14.1 |
Military equipment (post-conflict)
its
predecessors”.399
The MOD
said this had been integrated into wider MOD risk
management
processes which had also been revised.
745.
The MOD said
that the Operational Commander (which for Iraq was the
CJO),
is accountable
to CDS for understanding, quantifying and reducing risk to the
force and
mission
respectively. This risk response may require changes to activities
or capabilities.
746.
Fatalities in
Afghanistan meant the continued use of Snatch Land Rovers
remained
the subject
of media and political debate.
747.
Baroness
Taylor of Bolton became the Minister of State for Defence
Equipment
and Support
in November 2007.
748.
On 22 April
2008, a junior officer from DCRS advised Mr Browne that
the
requirement
for light PPVs was likely to continue in Afghanistan, albeit at a
reduced
level, and
with the introduction of more heavy and medium PPV
variants.400
The
advice
had been
prompted by a series of fatalities on Op HERRICK where personnel
had been
travelling
in General Service Land Rovers; vehicles that offered less
protection than
Snatch Land
Rovers.
749.
While
operations in Iraq were not addressed in the note, the junior
officer did
cover
broader protected mobility issues and “the constant need to balance
protection
against
mobility”: “A range of vehicles, with different protection and
mobility capabilities
is
required.” The choice of vehicles available to commanders had been
increased
significantly,
and the delivery of more Mastiff, combined with the introduction
of
Ridgback,
would “harden” the Op HERRICK force considerably.
750.
A summary of
the UK’s current and planned PPV range was provided in
an
annex,
where the Mastiff was described as a “heavy” PPV as opposed to the
“medium”
Ridgback,
and “light” Vector and Snatch vehicles. It stated that the Force
Protection Inc’s
Cougar
vehicle, the 4x4 variant, had been selected as the model for the
Ridgback in
December
2007. Its expected interim operating capability date was October
2008.
751.
On Baroness
Taylor’s copy of the minute, her Assistant Private Secretary
had
written:
“This useful note … has been triggered by Matt Cavanagh [Special
Adviser to
Mr Brown]
who wants to see zero use/casualties of Snatch …”401
752.
In April 2008,
the UK began to deploy Military Training Teams (MiTTs)
alongside
the Iraqi
Security Forces (ISF). The roles of those teams and the rationale
behind them
are
explained in Section 12.1.
399
Letter
Duke‑Evans to Aldred, 26 June 2015, ‘Procuring Military
Equipment’.
400
Minute EC
DCRS [junior officer] to PS/SofS [MOD], 22 April 2008, ‘The Use of
Light Vehicles on
Operations’.
401
Manuscript
comment MOD [junior officer] on Minute EC DCRS [junior officer] to
PS/SofS [MOD],
22 April
2008, ‘The Use of Light Vehicles on Operations’.
129