Sometimes the genius of the MoD leaves to you breathless
One way to ensure that the widely reported ammunition shortages don’t impact upon on-going operations is to run out of the machine guns that the ammunition goes into ...
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.
Once more the Whitehall warriors solve the problem.
Via The Firearm Blog & ARRSE as well as Mike H & EX_STAB
Comments
As others have suggested, bring back the Bren Gun.
Then capture a bunch enemy 51 cal.HMG's, that should help in the mean time. Seriously, the Saudis getting priority over the British Forces?? Someone should swing for this!
Posted by: Larry Graham | February 7, 2008 8:16 AM
This is one reason why governments should maintain arsenals...and not allow private companies to decide who and when they will fill supply needs. I mean, we are talking basic infantry weapons here, not multimillion dollar (or pound) tanks, aircraft and ships.
Posted by: Joseph | February 7, 2008 9:43 AM
I think they should bring back the enfield. Soldiers will no longer to able to waste ammunition. These new "auto" guns are teaching bad habits ;)
Or maybe the nagat mosin, they could outfit the entire army with them at the cost of a few new minimis ;)
Posted by: Steve | February 7, 2008 10:38 AM
Since 1920, our gun control laws have led to the end of the British firearms industry. We now rely totally on imports. When the shit hits the fan, our foreign suppliers have their own orders to fill, they cannot be forced to sort out our problems for us. This was all obviously going to happen, I am only only surprised it has taken so long.
Posted by: John K | February 7, 2008 5:46 PM
I agree with JohnK, shortsighted profit making at the expense of defence means no defence at all.
Posted by: TimC | February 7, 2008 5:58 PM
You couldn't make it up...
Posted by: Ratty | February 7, 2008 7:04 PM
Didn't your government melt down or dump in the sea the last lot of firearms Americans loaned out?
Posted by: Kristopher | February 7, 2008 7:10 PM
Take a large jar down to the local and leave it on the bar with that poster of Lord Kitchener and a picture of the GPMG (so the kids will know what you're going on about). When the jar is full of lolly, send it up to London along with MR.FM so he can drop it off at the MOD on his way to the City. If every pub sponsored a GPMG for the local regiment, the problem would be solved in a jiffy.
Posted by: MP | February 7, 2008 7:14 PM
If every pub sponsored a GPMG for the local regiment, the problem would be solved in a jiffy.
We did this during the Spanish-American War. Machine guns were bought by private citizens and then donated to units. The Army was still using Civil-War era Gatling Guns.
Posted by: trainer | February 7, 2008 7:33 PM
The shortage might have something to do with this;
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/revealed-british-plan-to-build-training-camp-for-taliban-fighters-in-afghanistan-777671.html
They're busy buying off the Taliban while Tommy Adkins goes without. I have no words.
Posted by: Duffy | February 7, 2008 8:11 PM
That is total insanity. There are not enough or not any words for such...
Posted by: DirtCrashr | February 9, 2008 12:56 AM