Headgear/[SG2] Weapons...

> Ryan wrote:

> photo's of British Troops in the Southern areas

> From what I understand, once the "war" was over and the "occupation"
began the UK command ordered the troops on the ground to replace their helmets
with Berets.

To be honest the Brits do seem to have taken a lot less casualties from
guerrila attacks and to get on better with the locals than the US forces are.
However, though the Berret and general demeanor does help the Brits, they are
operating in the Basra region and the ethnic mix there (predominantly Shi'it I
think, not Sunni...?) was opposed to the Ba'ath regime and therefore will look
on their "conquerors" somewhat more kindly than in the centre and North where
the Americans are. The US forces are operating in and around Saddams and the
Ba'ath regime's main stomping ground so I can see why they would want to
project a more beligerent stance in their appearance. I suppose it is down to
the US command in the area to decide if and when the troops there will be able
to switch to a more friendly look, which could help (I stress could, obviously
John has an infinetly greater insight on local attitudes to US troops there
than I do) to swing more local support their way (see below for how this can
occur).

Historicaly, since WW2 the British have had huge amounts of "peacekeeping
experience", or to put it more accurateley "urban conflict" from Ireland to
the Balkans, this coupled with a lack of resources in terms of high tech
systems or forepower means that we have had to rely much more on the troops on
the gound to deal with situations without automatically calling heavier fire
support (though there have been times when this would have been bloood
useful). The differing attitudes between US and Brit forces on how to operate
on hostile streets is the product of both forces differing experiences since
WW2, and both sides can point to numerous examples to say their way is right.
The reality is both concepts have their strengths and weakness and will vary
with success according to the particulars of each individual situation. I just
hope that ALL allied troops in Iraq get the drop done and get home safley.

> Imre wrote:

> Malaya was an interesting case, the insurgency was centered on an

> From what I can gather the British used special forces operating in the
Still, seemed to impress the locals and to keep them on side.

A quick question on an historical note; in 1950's Malaya Brit forces made use
of helicopters in jungle environments, is this amongst the first examples of
this operational concept in a conflict environment?

Regards,