6.3 | Military equipment (pre-conflict)

515. On 18 December 2006, Mr Andrew Walker, Oxfordshire Assistant Deputy Coroner,

delivered a narrative verdict:

“Sgt Roberts’ death was as a result of delay and serious failures in the acquisition

and support chain that resulted in a significant shortage within his fighting unit of

enhanced combat body armour, none being available for him to wear.”259

516. Lieutenant General Robin Brims told the Inquiry:

“I was fully aware that there was a problem with the body armour and I ordered a

redistribution of body armour to those people most in need, and similarly some other

forms of equipment.”260

517. ACM Stirrup told the Inquiry:

“… just before the start of operation, the clear message that we were receiving in

the Ministry of Defence was that all unit demands for enhanced combat body armour

had been met, but quite clearly not everybody who needed it in theatre got it when

they needed it, and had it been – had that been two months earlier, then those sorts

of issues I think could have been untangled.”261

518. ACM Stirrup added:

“I think the area where we could have done better is in terms of enhanced combat

body armour. We didn’t have enough of that in theatre at the time, and I think, in part

… the issue was it was all being done so rapidly at the last minute no one was quite

sure who had what.”

519. The process behind the prioritisation of the redistribution of body armour was

described by Maj Gen Binns:

“We had insufficient body armour to equip all those who were likely to be coming into

immediate contact with the fighting companies and squadrons and I took a decision

to reallocate based on mitigating the risks to those who were most vulnerable to the

dismounted troops and those who sat behind 70 tonnes of armour I was prepared to

take a risk with …”262

520. ACM Bagnall told the Inquiry:

“I was not aware that, in some cases, all personnel did not have access to Enhanced

Body Armour at the start of operations. That said, I heard anecdotal evidence of

personnel being deployed on one ship whilst their body armour plates were on

another vessel which went to a different port of disembarkation. Any shortfalls

259 BBC News, 18 December 2006, Kit delays led to soldier’s death.

260 Public hearing, 15 January 2010, page 21.

261 Public hearing, 1 February 2010, pages 12-13.

262 Private hearing, 2 June 2010, page 7.

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