Inside Britain's secret suburban bunker


All three armed forces work together


By the BBC's David Shukman


Think of just about any major military operation involving British forces in the past couple of decades and you may be surprised to learn that the key commanders were based not on the frontline but in the outer suburbs of London.

Deep beneath the leafy lanes of Northwood, just to the west of the capital, is a vast underground complex - the highly-guarded Permanent Joint Headquarters.

It is not easy obtaining permission to get inside.



This base faces perhaps its biggest challenge so far - the long, difficult, shadowy war against terror

During my first visit - during the Gulf War - the first hurdle was the heavily-armed force at the main gate. Past them, I was then escorted to the ground-level entrance to the bunker.

It did not look much, a few busy-looking characters in uniform passing in and out of the bullet-proof doors.

But then came the descent into the depths, past huge steel blast doors, down flight after flight of stairs.

On the walls were emblems commemorating visits by the generals of friendly armed forces, on the locked doors were signs for intelligence briefings or special operations.

Joint effort

At the deepest level of this bomb-proof underworld, there is a single large room, packed with computer screens. On the walls are maps and electronic screens.

During the Kosovo crisis, there were charts depicting Serb forces - but covered up by plastic sheeting to hide them from us journalists.



Lieutenant-General John Reith commands the nerve-centre

Now the atmosphere must be frantic in there.

Extra staff will have been drafted in to maintain a round-the-clock operation to command and stay in touch with any British military personnel abroad.

This is where the different British armed forces combine. The buzz-word is "jointery" meaning that all three services think, plan and act jointly.

The pale-blue uniforms of the RAF mingle with the dark-blue of the Royal Navy and the khaki of the army.

At the moment the commander is a soldier - Lieutenant-General John Reith, the chief of joint operations who ran the British operations in Bosnia and then in Albania.

Terror war

He is the man who would give the signal in the event of military strikes against Afghanistan.

Connected by secure links to the Ministry of Defence in London and the secret Downing Street bunker known as Cobra, Northwood is the link between the prime minister and British forces in the field.



British operations in Sierra Leone were run from Northwood

The hostage rescue by the SAS and Paras in Sierra Leone, the deployment of Gurkhas into the killing-fields of East Timor, the recent weapons collection mission in Macedonia - all have been run from Northwood.

Now this base faces perhaps its biggest challenge so far - the long, difficult, shadowy war against terror.

But you would never guess that from the calm suburban surroundings outside.



Full UK coverage


Key stories
UK joins attack
Fears for journalist
Papers back 'onslaught'
Parliament recalled
UK's key role


Background
Hostile terrain
UK's secret bunker
Duty in the desert
An Illustrious warship

ANALYSIS

Blair's unwanted test
Q&A: Covert operations
'Long term solution'

TALKING POINT

Air strikes begin - your reaction

FORUM

Military options: Ask Col Bob Stewart

SPECIAL REPORT

War on Terror


See also:


02 Oct 01 | Asia-Pacific
Tajiks stare starvation in the face
30 Sep 01 | South Asia
Pakistan pessimism over Taleban talks
03 Oct 01 | South Asia
US prepares ground for strikes
03 Oct 01 | Americas
US welcomes Blair's strong stance
02 Oct 01 | UK Politics
Blair promises victory over terror
Internet links:


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Ministry of Defence

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