6.3 |
Military equipment (pre-conflict)
business
cases had been approved internally and that Treasury officials were
“actively
considering”
the AS90124
and
Challenger 2 desertisation cases. The approved
business
cases
amounted to £20m, £800,000 of which was in the form of running
costs that would
be claimed
against the Reserve.
“Most
addressees will have seen the article that appeared in the
Telegraph earlier
this week
alleging that contingency planning was being held up by HM
Treasury.
This
assertion is entirely without foundation and serves only to
complicate
unnecessarily
our excellent relationship with them.”
258.
On
6 November, the Chiefs of Staff considered a paper from
Lieutenant General
John Reith,
Chief of Joint Operations (CJO), about the impact of “very hot
weather” on
the UK’s
war-fighting ability.125
The points
raised included:
•
It was
“well recognised” that weapon systems could be “degraded in
hot
weather”.
•
Ammunition
storage was difficult and high risk.
•
“Most” land
vehicles required UOR action “to enable them to operate
effectively
in hot
weather”, some of which were “in hand”. The lead time for
modifications
varied from
one to 12 months.
259.
The Chiefs of
Staff noted the paper, which was to be revised and
re-submitted
“within one
month”.
260.
On
12 November, a DCRS official sought Mr Hoon’s approval to
initiate
discussions
with industry for five equipment measures that would raise the
visibility of
planning
for an invasion of Iraq:
•
desert
combat boots – an estimated 20,000 were required in particular
sizes with
a critical
lead time of three to six months;
•
ECBA –
there was currently only sufficient stock for 15,000
personnel;
•
water and
fuel distribution; and
•
medical
equipment, including battlefield ambulance upgrades, COLPRO
and
field
hospital infrastructure.126
261.
Mr Hoon
approved the request on the following day.127
124
The AS90 is
a self-propelled gun.
125
Minute
Reith to PSO/CDS and SECCOS, 5 November 2002, ‘Warfighting in
Iraq in the Summer’;
Minutes,
6 November 2002, Chiefs of Staff meeting.
126
Minute DCRS
1 to APS/SofS [MOD], 12 November 2002, ‘Potential Operations
in Iraq: Requirement
to discuss
Equipment Procurement with Industry’.
127
Minute
PS/SofS [MOD] to DCRS 1, 13 November 02, ‘Potential Operations
in Iraq: Discussions
with Industry’.
39