-Caveat Lector- >From http://thescotsman.co.uk/index.cfm?id=829612002
Thu 1 Aug 2002 show images The Saif Sareea II exercise in Oman was the largest deployment of British troops since the Gulf War in 1991. Desert probe damns Army weapons Alison Hardie Political Correspondent BRITAIN�S credibility as the United States� partner in a war with Iraq will be dealt a blow today by a report that reveals army equipment is not fit for desert combat. A comprehensive investigation into last year�s Saif Sareea II exercise in Oman has found that major faults exist, ranging from the failings of the Challenger 2 battle tank to soldiers� boots which "fell apart". The exercise was the largest deployment of British troops since the Gulf War in 1991, and at the time was proclaimed a success by the government and the Ministry of Defence. But the report by the National Audit Office, issued today, paints a picture of chaos and under- investment that sent morale plummeting in desert heat of up to 55�C . It raises questions about the contribution British forces could make to an invasion of Iraq. Tony Blair has repeatedly refused to confirm his intention to offer immediate British support to any US invasion of Iraq to topple Saddam Hussein. However, the Prime Minister�s office pointedly declined to deny reports last week that he had agreed terms with George Bush for launching an all-out Anglo-American assault on Iraq in the autumn. Mr Blair has enraged many Labour MPs by not condemning the United States� aggressive stance towards Iraq, even after King Abdullah of Jordan made it plain to him that Arab nations oppose any attack on Saddam. The most serious finding of the NAO report is the near-complete failure of the Commander 2 battle tank in desert conditions in Oman. It would be expected to spearhead any armoured assault by British ground forces. But crews found that the fine dust thrown up by the desert quickly clogged up the tanks� air filters, causing them to grind to a halt. Conditions were so severe that air filters designed to last 12 months were out of service after just four hours on manoeuvres in the desert. By the end of the Saif Sareea II exercise, global supplies of air filters had been exhausted and the MoD was forced to place an urgent order for a new contract to replenish its stocks. The NAO report found that although an extra 55 tonnes of spares were flown out in an attempt to keep the tanks going, two squadrons still had to be withdrawn and only three squadrons were able to take part in the final live-firing exercise. The desert conditions had similar debilitating effects on British Lynx helicopter blades, which would normally last for 500 hours flying-time in European conditions but endured just 27 hours in Oman. Even when the tanks were operational, the Army�s antiquated and "incapable" Clansman radio system meant crews were operating almost without contact in simulated combat conditions. The troops could not resort to mobile phones as there was no reception, so they were left to use either hand signals or had to pull up mid-manoeuvre to check orders with each other. The replacement system ordered by the MoD - the new Bowman system - will not be available for at least two years. David Clarke, the leader of the NAO report team, said: "Stopping a brigade of tanks and getting them into a huddle is not the best way to operate." Among the other problems identified in the NAO report was with the mobile AS90 self-propelled field guns. Their plastic air filters melted in the heat, causing two of the guns to be withdrawn from the exercise. Even after makeshift aluminium shields were improvised, one gun caught fire and is likely to be written off - at a cost to the taxpayer of �1 million. Troops taking part in Saif Sareea II also experienced a recurrence of the long-standing problem of jamming with the SA80 rifle. Red tape led to the army�s fleet of heavy-duty fork lift trucks, known as Rough Terrain Container Handlers, being in short supply because the commercial contractors employed to maintain them work solely in Britain and Germany. A slow system of rigs and cranes had to be improvised instead which took 50 minutes to unload a container instead of just four if Rough Terrain Container Handlers had been operational. However, the extent to which the British military personnel were under equipped was illustrated by the fact they were not even supplied with suitable footwear. Their boots melted and the replacement desert boots "quickly fell apart". Bernard Jenkin, the shadow defence secretary, said yesterday the report showed the need to "re-learn the lessons we forgot in the ten years since the Gulf War". The MoD said Saif Sareea II had been a success in demonstrating the joint rapid reaction force concept, and that overall it was "very pleased" with the way both people and equipment had performed. 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