SAS commander quits 'over kit'

[Sirius]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7703419.stm


Seems like this Government and it's non elected prime minister would sooner get involved with ropey radio broadcasts than give our lads the kit they need.

The commander is reported to have blamed a lack of adequate resources for the deaths of four service personnel, including Corporal Sarah Bryant, the first British female soldier to die in Afghanistan.

They were killed on 17 June when their Snatch Land Rover struck a roadside bomb in Helmand Province earlier this year.

In his resignation letter, he is understood to have accused ministers of "gross negligence" in allowing soldiers to go into battle without adequate resources.

You can bet if any of the ministers go out there they get the resources to make sure there are safe.

Conservative MP Patrick Mercer told the BBC there had been "at least two ringing reassurances from the government" that Snatch Land Rovers would be withdrawn from patrol duties.

"It is outrageous that these vehicles still remain in service. That soldiers, sailors and airmen's' lives are being put at risk by vehicles that are simply inadequate for these sorts of duties," he said.

So yet more lies from a Government renowned for its lies. Lets face it the lads are out there because this government lied so whats one more bloody lie.

This week, Defence Secretary John Hutton announced an extra £700m for 700 new armoured vehicles for Afghanistan.

The MoD said in a statement: "The events of 17 June were a tragedy and our sympathies are with the families.

"Equipping our personnel is a clear priority and we are absolutely focussed on providing them with a range of vehicles that will protect them from the ever-shifting threats posed by the enemy."

How long have our lads been fighting over there now ?, And its took this long for this bunch of muppets to do something. And how long will it take them to get the vehicles out there.

[Osem]

Well done for raising this, you beat me it! Yet another glowing example of HMG's 'total commitment' to our troops...

Whilst they waste no opportunity to pronounce their respect for the dead and Darling makes a song and dance about waiving the VAT on a charity record, troops are getting blown to pieces because they're still having to use vehicles which weren't designed for and patently aren't suitable for the purpose. As for when they get the much needed replacement well I thought I heard 2010 quoted on TV last night .....

I really wish more senior military personnel would put their heads above the parapet and force our duplicitous leaders to act!

Here's what John Hutton claimed a few weeks back:

http://www.mod.uk/defenceinternet/de...esecretary.htm

and more recently:

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/article52953.ece

[piggy]

the bbc gets thousands of complaints over the ross/brand saga i wonder how many will bother over this, either kit them correctly or bring them home.

[Escapee]

MOD budget cuts and programmes put on hold are not going to help.

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Osem

Well done for raising this, you beat me it! Yet another glowing example of HMG's 'total commitment' to our troops...

Whilst they waste no opportunity to pronounce their respect for the dead and Darling makes a song and dance about waiving the VAT on a charity record, troops are getting blown to pieces because they're still having to use vehicles which weren't designed for and patently aren't suitable for the purpose. As for when they get the much needed replacement well I thought I heard 2010 quoted on TV last night .....

I really wish more senior military personnel would put their heads above the parapet and force our duplicitous leaders to act!

Here's what John Hutton claimed a few weeks back:

http://www.mod.uk/defenceinternet/de...esecretary.htm

and more recently:

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/article52953.ece

I used the snatch rovers on 3 of my tours of NI and they were crap then, How can this government allow them to be used still i have no idea

If I was in charge I wont care how much it costs you get the correct equipment out there when the troops first get there not ages after bunch of knobs our government

This government lets be honest has a track record on this they all come out and sing from the same sheet when something bad happens that they are directly responsible for and when the cameras bugger off so does the concern. While we can make a noise about it fact is it isn't gonna help our people who are out there and everyday have to face greater risks because of crap kit.

But here is the thing that makes me so angry we have some of the best trained troops in the world who have a pride in that then they have to put up with being the butt of every other nation jokes concerning equipment and this is not a new thing i can remember some *cough*discussions*cough* with americans nearly 15 years ago on this issue so it really is time to sort it out.

To the spineless morons that are our government if you want to take part in wars fine make sure the people you send have the kit they need to do that fighting or do us all a favour and you sod off and fight it god we could only hope.

[punky]

I think this puts into perspective just how bad the situation is. You don't get into the SAS, let alone become commander by whinging unnescessarily, being weak-willed or undedicated/patriotic. For someone in his position to have to quit, it must be bad.

[Sirius]

More info HERE

[Escapee]

Originally Posted by RizzyKing

But here is the thing that makes me so angry we have some of the best trained troops in the world .

Training is an area where large cuts have been made, I *cough* understand *cough* that some traiing courses have been cut from months to weeks to save money over the past 5 years or so.

[Uncle Peter]

Originally Posted by Sirius

More info HERE

The Mastiff being a modified variant of the 6x6 Cougar Armoured patrol vehicle. The MoD have also ordered 160 of the 4x4 versions which will be modified and designated "Ridgeback", supposedly to become operational in spring next year. These new vehicles will be used in urban environments where a smaller vehicle is more appropriate and the existing Mastiff vehicles will be redeployed in rural areas.

There have also been an additional 70 Jackal patrol vehicles ordered which are more of a lightly armoured high mobility, special operations vehicle

This doesn't really help the lads who are stuck out there using the snatch landys at the moment though

[tosh mate]

Our armed forces have never had the equipment they need.......
it is down to Their skill and Know how they do so well...
I am Proud of them All............

[Escapee]

Originally Posted by Uncle Peter

The Mastiff being a modified variant of the 6x6 Cougar Armoured patrol vehicle. The MoD have also ordered 160 of the 4x4 versions which will be modified and designated "Ridgeback", supposedly to become operational in spring next year. These new vehicles will be used in urban environments where a smaller vehicle is more appropriate and the existing Mastiff vehicles will be redeployed in rural areas.

There have also been an additional 70 Jackal patrol vehicles ordered which are more of a lightly armoured high mobility, special operations vehicle

This doesn't really help the lads who are stuck out there using the snatch landys at the moment though

All because the long winded procedures and requirements makes it impossible to just go out and buy a product straight off the shelf. The MOD work in reverse to most other organisation, they set out a specification and then after a long winded selection process the suppliers design and build to it to the MOD spec.

In many cases it would be far better to go out and see what is available off the shelf and meets x percent of your requirements. It would certainly get something far better out there for the troops to use.

[SMG]

We have always had to use some inferior kit, guys would buy their own if the powers would let them wear it. The SAS are allowed to choose what kit they wear, & what weapon they use.

What really gets squaddies annoyed, is that good kit is readily available. Kit fit for purpose, on issue to other forces, why spend money developing a weapon that will never be as good as one thats readily available. I don't know about the rovers in use today, but in my day the Rovers had their fuel tanks situated under the drivers & passengers seat. Anything going pop under that would deffo give you a bad day.

Civil servants, with no idea whatsoever, decide what kit is eventually ordered, & its all down to cost. We do have some good clobber, tried & tested, & other forces, to their credit have copied it. I remember one Rupert ripping into me cos I wore a pair of German boots. He didn`t last long. Surprised he could tell the difference.

The Chinook saga, the SA80, Nimrod, billions of wasted pounds. The list could go on. As has been said, for an SAS Rupert to jack it in is bad. Very bad. Boys are working day in day out, & pulling stag. Its not the best way to retain men. Our professional Army is fast becoming a professional pis*ed off army. Moral just took another nose dive.

[Sirius]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7704276.stm

And so it continues

Mr Davies defended the decision of the MoD to keep Snatch Land Rovers in service because, he said, it was important commanders in the field were able to chose the most appropriate vehicle for different situations.

"The Snatch Land Rover can offer speed, flexibility and access in places other vehicles cannot reach," he said.

Mr Davies should go out to Afghanistan and do a few patrols in one then.

The mans an idiot