bobdina
10-12-2009, 11:45 PM
Report Criticizes British Vehicle, Helo, Fuel Shortages
By andrew chuter
Published: 12 Oct 2009 19:13
LONDON - British forces fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq have suffered shortages of spares for armored vehicles, helicopters and other equipment, according to a parliamentary report to be published Oct 13.
Other key supplies were also in short supply, with fuel stocks at the main army base at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, shrinking to "critically low levels" at one point last year, the Public Accounts Committee report says.
In July 2008, fuel stocks at Camp Bastion in Helmand province were down to just 5 percent against a mandated 80 percent, says the report, entitled "Support to High Intensity Operations."
Fuel consumption at times was 100 percent higher than provided for, the report saus.
The British had to enact contingency plans, which involved buying fuel from local Afghan companies to supplement stocks from the NATO contractor.
Lacking spares
Problems with provision of spares were also criticized by the committee.
The availability of spares for the Force Protection-supplied Mastiff mine-resistant vehicle contributed to only about 20 percent of the British Army fleet classified as fit for full use in June 2008. A further 55 percent of the vehicles were only able to undertake a limited role, the report says.
The investigation found that the Mastiff, the British version of the 6X6 Cougar, was being used for off-road missions rather than the planned on-road operations.
As a result, the 87-strong fleet in Afghanistan required 176 axles between December 2006 and January 2008.
The report says the MoD significantly underestimated the degree to which spares were required as a result of the vehicle's reliability and enemy action. In addition, it says the supply of spare parts from the United States manufacturer caused further delays.
The report does say, though, that the MoD has "subsequently resolved the problem of spares shortages and the availability of Mastiff vehicles has improved."
The British are currently looking at upgrading the Mastiff fleet with independent suspensions and other improvements to make the vehicles more suitable for off-road work.
The report also criticizes the reliability of the Pinzguaer Vector armored vehicle. The Vector and the Mastiff were both purchased under Britain's urgent operational requirements scheme.
On the helicopter front, the report says that Boeing Apache attack helicopters and AgustaWestland Merlin air mobility machines in the U.K. have been cannibalized to keep frontline fleets operational.
The committee says the cannibalization effort contributed to an 11 percent shortfall in helicopters available for training and to support contingent operations.
The Merlin was previously deployed to Iraq, but following the British withdrawal there the helicopter is in the process of being deployed to Afghanistan to boost underresourced rotorcraft numbers in that theater.
Heavy criticism has come from members of parliament, the media and - even covertly - the military for shortages of helicopters in Afghanistan.
Successful medical operations
The report highlights the provision of medical support, including live-saving treatment on the front line, as a particular success.
But in a statement Edward Leigh, the committee chairman, says there are important areas where the process is creaking.
"Most of the new equipment needed by our forces has been procured through an accelerated process, designed to deliver equipment urgently needed as fast as possible to deal with rapidly evolving threats and harsh environmental conditions. And this equipment has mostly performed well," he says.
"But the serious downside is that problems with reliability have sometime emerged only after the kit has actually been deployed. The MoD's high reliance on this procurement process must be questioned."
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4321603&c=EUR&s=LAN
By andrew chuter
Published: 12 Oct 2009 19:13
LONDON - British forces fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq have suffered shortages of spares for armored vehicles, helicopters and other equipment, according to a parliamentary report to be published Oct 13.
Other key supplies were also in short supply, with fuel stocks at the main army base at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, shrinking to "critically low levels" at one point last year, the Public Accounts Committee report says.
In July 2008, fuel stocks at Camp Bastion in Helmand province were down to just 5 percent against a mandated 80 percent, says the report, entitled "Support to High Intensity Operations."
Fuel consumption at times was 100 percent higher than provided for, the report saus.
The British had to enact contingency plans, which involved buying fuel from local Afghan companies to supplement stocks from the NATO contractor.
Lacking spares
Problems with provision of spares were also criticized by the committee.
The availability of spares for the Force Protection-supplied Mastiff mine-resistant vehicle contributed to only about 20 percent of the British Army fleet classified as fit for full use in June 2008. A further 55 percent of the vehicles were only able to undertake a limited role, the report says.
The investigation found that the Mastiff, the British version of the 6X6 Cougar, was being used for off-road missions rather than the planned on-road operations.
As a result, the 87-strong fleet in Afghanistan required 176 axles between December 2006 and January 2008.
The report says the MoD significantly underestimated the degree to which spares were required as a result of the vehicle's reliability and enemy action. In addition, it says the supply of spare parts from the United States manufacturer caused further delays.
The report does say, though, that the MoD has "subsequently resolved the problem of spares shortages and the availability of Mastiff vehicles has improved."
The British are currently looking at upgrading the Mastiff fleet with independent suspensions and other improvements to make the vehicles more suitable for off-road work.
The report also criticizes the reliability of the Pinzguaer Vector armored vehicle. The Vector and the Mastiff were both purchased under Britain's urgent operational requirements scheme.
On the helicopter front, the report says that Boeing Apache attack helicopters and AgustaWestland Merlin air mobility machines in the U.K. have been cannibalized to keep frontline fleets operational.
The committee says the cannibalization effort contributed to an 11 percent shortfall in helicopters available for training and to support contingent operations.
The Merlin was previously deployed to Iraq, but following the British withdrawal there the helicopter is in the process of being deployed to Afghanistan to boost underresourced rotorcraft numbers in that theater.
Heavy criticism has come from members of parliament, the media and - even covertly - the military for shortages of helicopters in Afghanistan.
Successful medical operations
The report highlights the provision of medical support, including live-saving treatment on the front line, as a particular success.
But in a statement Edward Leigh, the committee chairman, says there are important areas where the process is creaking.
"Most of the new equipment needed by our forces has been procured through an accelerated process, designed to deliver equipment urgently needed as fast as possible to deal with rapidly evolving threats and harsh environmental conditions. And this equipment has mostly performed well," he says.
"But the serious downside is that problems with reliability have sometime emerged only after the kit has actually been deployed. The MoD's high reliance on this procurement process must be questioned."
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4321603&c=EUR&s=LAN