Britain's Armed Forces Minister, Mr Adam Ingram, yesterday sought to dispel fresh fears about the UK's capacity to contribute to any US-led land assault against Iraq, wreites Frank Millar.
"Dud's Army" headlines mocked the Ministry of Defence as a National Audit Office report into last year's major military exercises in the Gulf confirmed tanks, helicopters, guns and lifting equipment struggled in the Oman heat and dust, while uniforms proved too hot, desert boots fell apart and normal army boots melted.
The shortcomings raise a major question mark over the army's readiness for any military action against President Saddam Hussein, and prompted warnings from Gulf War veterans that the failure of essential equipment to withstand desert conditions could cost British lives.
Mr Ingram insisted, however, that the UK could still successfully deploy rapid reaction forces overseas. Launching an immediate offensive, the Minister insisted last year's Operation Swift Sword had been an overall success and that major upgrade and replacement programmes were already under way.
"The purpose of the exercise was to see if there were any weaknesses . . . that's what an exercise is about," he said. "It (the report) confirms things we knew were happening at the time.
"It puts on record that which we now need to address, some of which was already being addressed anyway."
The government was committed to a further £3.5 billion in defence spending over the next three years. And Mr Ingram insisted the breakdowns which occurred "did not detract from the overall efficiency of the exercise" or the high standard of equipment shown in real conflict situations.
"Every time we send our troops into action they succeed at the highest level," Mr Ingram said.
However, the Liberal Democrats said the shortcomings were "nothing short of a disgrace", while Conservative spokesman Mr Bernard Jenkin said the report showed the need "to relearn the lessons we forgot in the 10 years since the Gulf War".
Defence expert Mr Mike Yardley said it was of "great concern" that two basic infantry tools - the SA80 rife and the Clansman radio communications system - were deficient.
Gulf veteran Mr Brian Tooze said some of the problems, such as the SA80 rifle jamming in the heat, were long-standing and had affected troops in 1990-91.