EU Battlegroup 2020-

[EUFighter]

The force structure for the current German led Battlegroup is interesting.

Germany is leading the main combat element which is an airmobile force to which we are attached. Also in this group are the Dutch, Swedish and Czech's. The element capabilities will be parachute troops, attack helicopters, mortar & AT missile teams, airmobile vehicles and medical.

The support element consists of the Germans, Finns, Dutch, Czechs and Austrians. They will cover reconnaissance, MP, Comms and Civil.

The medical element consists of the Germans, Czechs and Austrians.

The Logistics element is led by the Austrians and has the Croats.

[na grohmiti]

What are we providing?

[DeV]

What are we providing?

ARW

[DeV]

From 2018 debate:

“The proposed Defence Forces contribution to the German battle group will involve a special operations task group. The group will comprise a special operations forces platoon - Army ranger wing, engineer specialist search capability, explosive ordnance disposal, EOD, capability, and a security platoon together with staff posts at both the operational and force headquarters. The exact numbers and composition of Ireland's participation remains to be finalised and is a matter of ongoing discussion with battle group partners. The total number of Defence Forces personnel expected to be involved will be approximately 148, which has yet to be decided upon.“

https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates...2018-03-21/47/

[na grohmiti]

Useful capability to deploy for the inevitable ex. Some parts have been too focused on local operations for a while, it will do them good to see how the other half lives.

[apod]

The Ex was canceled due to Covid.Supposed to be back in March.

[EUFighter]

From 2018 debate:

“The proposed Defence Forces contribution to the German battle group will involve a special operations task group. The group will comprise a special operations forces platoon - Army ranger wing, engineer specialist search capability, explosive ordnance disposal, EOD, capability, and a security platoon together with staff posts at both the operational and force headquarters. The exact numbers and composition of Ireland's participation remains to be finalised and is a matter of ongoing discussion with battle group partners. The total number of Defence Forces personnel expected to be involved will be approximately 148, which has yet to be decided upon.“

https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates...2018-03-21/47/

Looking at the organisation of the Battlegroup and that the Irish contingent is allocated to the Combat Element which is an airborne element I can understand the ARW. They would be the first to be inserted to secure the landing zone etc. And it is said that they would be a platoon sized group. That leaves a lot for the Engineers and I was not aware they had airmobile equipment. The Germans will have their Wiesel and Mungo vehicles but what will the Engineers have?

[DeV]

Changes could be on way for EU Battlegroups under the “Strategic Compass”
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/m...ac/2021/05/19/

any deployment could of course now at least partially be funded by the European Peace Facility

Personally I think the EU was a bit shocked by the EU/UN changeover in Chad (we should have foreseen that)

the drive for change seems to be coming from a number of countries including us

[na grohmiti]

How were they shocked?
What happened during the changeover?

[DeV]

How were they shocked?
What happened during the changeover?

The UN had 18 months of EUFOR to prepare for MINURCAT:
- insufficient troops
- insufficient force enablers (eg Helis)
- insufficient logs
- insufficient preparation
- UN bureaucracy

MINURCAT only got off the ground because EUFOR troops were rehatted

[DeV]

https://finabel.org/member-states-ad...-battlegroups/

[DeV]

https://finabel.org/eu-in-talks-to-d...t-entry-force/

[DeV]

News from the European Parliament
Strategic Compass: Rapid deployment capacity to protect EU citizens, interests and values

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/...sts-and-values



“All troops of the EU RDC should be assigned exclusively to it, with member states able to call them for national duty in the event of an emergency”