Ospreys tapped for Afghanistan

[unhappycamper]

A Marine MV-22 Osprey attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 takes-off after unloading Marines with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, during a Clear Hold Build Exercise at Quackenbush Training Area aboard the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, at Twentynine Palms, Calif.


Ospreys tapped for Afghanistan
By Amy McCullough and Dan Lamothe - Staff writers
Posted : Saturday Oct 10, 2009 9:31:13 EDT

Marine officials say that an MV-22 Osprey squadron will deploy to Afghanistan for the first time in November.

Brig. Gen. Jon Davis, the assistant deputy commandant for aviation, can’t wait for the Osprey to get to theater, he said in early October during the Modern Day Marine Exposition at Quantico, Va. He expects the aircraft to change the way Marines do business in Afghanistan — just as it did in Iraq, he said.

It is likely that Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261, based at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., will be tapped for the mission since it is next in line to deploy, although no deployment order has been issued. New River’s VMM-263 deployed aboard the amphibious assault ship Bataan this spring along with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit from Camp Lejeune, N.C., and is expected to return home in December, said Maj. Eric Dent, a Marine spokesman.

A recent report by congressional investigators with the Government Accountability Office said Ospreys may not be suited for Afghanistan’s mountainous terrain, but Marine officials dispute the assessment.

“We believe the Osprey will prove its worth in Afghanistan, and anything that takes Marines off the roads deserves extra consideration,” Dent said.


Article about this $69 million wonder at: http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/10/marine_1meb_101009w/

[divideandconquer]

1. Maybe we can help the Brits with their helicopter problem

British Helicopter Capability Remains Hot Topic

A NATO bomber was forced to destroy a Chinook helicopter in Afghanistan to keep it out of Taliban hands after the enemy attacked the aircraft late August.

British forces in charge of the Chinook had to make an emergency landing and were lucky to escape with their lives.

"Their cool under pressure has ensured that their lives were saved. Despite the loss of one aircraft, the brave crew have thwarted insurgents' attempts to destabilise the elections with a shocking spectacular loss of British life," said Lt Col Nick Richardson, a British military spokesperson.

Troop Transportation

The debate surrounding the capability of British helicopters in the fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan continues, following a recent report that a shortage of the aircraft is undermining operations in the country. And according to a July report from the House of Commons Defence Select Committee, a shortage of medium and heavy-lift battlefield helicopters is causing problems for military personnel on the frontline.
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<http://www.defenceiq.com/article.cfm?externalid=1207>

[LunaSea]

2. I'm reminded of a quote from the days of the F-104...

"Want to buy an Osprey?

Buy an acre of ground, and wait."