14.1  |  Military equipment (post-conflict)

541.  On 28 February, Captain Richard John Holmes and Private Lee Ellis were killed

in an IED attack in a joint Snatch and Warrior vehicle convoy in al‑Amara.280

542.  On 15 April, Lieutenant Richard Palmer was killed when his patrol vehicle hit

a roadside IED north‑west of Basra.281

543.  On 13 May, Private Joseva Lewaicei and Private Adam Morris were killed while

on patrol when their Snatch vehicle hit a roadside IED just outside of Basra.282

544.  On 28 May, Lieutenant Tom Mildinhall and Lance Corporal Paul Farrelly were killed

by a PIR EFP IED whilst on patrol in Snatch vehicles.283

545.  Brigadier James Everard, Commander 20 Armoured Brigade, wrote in his

post‑operation tour report that a policy had been put in place from 29 May whereby all

vehicles travelling around Basra City were led by Warriors.284 He wrote:

“This measure proved its worth as SAF [small arms fire] and RPG contacts also

increased from July and Warrior a magnet for enemy fires frequently drawing

attention away from other less well protected vehicles …”

546.  In a debate in the House of Lords on 12 June, Lord Astor of Hever raised the

question of when the Government intended to bring into service further patrol vehicles

armoured to provide protection against IEDs.285

547.  Lord Drayson responded that PPVs were:

“… only one of a range of vehicles available to commanders to allow them to

balance mobility, protection, and profile based on the threat, the terrain and the

task. PPVs offer a level of protection commensurate with their weight, size and role,

together with good mobility and a low profile.”

548.  Following a supplementary question from Lord Astor, stating that the Snatch

“was not remotely adequate for patrolling areas where insurgents used land mines” and

asking whether an assessment had been made of the RG31,286 “which the Americans

had bought in large numbers”, Lord Drayson responded:

“… I do not accept that Snatch Land Rovers are not appropriate for the role.

We must recognise the difference between protection and survivability. It is important

280  GOV.UK, 1 March 2006, Captain Richard Holmes and Private Lee Ellis killed in Iraq; BBC News,

1 March 2006, Troops in Iraq blast named.

281  GOV.UK, 16 April 2006, Lt Richard Palmer of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards killed in Iraq.

282  GOV.UK, 15 May 2006, Private Joseva Lewaicei and Private Adam Morris killed in Iraq; BBC News,

15 May 2006, Dead British soldiers are named.

283  BBC News, 30 May 2006, MoD names troops killed in Iraq.

284  Report, 15 December 2006, ‘HQ 20 Armd Bde Op TELIC 8 Post Operational Tour Report’.

285  House of Lords, Official Report, 12 June 2006, columns 1‑2.

286  An RG31 is a 4x4 vehicle manufactured in South Africa.

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