Armoured cars destined for Afghanistan held in Dubai 'due to secrecy'

[Coventina]

Source: Guardian

The secrecy surrounding the armour of new Ridgback armoured vehicles destined for British troops in Afghanistan prevented them from being deployed, defence officials said yesterday.

Nine of the armoured vehicles, designed to withstand mines and roadside bombs, have been held back at Dubai due to a lack of RAF C-17 transport planes to deliver them. Civilian aircraft could not be contracted because the Ridgback's armour plating is classified.

Of the nine which have been in Dubai since 16 July, six were flown to Afghanistan over the past few days, two left only yesterday, with the remaining vehicle to be delivered over the weekend, defence officials said.

An MoD spokesman said: "These vehicles were never destined for use by 19 Brigade, who do not have enough trained drivers to operate them. This is because the vehicles were only delivered to the army in May – a month after the brigade deployed."

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/aug/06/ridgback-armoured-carriers-dubai

[damntexdem]

1. We have a foolproof plan for winning the "War on Terror."

Unfortunately, it's too secret to be implemented.

;-)

At least, this time it's the Brits.

[Vidar]

4. Nice to know "the stupid" is not our sole domain.

[FarCenter]

2. Like there is no chance that one of these won't fall into Taliban hands?

And why wouldn't some curious nation send a small team with a late-model anti-tank missile to Afghanistan just to check out how good this armor really is?

[Arctic Dave]

3. Jesus H Christ. Why not just put an F'ing bullseye on them.

[3waygeek]

5. And yet we're discussing them on DU...

so much for secrecy.