Rangers put to test in plane hijack exercise

[B Inman]

Elite Army Rangers training in Dublin Airport during counter-terrorism exercises yesterday
•
By Tom Brady Security Editor
Friday February 18 2011
IRELAND'S military capability to tackle a terrorist plane hijack was put to the test at Dublin Airport over the past four days.
And Defence Forces chiefs were impressed with the performance of the specialist troops from their elite unit, the Army Ranger wing.
It was the biggest counter- terrorism exercise ever conducted within the State and was brought to a conclusion yesterday morning when the "hostages" were saved.
Soldiers played the role of passengers, who were being held at gunpoint on a hijacked craft in a corner of the airport, in a simulated operation codenamed "Firm Response".
The majority of the 100-plus Ranger wing took part, supported by bomb disposal teams, engineer specialist search teams, snipers, Air Corps craft, surveillance squads, medical teams and logistical support.
The exercise was co-ordinated at the joint operations centre at Defence Force headquarters.
The Ranger wing maintains a military counter-terrorist capability for use at home and on United Nations-approved missions overseas.
The Rangers have been involved in providing protection at airports in the past for visitors including members of the British royal family and US and British politicians.
They acted as the initial entry force when Irish peacekeeping troops were preparing to join the UN mission in Chad and carried out long range patrolling and reconnaissance exercises.
The Rangers also had a high profile in the East Timor mission but remained largely out of the spotlight in other missions such as Liberia.
- Tom Brady Security Editor
http://www.independent.ie/national-n...e-2546314.html

[goc132]

Great to see a good unit making Defence Forces proud and been trained to a great standard

[Truck Driver]

Well done to the 'Wing

[GoneToTheCanner]

I saw them practicing on the old Ryanair wreck at Dublin Airport about two weeks ago. very efficient looking.
regards
GttC

[knocker]

Would someone please tell me why the countrys special forces are being so much coverage for this ? By their nature special forces and knowledge of their work should be limited. The article mentions the numbers of the unit. It also gives the duration for this typeof special forces exercise. Is there any guidance for press releases from the department of defence ? If they are happy to let everyone know this then they should take a leaf out of the mods book on this site

[FMolloy]

It doesn't give the exact number of ARW personnel, it gives the duration for this particular exercise only & it is all after the fact.

[knocker]

It gives a very good indication of what the wings strength and their planning. And before anyone takes offence , i am not having a go at the army or the ranger wing I am just very surprised that so much information is given to the public domain.

[FMolloy]

For how many years has the structures & numbers of UKSF units been known? This knowledge hasn't affected their operations.

The article says nothing about their planning either, all it said was that there was an anti-hijack exercise carried out in the airport.

[knocker]

For how many years has the structures & numbers of UKSF units been known? This knowledge hasn't affected their operations.

Queue the pis**ng match All ive said is that im surprised that a special forces exercise has been put in the national press and second i am not having a go at the wing or anyone else as per post 8.

[FMolloy]

Relax the head, I haven't accused you of anything. There's no pissing match, I merely pointed out that there's far more known about UKSF & yet they still operate effectively.

[knocker]

The article says nothing about their planning either, all it said was that there was an anti-hijack exercise carried out in the airport.

It was the biggest counter terrorism exercise ever conducted within the state. Not my words - the article stated that. The article also said that it lasted 4 days.

[FMolloy]

It was the biggest counter terrorism exercise ever conducted within the state. Not my words - the article stated that. The article also said that it lasted 4 days.

None of which tells you anything new about their planning. They've done exactly as you'd expect such a unit to do - practice for a possible scenario. There's nothing surprising there, it's the kind of thing that's printed in far greater detail on a regular basis in the likes of Combat & Survival.

[DeV]

Would someone please tell me why the countrys special forces are being so much coverage for this ? By their nature special forces and knowledge of their work should be limited. The article mentions the numbers of the unit. It also gives the duration for this typeof special forces exercise. Is there any guidance for press releases from the department of defence ? If they are happy to let everyone know this then they should take a leaf out of the mods book on this site

It gives a very good indication of what the wings strength and their planning. And before anyone takes offence , i am not having a go at the army or the ranger wing I am just very surprised that so much information is given to the public domain.

Queue the pis**ng match All ive said is that im surprised that a special forces exercise has been put in the national press and second i am not having a go at the wing or anyone else as per post 8.

It was the biggest counter terrorism exercise ever conducted within the state. Not my words - the article stated that. The article also said that it lasted 4 days.

A couple of short articles in the papers (plus from what I've seen all file photos). It is good press and shows the DF (and ARW) as what it is a very professional organisation.

The vague number of about 100 has all the DF has ever released. So what if it says the duration (it was only in the papers once it was finished).

DOD generally don't do press releases regarding the DF, it is PR Section in DFHQ who answer to the COS.

There is VERY little information available on the ARW from any source except what has been officially released.



I take it you don't remember the medal parade in a town centre, if you are having difficulty with this!

[timhorgan]

Queue the pis**ng match All ive said is that im surprised that a special forces exercise has been put in the national press and second i am not having a go at the wing or anyone else as per post 8.

I wonder why the ARW do not have their own "top secret" training area like Pontrilas.



http://www.secret-bases.co.uk/secret2.htm


Whatever happened to the old RAF Credenhill?

http://www.satellitesights.com/satel...United_Kingdom

[apod]

This drip feeding of minute amounts of info on what our Military and Civil(remember Exercise Ulysses in 2009 with the ERU) SF units are capable of can also serve as a detterent to any would be aggressors.OPSEC was not compromised here as no specific details were given.