Mobile force ‘needs two weeks warning’

Press, 19 December 1981, Page 9

Mobile force ‘needs two weeks warning’

NZPA-Reuter Washington The United States would need two weeks warning of a Soviet attack on the Middle East if American forces were to defend the area successfully, the United States commander assigned to protect . the area said yesterday. Lieutenant-General Robert Kingston, commander of the Rapid Deployment Force, said this was one of several deficiencies of the force discovered during recent "Bright Star” exercises in Egypt, Sudan and Somalia. General Kingston said two weeks warning would be necessary because heavy weapons to counter a Soviet armoured thrust have to be shipped from the United States.

Airlifted American soldiers would have, to fight with light weapons until the heavy armour arrived.

While it would take at least two weeks for heavy armour to be shipped from the United States, only about six days’ warning would be needed if heavy weapons were kept at the American base on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia, General Kingston said. He wanted heavy equipment based in the Middle East, as well as a permanent advance headquarters of 150 to 200 men.

He said negotiations were under way with nations in the region to secure a headquarters and permission to store heavy weapons, but declined to give details.