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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| 'Lack of vehicles' in Afghanistan | 'Lack of vehicles' in Afghanistan |
| (1 day later) | |
| A serious shortage of patrol vehicles is hampering operations in Afghanistan, British commanders have told the BBC. | A serious shortage of patrol vehicles is hampering operations in Afghanistan, British commanders have told the BBC. |
| BBC correspondent Alastair Leithead said a lack of heavily armed Land Rovers was a particular problem. | BBC correspondent Alastair Leithead said a lack of heavily armed Land Rovers was a particular problem. |
| Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Mayo, spokesman in Helmand province, said only 126 of the 170 needed were in working order. | Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Mayo, spokesman in Helmand province, said only 126 of the 170 needed were in working order. |
| The Ministry of Defence insisted troops were properly equipped to do their job. | The Ministry of Defence insisted troops were properly equipped to do their job. |
| The complaints came just a day after UK forces took control of Afghanistan's southern provinces as part of the Nato mission there. | The complaints came just a day after UK forces took control of Afghanistan's southern provinces as part of the Nato mission there. |
| British soldiers are involved in Operation Silicon to drive Taleban fighters out of opium-producing areas. | British soldiers are involved in Operation Silicon to drive Taleban fighters out of opium-producing areas. |
| 'A hammering' | 'A hammering' |
| Armed Land Rovers - or WMIKs (weapons-mount installation kits) - are used to protect soldiers while out on patrol or operations. | |
| Commanders felt they had an opportunity to push the Taleban back, and with the ground still being held it's being seen as a success so far. | Commanders felt they had an opportunity to push the Taleban back, and with the ground still being held it's being seen as a success so far. |
| Return from Taleban fight | Return from Taleban fight |
| Mr Leithead, who is embedded with British troops, said an average of one of these vehicles a week was being lost and replacements sent from the UK often arrived late. | Mr Leithead, who is embedded with British troops, said an average of one of these vehicles a week was being lost and replacements sent from the UK often arrived late. |
| Lt Col Mayo said the WMIKs were taking "a hell of a hammering" in the hot and dusty conditions and said the situation was "tight, but not critical yet". | Lt Col Mayo said the WMIKs were taking "a hell of a hammering" in the hot and dusty conditions and said the situation was "tight, but not critical yet". |
| A fifth of the fleet is damaged or has been destroyed by enemy fire, he added, but more would be arriving soon. | A fifth of the fleet is damaged or has been destroyed by enemy fire, he added, but more would be arriving soon. |
| Another vehicle, a Pinzgauer, has been fitted with extra armour to try to cover the shortfall, but there is a limit to the number of men and the amount of equipment they can carry, our correspondent said. | Another vehicle, a Pinzgauer, has been fitted with extra armour to try to cover the shortfall, but there is a limit to the number of men and the amount of equipment they can carry, our correspondent said. |
| And the strain was increased because extra troops had recently been deployed without extra vehicles, he added. | And the strain was increased because extra troops had recently been deployed without extra vehicles, he added. |
| A spokesman for the MoD denied there was a shortage and said huge investments had been made in equipment for the Army. | A spokesman for the MoD denied there was a shortage and said huge investments had been made in equipment for the Army. |
| "The success of our forces against the Taleban shows that they are not only among the best in the world, but also among the best equipped," he said. | "The success of our forces against the Taleban shows that they are not only among the best in the world, but also among the best equipped," he said. |