Defective Equipment

Sending British soldiers on patrol or into battle with defective equipment could breach their human rights, a High Court judge has ruled.

Reference the above what are people's feelings on this, hasn’t this always been the case where army kit is concerned, I remember before the tour of the Falklands we had to buy quite a bit of basic kit like Gloves and gaiters, we certainly weren’t issued with Gortex jackets or the likes, but we just got on with it. On a tour of Northern Ireland when we were issued with the SA 80 I can remember the thing falling to pieces when out on patrol, also how long did it take the army to replace the 432 APC which wasn’t fit for the function it was required to do for years, but there again I always had a bottle of vodka and a red flag with me just in case.

Hi Carl

Hate to tell you mate but the army still uses the 432. I don't know what model it is but my son (Royal Engineers) is going on a 432 drivers course in Germany. I asked him about it as like you I thought they were obsolete but apprently they are still using them for the Corps.

BEST THING ABOUT THE 432 WAS THE BOILING VESSEL, But it dont surprise me Paul that they are still about in the support role, as a previous driver myself found it quite an art to sleep in the driver seat but warm in the winter, and the Exhaust was ideal for keeping pies warm?

yeah barry them boilers were great but i remember on exercise once driving the c.o nick was in the back sorting out the comms, boiler was bubbling away nicely and the gears engaged and off went the truck with nick oblivious to i the fact that i wasnt in the driving seat . what a machine give me the target tanks anyday

The boiling vessels when working, were a great asset to any crew, from the favourite all in stew, that ready welcomed hot brew to boiling your socks and skiddies clean ready for the next day

432 driver 11 Plt D Coy, taught by Bronco early years of our Lemgo tour

Dai Martin 70

Having missed Lemgo and joining Bravos in Warminster couldnt wait to go in the vehicles beats tabbing anway was asleep before we reached the back gates of the camp battery fumes were a bit strong, wasnt the vehicle off the road if the BV didnt work? Didnt someone always get bungeed to the cages in the back remember Para officers sitting in the copola x amount of metal below them using a silva compass trying to tell the driver which way to go