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Mambas

Answer

To my knowledge, no Foreign Office or other UK Government personnel have been transported in Mambas operated by Blackwater Consulting in Baghdad, though records may not cover such detail and the possibility cannot be excluded.We have not carried out a specific evaluation of the use of Mambas by Blackwater Security Consulting in Baghdad for personnel protection, nor have we carried out a specific assessment of their vulnerability to Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack.We do, though, make regular assessments of the threats facing UK forces (including that from IEDs) and of the potential vehicles available from manufacturers around the world that might help us defeat those threats. We use these assessments to keep our force protection measures, including tactics, techniques and procedures and equipment, under constant review.On 26 June my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence informed the House that the Ministry of Defence was urgently reviewing the options for protected patrol vehicles, with a view to identifying what else could be done as quickly as possible and in the longer term. The RG-31, a more modern vehicle derived from the Mamba family, was considered, alongside a number of alternatives. On 24 July 2006, Official Report, column 75WS, he announced the results of the review.We do not comment on the relative protection of our vehicles, or those used by our Allies, as to do so would prejudice the safety of our and our allies’ personnel. The additional vehicles announced by the Secretary of State on 24 July will provide more options for Commanders to use as they see fit to best meet the mission and counter the threat.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

449 c1704-5W; 83592

Session

2005-06

Subjects

Iraq Peacekeeping operations

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk