Problems with feeding

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This is
LONDON

07/03/03 - News and city section

How our forces are fed and equipped

By Hugh Dougherty and Robert Fox, Evening Standard

BRITISH troops in Kuwait are under-fed and forced to beg from the Americans, with some writing
home asking for food parcels, it is claimed.

Under-supplied catering units are in stark contrast to the US camps which boast Burger King
outlets, Baskin Robbins ice-cream and canteen menus which change daily. The typical British menu
is supposed to include two hot meals a day. Examples include:

Breakfast: fresh bread rolls, bacon, sausage, baked beans, orange juice.

Dinner: bread, vegetable soup, pasta carbonara, fruit salad, or vegetable pasta with tomatoes.

The Americans can choose from six main courses plus vegetarian options at dinner. Their menus
include:

Breakfast: cereal with a high-energy fruit bar, orange juice. Cooked options include eggs, bacon,
pancakes and potatoes.

Dinner menu one: chicken Parmesan style, chocolate cookie, high-energy crackers, strawberry
jam.

Menu two: beef stew with tabasco sauce, fruit dessert, oatmeal cookie, high-energy crackers,
strawberry jam.

Menu three: turkey with savoury vegetables, cookie, crackers, strawberry jam.

Burger King outlets on the bigger camps also serve a full menu of burgers, fries, chicken, onion
rings and fizzy drinks. Baskin Robbins' ice-cream counters serve 20 different flavours. (HD)

THESE are the weapons and communication equipment British forces will rely on in the conflict.

• SA80 A2 rifle: good sight, but poor performance of firing and reloading mechanism. Had
recent £80 million refit.

• Warrior Armoured Fighting Vehicle: good, workmanlike battle vehicle for infantry. But
designed primarily for Europe and not as sophisticated as the US Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle.

• Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank: vast improvement on the Challenger 1 used in 1991. Needs
modification for desert warfare.

• AS 90 self-propelled howitzer: one of the best howitzers in the world, beating the US
equipment.

• 432 personnel carriers: very old and should have been replaced years ago. A new
programme for several thousand carriers under way, but the delay has been a real disgrace.

• Scimitar light reconnaissance vehicle: a Sixties vehicle with a Jaguar engine. Improved
armaments, but vulnerable and should have been replaced 20 years ago.

• Clansman and Ptarmigan radio systems: a liability as they are out of date, insecure and
break down frequently. Bowman replacement due next year. Far inferior to US equipment, which
makes joint operations difficult. (RF)

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