Mate of mine was a Vulcan Tech when I was in AAC: he also complained about MoD cost-cutting even then. At the same time, our AAC Gliding club was entertaining Fast jet fighter pilots at weekends and they were making similar complaints. Kit is kit and always subject to penny-pinching by unCivil Servants. From a Vulcan to an (English Electric) Lightning, through to the £billion Lightning today, it is all at the mercy of these barstewards. Goes all the way back to the 17th Century, I think Cromwell’s New Model Army was the last to be protected from penny-pinching, until Quarter Master Generals were invented and started pinching bits of military expenditure, then expanding their empires, aided and abetted by families buying commissions for their relatives.
Probably explains why Cromwell won so many battles! In N.I many of us Support Arms squaddies, having done Para or other SF training, were drafted onto the streets. We had to take our personal weapon ammunition from our own unit stores and could not have more than ten rounds! In a SLR 24 round mag, or SMG 34 round mag! Paras or RM used to open up the back of a Humber Pig and tell us to help ourselves. Infantry wouldn’t do that, only ones were DLI, or RNF: Geordie lads.
As a Sniper, I had to fight like hell to get enough for classifying 4 times a year. Our Armed Forces don’t need foreign enemies, they already have MoD!
When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.
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