A coroner criticised the Ministry of Defence for failing to supply soldiers in Afghanistan with basic equipment.
Two coroners have criticised the government for the deaths of British three soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The comments came at the end of an inquest in Oxford into the death of Captain James Philippson, 29, who died in a firefight with Taleban fighters.
Separate inquests heard how troopers in Iraq and Afghanistan were denied "mission essential" equipment.
Andrew Walker said 7 Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery was defeated by the "lack of basic equipment."
Oxford assistant coroner Andrew Walker, accused the MoD of an unforgivable breach of trust over the death of Capt James Philippson in Helmand Province.
Capt Philippson, of Hertfordshire, was the first casualty after troops were deployed in the region in June 2006.
Wiltshire coroner David Masters called for a review of armed forces spending over the deaths of two others in Iraq.
After the inquest, Capt Philippson's father criticised the government for delays in the supplies of equipment - but Defence Minister Bob Ainsworth admitted the problem could result in further fatalities.
Capt Philippson, 29, of 7 Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, died in a fire fight with Taliban troops on June 11 2006 in which British forces were "totally out-gunned".
The inquest heard how, before the incident on 11 June, 7 Para soldiers had complained repeatedly about a lack of proper equipment - chiefly standard night vision kits and weaponry.
The Oxford inquest heard that before his death 7 Para soldiers complained repeatedly about a lack of proper equipment - chiefly standard night vision kits and weaponry.
Mr Walker, assistant coroner for Oxfordshire, said: "They (the soldiers) were defeated not by the terrorists but by the lack of basic equipment."
He said sending troops into a combat zone without basic kit was "unforgivable and inexcusable" and "a breach of trust between the soldiers and those who govern them".
The MoD admitted an "administrative error" led to a 25-day delay in getting equipment to the front line.
Mr Walker said: "They (the soldiers) were defeated not by the terrorists but by the lack of basic equipment.
"To send soldiers into a combat zone without basic equipment is unforgivable, inexcusable and a breach of trust between the soldiers and those who govern them."
He recorded a narrative verdict in which he said Capt Philippson was unlawfully killed.
He recorded a narrative verdict in which he said Capt Philippson was unlawfully killed.
During the inquest Mr Walker asked Major Johnny Bristow, Capt Philippson's commanding officer, if they would have been a match for their attackers had they been supplied with Minimi machine guns and under-slung grenade launchers.
The soldier's father, Anthony Philippson, of St Albans, Herts, said after the inquest: "He (the coroner) laid into them (the MoD) particularly badly for the lack of equipment.
"It would have made a hell of a difference," Major Bristow said.
"I do hold the MoD responsible for James's death but it is not just the MoD, it goes much deeper than that.
He said there were three or four kits between as many as 30 men.
"The Treasury and the then Chancellor, Gordon Brown, will be really to blame for what happened. The MoD was starved of cash by the Chancellor."
The hearing was told that the Taleban forces had multiple rocket-propelled grenade launchers and a wealth of other firepower.
Coroner 'concerned'
'Outgunned by terrorists'
The second inquest in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, heard that a platoon commander had asked for Mastiffs - more heavily protected vehicles - to be used on the day the two men died, but they were all in use on another mission.
But even after his death, the much-needed equipment did not arrive, the hearing was told.
Lance Sergeant Chris Casey, 27, and Lance Corporal Kirk Redpath, 22, of 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, were escorting a supply convoy between Kuwait and Basra when they were hit by a home-made explosive.
Capt Philippson's father, Anthony Philippson, said after the verdict: "He (the coroner) laid into them, particularly badly for the lack of equipment.
It was under funding by the Government that killed him Sharon Hawkes, Kirk Redpath's partner L/Sgt Casey, a married father of two from Aldershot, and his younger comrade, from Romford, died after their Snatch Armoured Land Rover was hit north of the Rumaylah oilfields.
"They were outgunned by a bunch of terrorists. I do hold the Ministry of Defence (MoD) responsible for James's death but it is not just the MoD - it goes much deeper than that.
Recording verdicts that both men were unlawfully killed by terrorists, the coroner said he had "concerns" they had not been supplied with Mastiffs.
"The Treasury and the then chancellor, Gordon Brown, will be really to blame for what happened.
Mr Masters went on: "It is my belief that it is imperative that our forces, whether they be in Iraq or Afghanistan, are given the best available equipment."
"It's not really the MoD who are responsible - it's that miserable, harsh, parsimonious Scotsman we now have as prime minister who starved the MoD of funds."
"I have a meeting next week with the armed forces minister and this is an issue I intend to raise with him.
'Delay exposed'
"I need to be satisfied that this is an issue that has been understood and dealt with, because I anticipate it is still relevant and will be in Afghanistan as well."
Defence Minister Bob Ainsworth told BBC Radio 4's PM programme: "There was a delay, as was exposed in the Board of Inquiry, in the provision of night vision goggles.
After the inquest Mr Redpath's partner, Sharon Hawkes, 50, said: "It was under funding by the Government that killed him."
"This is not the first time delays in the supply chain have caused casualties in theatre. I can't promise you that it will be the last.
"We are operating in very difficult, very complicated circumstances. Getting supplies to the frontline in a difficult theatre will always be difficult.
"But I have to say to you that there has been a huge improvement, recognised by everybody, in the kit, equipment and supplies to our people both in Iraq and Afghanistan over the last couple of years," he added.
Capt Philippson was part of a quick-reaction force dispatched to assist another group of British soldiers who had come under fire after they were sent to retrieve an unmanned aerial reconnaissance vehicle (UAV) which had come down.
As he ran to help, Capt Philippson was hit in the temple by a bullet. Cause of death was given as a gunshot wound to the head.
The troops were deployed in Afghanistan to help train soldiers from the Afghan national army with a view to them controlling the Sangin area of Helmand Province, where 7 Para were based.
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