepower. But what does a tracked tank have over say, a light tank such as the “Sagaie”?

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Changing a wheel is much simpler than changing a tank track.

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Not to mention the logistics that must follow in its train. Saying that, these people are the ones on the ground and they know what they need. :whistle:
 

Rapace

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In Afghanistan, the French troops used the AMX-10 RC (image below) in about the same role as the one described in Canuck's post. A company of MBTs “Leclerc” was (and maybe still is) deployed in Lebanon, for example, in the FINUL mission (UN mission in South Lebanon) as a deterrent, in case of an incursion of Israeli tanks through the Lebanese border. There's also an ongoing debate re the ability of wheeled armoured vehicles to perform well in urban warfare vs. tracked ones (which was also a possible configuration in Lebanon).
Having said that, I personally believe like Joseph, that, when the biggest ‘armoured’ vehicle you may find in front of you in the middle of a desert area is a Toyota pick-up truck with a Russian 14.5 mm machine gun or a recoil less rifle in the platform behind, an armoured wheeled vehicle is largely enough. But I'm not an expert...

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Surfguy

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My guess would be a Leopard 2A6s `s armour and firepower is far superior than lighter AFV`s and with that the psychological effect on the Taliban makes it a winner , I did wonder how it performed on mountain tracks , guess the smaller mountain roads were avoided , 60+ tonnes and 1500 hp Destroyer ! awesome!
 

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Are they developing Leopard 3?
Nope they've got the Leopard 2A7+ and Leopard 2A8. The A7+ is an upgrade kit similar to the TUSK II the yanks stuck on their Abrams tanks. Its meant to be better suited to counter IEDs and "low intensity" operations. The A8 is going more along the lines of being better suited to Urban operations, the barrel is the shorter L/44 Rheinmetal comapared to the L/55 on the A6/A7 as well as more reactive armour and Remote weapon systems, a system similar to the Trophy is expected as well.

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Leopard 2A8


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Leopard 2A7+
 
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