UK Troops risk their lives in Land Rovers MoD sells off armoured vehicles

[maddezmom]

Sun 27 Aug 2006


A FLEET of armoured vehicles has been sold abroad for just £44,000 despite the ongoing scandal of British troops forced to patrol war zones in thin-skinned Land Rovers.

The MoD sanctioned the sale of 14 mine-protected Mamba vehicles, which originally cost £4.5m, after an expensive revamp left them "too heavy" to go on patrol.

The financial loss to taxpayers is another embarrassment for the MoD but far more serious is the suggestion it could have put the lives of British troops at even greater risk.

At least 20 soldiers have been killed in attacks on lightly protected Land Rover patrol vehicles in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and there have been widespread complaints that UK forces are not getting enough protection.

Opposition parties last night raged that it was "unforgivable" for the government to dispose of a fleet of heavily armed vehicles so cheaply when British troops were facing such dangers.

more:http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1263052006

And today:
Iraq roadside bomb kills two British soldiers

James Sturcke and agencies
Monday September 4, 2006
Guardian Unlimited


Two British soldiers were killed and a third was seriously wounded in Iraq today, the army said.
The soldiers died when their patrol was hit by a roadside bomb north of Basra, Major Charlie Burbridge said. The soldiers were travelling in an armoured Land Rover, commonly known as a "snatch vehicle".

"It appears a roadside bomb was used to attack the convoy," Maj Burbridge said. "They were in a snatch vehicle. They have been designed to protect the crew against a certain threat and on occasion they have been defeated."

more:http://www.guardian.co.uk/military/story/0,,1864675,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=1

[Greeby]

1. Further proof my uncle is useless

In case you're wondering:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jock_Stirrup

[razors edge]

2. If you watch some of the videos

at Ogreish.com (yeah I know sick s**t) it doesn't look like even the abrams tanks can stand up to some of these devices. But if I were there I'd prefer them giving me the overweight vehicle and letting me scrap some of the less than effective armor.