Cornish Trucker Wrote:
With regards to 10 abnormal loads, I think, commen decency, would have been to move these loads, in at least 1hr splits, to avoid to much chaos.
Because all Tank Transporter convoys are escorted by ■■■■■■ bikes, ■■■■■■ Land Rovers, Thru hitch break down vehicle and repair vechicle if 10 abnormal loads were to move at 1 hour intervals and the first one broke down it would be at the side of the road until the REME got there and they always follow the last vehicle in the convoy.
Liberace:
Now, why shift them at this particular time?
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Because there’s the next worse thing to a war going on where our boys are risking their lives on a daily basis, and indeed, all too often paying the ultimate price.
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Because there’s a ship to catch to move the tanks where they’re needed and bearing in mind the tanks have probably just come from service/recon etc and there are not enough MoD ro-ro’s as it is, time is of the essence.
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Because there are not enough trained ‘tank transporters’ in UK (the rest are in a ‘crap’ place just now, sweating their cods off!!) and as soon as they’ve finished one task (and rest) they’ve got to get straight on with another.
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Because the government that ‘you’ elected has consistently reduced the Armed Forces while consistently increasing the work load of operations and commitments; therefore the luxury of avoiding rush hour is not a viable option.
Hopefully there are but a few reasons to help you understand that although it was most inconvienient that you had to slow down a bit on your otherwise important and busy day, there were bound to be good reasons why it had to be done.
In the greater scheme of things, I don’t see you being held up a bit as that important. Save your letter writing energies for a worthwhile cause Lib, because a) I don’t see what you expect to achieve, b) it’s about time we stopped sending negative ‘messages’ to the Armed Forces and instead started giving them a bit more support.
It feels better to get those things off your chest; perks of being a ‘civi’ now, I guess!
Scanny 77 Wrote
are we assuming that this convoy was on ops?
Not really theses vehicle could have been moving for many reasons:
Ops, Exercise, change over of equipment between regts (High usage vehicles go to regts that are in a slack period and vice versa), going for base repair/modification.
Owing to financial constraints these days they would not be moved around just to practice convoy drills.
As for getting Wednesday afternoons off and finishing early on a Friday,
When I started at my last unit in 2001 were used to start at 10:30 on a Monday, have a sports afternoon on Wednesday and finish at 12:30 on Friday.
When I finished Last year we started at 08:30 on Monday, Finished at 17:00 on a Friday, could only have a sports afternoon if you played a regimental sport and then only if you were not in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, on exercise or putting out fires.
Not particuarly bothered that I was held up as I’m paid hourly rate 
. I don’t see many civillian firms moving 10+ oversized loads during peak times, but hey ho.
I’m just wondering why they shifted them at peak time. Thanks to those who 've given me a straight answer.
As a general aside Marcus, It’s not so much the army I dislike, in fact I think they do a good job in very trying circumstances. It’s ignorance in general.
As you say, it’s good to get these things off your chest 
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