HM Forces Equipment, Is it adequate?

Question

Three retired C in C's have said no aand morale is poor. HMG says yes it is adequate and morale is good. Who is right?

Answer 1

Straight from my son on the Afghanistan front line.

"Morale sh!t, Kit sh!t, Accommodation sh!t, 32% resignation rate in unit. Compound under daily rocket attack - not enough men to secure area, Snatch drivers working 20 hours straight with 4 hour break between shifts, Anything up to 4 hours for cassie vac, No feckin air support 'cos most of it is waiting spares"

Am I worried about my son - you feckin bet I am!!

Answer 2

I believe the equipment is far more than good (when they win a battle) !
Then, all of a sudden, the equipment is inadequate (when they don't win a battle)
Body armour ? In my days, it was unheard of and we still fought without problems.
What is really happening is simple. The public is against that illegal war and the government is losing votes. They are on the back of the military to bring some results. The fat generals are on the back of the grunt who try to fight a guerrilla war with the wrong techniques and the grunt gets pissed off and demoralised.

Bring them back home, I say and stop treating them like hollow heroes but like men.
And bring to justice the people who sent them over there to die for a nonexistent cause.

Answer 3

I was in the RAF from 1962-74, and it always seemed to me that equipment was inadequate.

I think it's because, unless we are under imminent danger of attack, spending on the forces is an easy target when cuts have to be made.

So HMG are unlikely to admit their fault.

Answer 4

I personally believe that HM forces are under equipped, e.g l85a1 issues, lack of body armour. However, this government has been increasing the defense budget every year. They are not there yet though. Also, the C in C's have actually been there and experienced it, unlike a pen-pusher from the civil service.

Answer 5

Morale is ok not great too many tours too many people getting killed, The kit is ok it could be better however the one thing that defines a british soldier is our ability to make do. There is new kit coming in all the time usually too late but its better than not at all. I wouldnt however swap my last nine yrs in the British Army for anything.

Answer 6

I truly do not know for I am not in Iraq and Afghanistan facing mad men and women. However, I do not think those in charge would lie. I feel sure that the Government relies upon the motivation of our troops to fight with whatever is at their disposal rather than die.

Answer 7

Cin cs are right.