UK troops trucks are stuck in Dubai
Heavily-armoured trucks meant for British soldiers in Afghanistan have been stuck hundreds of miles away in another country for nearly three weeks, it has emerged.
As the Ministry of Defence prepares to name the latest British soldier killed in a roadside explosion in southern Afghanistan, officials blamed “operational priorities” for delays in transferring a fleet of Ridgback vehicles from Dubai since July 16.
Of the nine trucks - which are built to withstand mines and roadside bombs - that arrived in Dubai on that date, three still remain in the emirate and are not scheduled to arrive in Afghanistan until August 8.
An MoD spokeswoman said logistics bosses are working “as hard they can” to make sure the equipment arrived.
She added: “The delivery of equipment such as Ridgback vehicles is prioritised against operational requirements.
“Unfortunately this can be affected by a range of factors including aircraft availability, airfield capacity and conflicting operational priorities.
“Of those vehicles in Dubai on July 16, all but three have been delivered to theatre. The remainder will be in Afghanistan by August 8, operational circumstances allowing.”
US-made Ridgbacks, which weigh more than 17 tons, have been used by the British Army in Afghanistan since June. A total of 157 have been ordered.
July was the bloodiest month for British forces in Afghanistan since the mission began eight years ago, with 22 soldiers killed and scores more wounded in action.
A serviceman from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, attached to the Light Dragoons, who died while on a vehicle patrol in Babaji in Helmand Province is expected to be named by the MoD. His family has been informed.