(British) Soldier died from body armour shortage (ordered to give it up)

[Barrett808]

LONDON (Reuters) - A British soldier ordered to give up his body armour two days before the invasion of Iraq died because he was not wearing it, an official military board of inquiry found on Monday.

The death of Sergeant Stephen Roberts, accidentally shot by his own troops while manning a checkpoint during the 2003 invasion, caused media outrage back home after it emerged he had been ordered to give up his body armour because of shortages.

The board of inquiry which presented its findings on Monday confirmed that the bullet-proof plates of his Enhanced Combat Body Armour would have saved him if he had not given them up.

"Had Sergeant Roberts been wearing correctly fitting and fitted ECBA (as originally issued to him and then withdrawn on 20 March 2003) when this incident unfolded, he would not have been fatally injured by the rounds that struck him," it said.

"The Board judges it unfortunate that the lack of ECBA ... did not receive timely attention at the appropriate level within the MoD (Ministry of Defence)," it said.

(more)

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyid=2006-07-31T144504Z_01_L31849911_RTRUKOC_0_UK-IRAQ-BRITAIN-SOLDIER.xml&src=rss

[ThomCat]

1. I hope there are riots over this,

and I hope this gets them to withdraw. I can't imagine the pain his family must be feeling. :(

[Kailassa]

2. But even without the armour,

how could solders shoot their own comrade, on duty, and obviously in uniform,
when he's manning a fucking checkpoint???

:cry:

[saigon68]

5. Body armor won't protect you from FMJ 7.62 X 51

It cuts right through body armor

[Kailassa]

7. Not knowing anything about weapons,

I'm guessing FMJ 7.62 X 51 is a type of bullet.

Is that correct? Why do you mention it? Do you have reason to believe that is what he was shot with?

I'd like to learn more if you have time to teach. ;-)

[saigon68]

10. Just google Full Metal Jacket and NATO rifles.

[faithnotgreed]

3. kicking

for obscene tragedy which doesnt seem to end .....

who or what will stop it

[Mind_your_head]

4. I don't understand why he was ordered to 'give up' his body armor

in the first place. :shrug:

This is indeed a HORRIBLE tragedy....crying shame.

[Henny Penny]

8. There was not enough to go round...

Poor guy. Those bastards at the MOD need to be made pay for this (and so much more besides). I wonder can the family sue...

[UrbScotty]

6. Doesn't sound 'pro-life' to me (nt)

[tblue37]

9. That isn't the half of it!

Did you see this a bit later in the article?

The report found that generals had identified a need for extra body armour but ordering it was held up in 2002 by "political constraints" because the government did not want to be seen to be arming for an invasion (emphasis added).

[Kailassa]

11. He died for their deception. n/t