14.1 |
Military equipment (post-conflict)
1104.
The
deterioration of security in Iraq from August 2003 is referred to
earlier in
this
Section and in Section 9.2. In addition to the introduction of
IEDs, there were also
indirect
fire (IDF) attacks on Coalition Forces, using mortars, man‑portable
surface‑to‑air
missiles
and small arms fire.
1105.
The solution
was considered to be a combination of hardening structures
and
improving
surveillance.
1106.
Concerns about
the safety of civilian personnel as the IDF risk increased
are
detailed in
Section 15.1.
1107.
In his
post‑tour report, Major General Andrew Stewart, GOC MND(SE)
from
December
2003 to July 2004, stated:
“We have
been extremely fortunate that we have not suffered casualties in
bases
from
indirect fire. Attacks against them are sure to increase.
Hardening, in some
form or
other, has to take place.”585
1108.
The MOD
provided accommodation to personnel in theatre according to one
of
three
types, depending on the capability required:
•
Tier 1
tented structures;
•
Tier 2
cabin structures; and
•
Tier 3 hard
structures made from concrete, steel and masonry.586
1109.
On 14 March
2005, Air Marshal Glenn Torpy, CJO, advised General Sir
Michael
Walker,
CDS, that CITADEL, a hardened form of accommodation, should not
be
introduced
to Iraq and that the risk of IDF should be managed through a
combination of
continued
enhancement of accommodation compartmentalisation and force
protection
Tactics,
Techniques and Procedures (TTPs).587
1110.
AM Torpy
explained that, since June 2003, UK camps in Iraq had suffered
attacks
from
mortars and rocket IDF. The attacks tended to occur without warning
and between
“1200 and
0300 hrs local”. They had led to 43 UK casualties but no
fatalities.
1111.
AM Torpy
continued that, following an increase in threat to UK camps,
force
protection
trials had been initiated to analyse the effectiveness of
compartmentalisation
and to test
the design for CITADEL.
585
Report
Stewart, 13 July 2004, ‘Post Operation Report Operation TELIC 3/4 –
28 December 2003 –
13 July
2004’.
586
National
Audit Office, Support to
High Intensity Operations, 14 May
2009, HC 508.
587
Minute CJO
to PSO/CDS, 14 March 2005, ‘Force Protection of UK Camps in
Iraq’.
189