British troops left without proper kit during Iraq war, says watchdog

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, December 12, 2003

British troops left without proper kit during Iraq war, says watchdog

The British frontline forces were left without vital kit during the US-led war against Iraq due to supply failures, an independent British government watchdog said Thursday.

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The British frontline forces were left without vital kit during the US-led war against Iraq due to supply failures, an independent British government watchdog said Thursday.

Nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) weapon protection suits and desert clothing did not reach or fit many troops, a report of the National Audit Office said.

Some of the Challenger Two main battle tanks were only finally fully armored up for desert warfare 48 hours before they went into battle, the report said, adding that some tanks and armored vehicles never received the protective NBC protection filters withwhich they were meant to be equipped.

There was so much confusion in some cases that troops simply took the equipment they needed, the report said.

"The lack of confidence in the ability of the logistics system to meet units' needs in theater led to a considerable degree of misappropriation of equipment and stores moving through the supply chain," the report pointed out.

Equipment shortages eroded troop morale, the National Audit Office said , adding that the government also failed to plan for the coalition's duties after the main phase of the Iraq war was over.

The report came as the Ministry of Defense on Thursday published a document on the lessons to be learnt form the Iraq operation.

While analyzing the deployment of the British forces and the phase of active combat operations, the ministry admitted that "some shortages of equipment were experienced."

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