.Aussie soldiers in Iraq ‘wear glowing armour’
SYDNEY: Australian defence documents show that the country’s troops in Iraq and Afghanistan are operating with defective protection gear, the Australian newspaper said yesterday in a report that the government dismissed as misleading.
The newspaper said documents obtained under Freedom of Information laws showed that new combat jackets glowed in the dark when viewed through night vision equipment, body armour was cracked and no combat jackets fit women soldiers.
Australian Defence Minister Brendan Nelson rejected the report, saying that Australian troops operated with world-class equipment.
“We would not deploy troops on operations without the best available clothing and equipment,” the minister said in a statement.
“I have been assured by Chief of the Defence Force that any clothing issues raised will be addressed in an appropriate and timely manner.
“Any issues that arise are taken very seriously as the safety and well-being of our troops is paramount.”
Nelson said that 60,000 boots had been issued to troops in the past 18 months, but only 60 complaints were reported.
Australia, a strong ally of the US, has about 1,300 forces in and around Iraq, as well as 200 special forces in Afghanistan helping US forces hunt down Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters.
Australia also has a military aid team in Pakistan.
Australia has suffered only one casualty, a special forces sergeant who was killed in Afghanistan when his vehicle hit a landmine in 2002.
The Australian newspaper said that the defence documents showed new combat jackets failed to offer camouflage protection as they were “highly visible”.
“It appears as a bright glowing beacon when observed through night-fighting equipment,” said one of the defence reports.
Helmets had harnesses that were “worn, rusted and damaged” and were shaped in a way that made it “impossible to sight a live claymore (landmine) in the prone position” while wearing them.
The report said special forces’ body armour had plastic fastening clips which were “continually fracturing and breaking”, and the armour did not match the grey colour of their wetsuits for underwater operations.
Ballistic body plates designed to stop small arms fire were subject to cracking at the front and the back, said the defence documents.
And no combat jackets fit women. “Females are forced to wear a jacket several sizes too big to accommodate hips. This leads to sleeves completely covering hands.” – Reuters
Gulf Times
SHOOT ME! please.
The newspaper said documents obtained under Freedom of Information laws showed that new combat jackets glowed in the dark when viewed through night vision equipment, body armour was cracked and no combat jackets fit women soldiers.
Australian Defence Minister Brendan Nelson rejected the report, saying that Australian troops operated with world-class equipment.
“We would not deploy troops on operations without the best available clothing and equipment,” the minister said in a statement.
“I have been assured by Chief of the Defence Force that any clothing issues raised will be addressed in an appropriate and timely manner.
“Any issues that arise are taken very seriously as the safety and well-being of our troops is paramount.”
Nelson said that 60,000 boots had been issued to troops in the past 18 months, but only 60 complaints were reported.
Australia, a strong ally of the US, has about 1,300 forces in and around Iraq, as well as 200 special forces in Afghanistan helping US forces hunt down Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters.
Australia also has a military aid team in Pakistan.
Australia has suffered only one casualty, a special forces sergeant who was killed in Afghanistan when his vehicle hit a landmine in 2002.
The Australian newspaper said that the defence documents showed new combat jackets failed to offer camouflage protection as they were “highly visible”.
“It appears as a bright glowing beacon when observed through night-fighting equipment,” said one of the defence reports.
Helmets had harnesses that were “worn, rusted and damaged” and were shaped in a way that made it “impossible to sight a live claymore (landmine) in the prone position” while wearing them.
The report said special forces’ body armour had plastic fastening clips which were “continually fracturing and breaking”, and the armour did not match the grey colour of their wetsuits for underwater operations.
Ballistic body plates designed to stop small arms fire were subject to cracking at the front and the back, said the defence documents.
And no combat jackets fit women. “Females are forced to wear a jacket several sizes too big to accommodate hips. This leads to sleeves completely covering hands.” – Reuters
Gulf Times
SHOOT ME! please.
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