David Thomas
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Spy PlanesHi Guys, Watching television this evening, there was and advert for `t
Army, showing the deployment of an unmanned spy plane. The thought
occurred to me who has operational control of these things? Is it R
Signals? I Corps? Or do individual Recce Regiments control their own?
Can anyone cast light on this for me please. Dave T.
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Tom Neal
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Hello Dave,
The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is operated by the Royal Artillary in Iraq and Afghanistan.
It weighs 3Kg and has a wingspan of 5ft and carries muliple cameras including ifra red.
It usually has a crew of five to operate it. A tactical group commander who liasises directly with the battle-group, a signaller, detachment commander, pilot and operator.
It goes under the name of 'Desert Hawk'.
Hope that helps.
Tom
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David Thomas
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Thank your Tom, that's exactly what I wanted to know. All the best. Dave T.
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paul croxson
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This may be a stupid question but how do they get 5 'Gunners' in a plane that size. Is there something that Tom is not telling us?
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Tom Neal
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They are very small
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Gordon
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Gunners get everywhere, Paul. That's why our regimental motto is "Ubique", the Latin for "everywhere" as I'm sure you will know, being a lexicographer. (I say "our" motto, having begun my military career in the Royal Regiment). Incidentally, didn't Dr Samuel Johnson call a lexicographer "a harmless drudge"?
Gordon
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misterbee
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Your mention of unmanned aircraft reminds me of a story I was told by one of my colleagues who I did trade training with. We both passed our radio mechanic courses, I was posted to Birgelen and he was posted to an Royal Artillery unit. They had radio controlled planes which were used for target practice. He would lovingly repair one only for it to be returned later in the day in as a big bag of bits which he then had to rebuild all over again. Talk about a soul destroying job knowing that what you were repairing was going to be shot to pieces again! Dave B
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paul croxson
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Right on all counts Gordon.
I have the remnants of five years latin and Doc J did indeed supposedly say that.
I have always wodered why the Johnsons and Wildes (and Dorothy P)of this world always have someone just around to record their immortal words. Well, we've got the Forum
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Gordon
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Misterbee
Your post put me in mind of the ranges at Tonfanau, and of drogues being towed across the sky in front of our guns. The pilots deserved medals. It also put me in mind of a Japanese short story I read a while back, about a war between two civilizations. When the battle is over they collect up all the injured and dead. The twist in the story comes at the very end, when it becomes clear that what they are collecting up is gear wheels, springs, circuit boards and bits of plastic and metal. All the combatants are robots!
Gordon
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