The Brits Ran out of Guns, ask the US for help--

[Keaner]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article767030.ece


This one sounds like a dup, doesn't it? I say they should dig the ones we gave em last time outa the Atlantic.

By TOM NEWTON DUNN
Defence Editor

Published: Today
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THE Army has run out of machine guns, The Sun can reveal.

The crisis is unlikely to be solved before JUNE, a leaked report reveals.

British troops “desperately” need 400 of the jumbo 0.5in calibre heavy machine guns – the weapon most acutely missed.

The Army has also run out of the 7.62mm GPMG and Minimis.

CALL all crooks. Hand in your shooters. The Army needs 'em — just like Lord Kitchener needed lads to fight in the First World War

Calling all crooks ... hand in your
shooters, the Army needs 'em

Supply has collapsed partly because of a dispute with the manufacturers, Manroy – which also provides weapons to Saudi Arabia.

The leaked report – prepared for the Army’s command centre in Wilton, Wilts – reveals that generals have urged the Ministry of Defence “to prevent Manroy delivering Saudi weapons ahead of our requirement”.

Generals asked the US to help but were snubbed by the Pentagon – who have dubbed British colleagues “The Borrowers”.

The report says: “We are trying to get 400 guns transferred from the US. However, the material was provided by US DoD and they are not prepared to release them. MoD-level engagement is needed to try and get these released.”

The crisis is having a crippling effect on training in the UK – with all available spares being rushed to war zones.

Almost HALF the Minimi Light Machine Guns used at Catterick and Brecon are also out of commission.

The report adds: “The original spares package was inadequate and usage has been far above that expected. As a result stocks are very fragile.”

Tory MP and ex-Army officer Patrick Mercer said last night: “Thank God the Army have still got their bayonets – it looks like they may be all they’ll have left. This could have been dealt with months ago.

“Yet again, our fighting men are being imperilled by MoD incompetence.”

Last night an MoD spokeswoman insisted: “We have enough guns for operations.

“We recognised a need to increase overall supply and took steps to address this.”

 

[subierex]

Sounds like some good planning there.

 

[Telperion]

Yeah, I remember the last time we helped the Brits out:

After the war, the sodding ingrates had the nerve to destroy the guns we sent over instead of returning or saving them. The MoD can get bent. Let them natter on about our "gun-obsessed country" while they quietly plead, "psst, can we have some?"

 

[El Tejon]

Right then, what's the hold up? Just have MoD run like the clappers to legal and get those bids in the post today.

 

[serrano]

Supply has collapsed partly because of a dispute with the manufacturers, Manroy – which also provides weapons to Saudi Arabia.

Gee, why would manufacturers be upset with the British government?

 

[Keaner]

I wonder if we put together a group-buy, if WE could get in line in front of the British...

 

[armoredman]

I tend to agree with prevailing sentiment - too bad for them.

 

[Phil DeGraves]

"Generals asked the US to help but were snubbed by the Pentagon – who have dubbed British colleagues “The Borrowers”."

Good for the Pentagon.

But guns are evil! We must destroy all of them!

What a bunch of hypocrites!

 

[Seancass]

I'm with Keaner! I'll get in on a group buy. I wish stories like that made bigger news.

"After banning firearms, Brittain has found itself short on guns."

 

[Claude Clay]

the MoD today has decreed that the silly walk is now a firing squad offense.

yo, mate......we got no guns

well, right........than death by bunging.

 

[1911Tuner]

I say they should dig the ones we gave em last time outa the Atlantic.

Oh, there's more. Remember all those superb FN-FAL/LAR rifles that they took from the Argentines after they recaptured the Falklands? Scrapped. Will these people never learn...

 

[bsf]

To the extent the Pentagon does not authorize transfer of arms, I do not care.

 

[Hoppy590]

honestly

theres good to this. in that they are hypocritical SOB's that deserve it

but its not Lord Fatbottem in the MOD thats gonna suffer for the lack of MG's. its tommy the limey whos on the front line(y), and happens to be one of our allies.

im truly torn between wether to laugh at the british government or to feel bad for the british soldiers

 

[Calibre44]

im truly torn between wether to laugh at the british government or to feel bad for the british soldiers

Hopefully you'll do both!

 

[Titan6]

Well why not?

After all when they got rid of their Nukes we lent them Nukes so now they use all US nuke warheads on their ships, subs and planes. After they ban knives we can lend them bayonets.

Still they were the only ones to send meaningful support to Iraq. So Airstrip 1still backs their big brother, the big brother needs to help them out.

 

[ggb3]

Someone posted this somewhere. But anyway, tell them to use some of these in this video. It makes me want to throw up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkS2BRoCd2I

 

[Sage of Seattle]

Surprised no one has mentioned this one yet:

Calling all crooks ... hand in your
shooters, the Army needs 'em

Nice, huh? Seems like even they admit that the bad guys have and can get guns. Can't help but wonder if their motto is "It's better to not have one when you need it then have one when you don't."

Interesting to note that, being a part of the UN, why pick on the US? Surely out of 191 other countries, one of them would be willing to give the Brits some machine guns, right?

 

[RobTzu]

@ ggb3
I wish that video was played in schools instead of Al gorelino's film.

 

[bluestarlizzard]

no the real question, will they learn from this mistake or not? i doubt it. *shaking head*
i'm laughing at the higher ups. i do feel sorry for "tommy this and tommy that, but its thankee mister _____ with the bullets begin to fly"
(that was a half remembered kipling quote)

 

[goon]

Maybe they could send some people over here to take advantage of the "gun show loophole".

 

[biscuitninja]

Lets see, we have some Lorcin's maybe a few Hi Points. I would just LOVE to send them a shipment of a few thousand Hi Points. But then again, I'm sure they could go to China and get a few thousand AK's for $10....
Oh well..
-bix

 

[Caimlas]

Generals asked the US to help but were snubbed by the Pentagon – who have dubbed British colleagues “The Borrowers”.

ROFL! Surely I'm not the only one who gets that reference. What a slap in the face - wonder how the news media found that nickname out?

But seriously: what exactly is the hold up here? Lack of sufficient acquisition (the fact that they're apparently buying from a foreign supplier aside)? Higher use/wear than anticipated/projected, some lack of supplies or skill needed for maintenance? Or, as the article suggests, troops stealing the guns (presumably to sell or otherwise use, when the time arises)? Or do you guys think those blurbs were just slander of the troops?

 

[redactor]

Will these people never learn

It is my belief that Winston Churchill truly was the "Last Lion."

I certainly hope to be proven wrong.

 

[1911Tuner]

who have dubbed British colleagues “The Borrowers”.

Except they've been like the neighbor who borrows your Skil Saw and never brings it back...and then hammers it flat and throws it away because somebody could hurt themselves with it.

 

[Gunnerpalace]

No Way!

Don't give them anything,

When I heard what they did to all those donor guns we sent them that tore it for me, I remember hearing on a history channel doc that the M1928 was so valuable that when a mission was over they were more concerned if the gun made it more so than the soldier.