LONDON, Aug 1: Equipment used by British troops fell apart during rigorous desert exercises, an official report said on Thursday, raising questions over the army’s effectiveness in any US-led campaign against Iraq.

A report by a government watchdog found that tanks and self-propelled guns failed to operate properly in the dust of the Saif Sareea (Swift Sword) training operation in Oman last year.

Almost half of the helicopters involved in the exercise were out of action at any one time as parts quickly became unserviceable, while soldiers’ boots fell apart or even melted in the heat.

The manoeuvres, which cost 90 million pounds (140 million dollars, 144 million euros), were designed to test Britain’s ability to quickly deploy more than 22,000 troops, supported by air and sea power, to the Gulf area.

Britain is the closest military ally of the United States, which has repeatedly threatened to take action to unseat Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, accusing him of developing weapons of mass destruction. It is widely believed that US President George W. Bush would call on London’s help in any military campaign, although Downing Street has been cautious in its public statements.

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said Tuesday that “no political decisions have been taken and there have been no decisions on the contribution of forces on the ground in Iraq”.

The national audit office report found the most severe problems during the desert exercises were with the army’s Challenger 2 tanks, which would be expected to spearhead any armoured assault by British ground forces.

The tanks’ air filters became clogged up by the fine desert dust, forcing them to halt after just four hours service. Other problems included plastic air filters on the mobile AS90 self-propelled guns melting in the heat.

Observers also discovered that problems with the army’s ageing Clansman radio system had become so severe that it was now judged to be “incapable” of operating in combat conditions.

As a result, tank crews frequently had to pull up in the middle of manoeuvres and get out to check their orders with each other because they were unable to communicate otherwise.—AFP