Report Criticizes British Vehicle, Helo, Fuel Shortages

[ORAC]

Report Criticizes British Vehicle, Helo, Fuel Shortages (http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4321603&c=EUR&s=LAN)

LONDON - British forces fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq have suffered shortages of spares for armored vehicles, helicopters and other equipment, according to a parliamentary report to be published Oct 13.

Other key supplies were also in short supply, with fuel stocks at the main army base at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, shrinking to "critically low levels" at one point last year, the Public Accounts Committee report says.

In July 2008, fuel stocks at Camp Bastion in Helmand province were down to just 5 percent against a mandated 80 percent, says the report, entitled "Support to High Intensity Operations.".........

[airborne_artist]

"The report says the MoD significantly underestimated the degree to which spares were required"

Surely not?

"On the helicopter front, the report says that Boeing Apache attack helicopters and AgustaWestland Merlin air mobility machines in the U.K. have been cannibalized to keep frontline fleets operational."

Do they mean Christmas trees? :}

[seafuryfan]

Check out this picture of the 'Vector'. A very neat dressed 'desert meets temperate' camouflage pattern - on an apparently crap vehicle...

MPs warn Army supply chain is 'creaking' | The Sun |News|Campaigns|Our Boys (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/campaigns/our_boys/2679804/MPs-warn-Army-supply-chain-is-creaking.html)

[Melchett01]

I'd think twice about doing the weekly shopping run in a Vector let alone cutting about SGN or MSQ in one!

Which genius thought that one up? Looks like a high centre of gravity (great for uneven terrain), lego wheels (goes with the high centre of gravity) and a seemingly exposed fuel tank just to make things really go with a bang :ugh:

The Vector, I would suggest, should be held up as an example of why the UOR process is no replacement for a properly funded and implemented procurement process.

[Pontius Navigator]

Having read avidly all the stroies of the Second World War and all the well written tales of daring do in the weekly comics, I think I knew what the problems were with lots of the kit on both sides.

I can see one obviously vulnerability in the Vector and it isn't mines or bullets or anything sophisticated.

Now a BMP looked a rather better design notwithstanding its weak points which, 40-50 years on, could be designed out.

[GOLF_BRAVO_ZULU]

For those who would like to read the Report without the informed and expert comment of the tabloids; http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmpubacc/895/895.pdf (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmpubacc/895/895.pdf)

You will still need to put up with such gems as;


Part 1.


Para 13; “Consumption of fuel had outstripped demand”.