RAF Chinook HC.2 destroyed in Afghanistan

[Le Addeur noir]

Following an emergency landing and crew evacuation,a RAF Chinook HC.2 was destroyed in an airstrike northof Sangin in Helmand Province.

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[Wildpicture]

Luckily the crew got out safely.

Expensive choice to immediately destroy it on the ground. I can't believe anybody would expect the bearded men to fix it up and fly it. Somehow recovering the bird must have seemed to expensive or dangerous. But with the enormous shortage if transport helicopters over there, loosing one because of your own choice is sad.

[aviodromefriend]

I can't believe anybody would expect the bearded men to fix it up and fly it.

Maybe not to fix it up and fly, but it could be possible they could lay their hand on some items, which you prefer not to be with your oponent. And mind the two Chinooks the RNLAF lost in Afghanistan were also destroyed by the Dutch themselves.

[Wildpicture]

I understand that they are anxious about certain items such as especially radio and IFF. But I doubt the enemy would have the knowledge and means to extract these items from the chopper and make use of them. Destroying the chopper seems a bit drastic compared to what a new one costs in terms of money and delivery time.

[Hans Rolink]

I understand that they are anxious about certain items such as especially radio and IFF. But I doubt the enemy would have the knowledge and means to extract these items from the chopper and make use of them. Destroying the chopper seems a bit drastic compared to what a new one costs in terms of money and delivery time.

Think of the public relations coup for the Taliban if they would have "captured this machine from the evil enemy".


Hans.

[RogierV]

I understand that they are anxious about certain items such as especially radio and IFF. But I doubt the enemy would have the knowledge and means to extract these items from the chopper and make use of them. Destroying the chopper seems a bit drastic compared to what a new one costs in terms of money and delivery time.

Well, people can copy your bank card, people make remotely operated IEDs, I bet they can use equipment from a helicopter.

If they (crash) land near enemy positions it makes no sense to recover the heli from that position. If the (structural) damage seems to be severe, it will costs lots of money, efforts and time to get it flying again. In each of these two cases, destroying the machine sounds reasonable to me.

[mwpeters]

I understand that they are anxious about certain items such as especially radio and IFF. But I doubt the enemy would have the knowledge and means to extract these items from the chopper and make use of them. Destroying the chopper seems a bit drastic compared to what a new one costs in terms of money and delivery time.

The Taliban may look like a couple of idiots, actually a lot of them studied abroad in countries like the United Kingdom and the United States. On the internet there is too much information present regarding aircraft mechanics and avionics (I know some site where you can buy full military aircraft/helcopter manuals). The forces can not take the risk that some equipment may be used for evil/taliban goals.