The Sandbashers Speak

From HERE:

Unaha, the above post answers your question. I can testify to the fact that we used the ‘Snatch’ Landrovers (OK for Northern Ireland, iffy elsewhere) in Basra in 2004 while our counterparts from other Coalition contingents (Italians, Danes etc) had patrol vehicles such as the Scarab (MAV 5, above) and the Mowag (below). Both could be fitted with extra armour for added defence against mines and IEDs:

http://kr.img.blog.yahoo.com/ybi/1/24/56/shinecommerce/folder/8/img_8_13384_3?1183781182.jpg
http://www.armyvehicles.dk/apctest_1.htm

At the start of our tour (May 2004) we were driving into Basra - and to Al Amarah - in the standard ‘Wolf’ Landrovers, which had fuck-all protection whatsoever. Eventually the powers that be realised that this was not a good idea, and the Snatches were rushed into theatre as a snap solution. But then the MOD left it at that, and only started to order Mastiff when more blokes started dying in IED attacks.

The reason why the British Army are using WMIKs and Snatches is due to the breach of the military contract which Francis Sedgemore has written about. Whatever your opinions on Iraq and Afghanistan, the fact that soldiers are being expected to operate with outmoded equipment is an absolute disgrace.

Thank God we’ve got Eurofighter, because that really scares the hell out of the Mahdi Army and the Taliban.

Its good to get the view of someone who's out there. And as the last line shows, whatever else the British Army lacks it still has a wicked (if sobering) sense of humour.

The point is well made and reflects what EU Referendum has been saying for a while, namely that the Eurofighter is useless bcause it is designed for the Cold War. Sure it can be used as Close Air Support but its too fast and can't carry enough ordanance. And more than that its incredibly expensive, not only to buy but also to train on and keep running. On the other hand we could use Super Tucanos like Blackwater does which are rugged, require much less equipment, are the right speed for support and cost a measly $9 million (say £4.5 million). A Eurofighter costs £80 million.

But that isn't the point. The reason we buy things like the Eurofighter and the upcoming Future Lynx is simple: small dick syndrome. Eurofighters are shiny and very, very nice. But sadly they are also completely useless for the job in hand, particuarly in comparison to older but more suitable kit. With a Future Lynx we can show off to all the other countries. Unfortunately we just won't be able to show them off anywhere except on the ground because by all accounts the Future Lynx's predeccessor can barely fly in the desert. Gee whiz, how useful.

The other interesting point picked up on by EU Referendum is that Blackwater are the ones buying cheap, suitable kit. This further reinforces John Robb's ideas about the advantages of privatised militaries. Blackwater don't need to show off, they have limited funds and need results for their money. The MoD has little to no incentive (though one wonders if the MoD's top civil servants were sent on fact finding missions to the UK's furthest outposts in Snatch Land Rovers they might change their mind).