Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel have been injured in non-combat accidents in the Gulf since 2 August 1990.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonAccording to our current records, some 540 armed forces personnel have been injured in non-combat accidents in the Gulf since 2 August 1990. This figure does not include minor injuries to Army personnel during the period up to 16 January 1991 when such injuries were not subject to central recording, nor does it include casualties who subsequently died.
Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 March about Operation Granby,Official Report, column 165, what is the approximate number of combat sorties carried out from the commencement of the air campaign that were (a) ground attack missions and (b) air defence missions.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonDuring hostilities in the Gulf, RAF Tornado GR1, Jaguar GR1 and Buccaneer aircraft flew some 2,400 sorties against targets in Iraq and Kuwait. RAF Tornado F3s flew about 700 air defence sorties.
Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the approximate number of(a) ground attack sorties, (b) tactical transport sorties and (c) non-combat sorties carried out by the Army Air Corps during Operation Granby; and if he will make a statement about army Air Corps operations during Operation Granby.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonI regret that information on Army Air Corps activity was not recorded in the form requested. Army Air Corps Lynx and Gazelle helicopters were used during the allied operations to liberate Kuwait. During the night of 26 February, when 1st (British) Armoured Division was engaging an Iraqi armoured division, two Lynx, operating with two Gazelles, are believed to have destroyed four Iraqi tanks and three armoured personnel carriers.