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Armed Forces: Steven Roberts Inquiry

Answer

The Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) delivers gun crew courses for Challenger 2 and the combat vehicle reconnaissance (tracked) SCIMITAR. Following the board of inquiry into the death of Sergeant Roberts, changes have been made to all Challenger 2 crew courses to include training on the risks of employing weapons systems below the computed minimum range. All Challenger 2 crewmen are now conversant with the implications of firing weapons systems below the computed minimum range. RAC crews expecting to deploy on operations are instructed by gunnery staff on these matters and individuals likely to conduct short-range shooting receive a formal machine gun shooting lecture as part of their pre-deployment training. The other arms and services that use armoured fighting vehicles (AFV) are being directed to make the necessary changes to all courses (including pre-deployment training), wherever this is required, to ensure that personnel, at all appropriate levels, understand the implications of using AFV weapons systems at short range.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

689 c243WA; 1954

Session

2006-07

Subjects

Crew Armoured fighting vehicles Training Safety Weapons Tanks Royal Armoured Corps

Link

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