Flight Sergeant Roger Hepworth (right) and Deputy Head of Overseas Disposals for Defence Equipment and Support Jonathan Smith are responsible for selling on British military equipment that is no longer required in an auction to local buyers
[Picture: Corporal Dylan Browne, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]
While equipment that can be used again is being returned to Britain in good order for refurbishment and redistribution to troops elsewhere, surplus kit, from scrap metal to pick-up trucks, that would cost more to return to the UK than it is actually worth, is being sold off locally.
The auction operation benefits both the expanding Iraqi economy, with good deals on scrap, vehicles and furniture, and the British taxpayer, who stands to recoup in excess of £1m as well as reap savings in dismantling, decommissioning, transportation and storage costs.
Head of Overseas Disposals for the Ministry of Defence's Disposal Services Authority, Scott McCulloch, has made numerous visits to Basra to get the best return on surplus equipment for the taxpayer.
He said:
"The amount of money we save is very important, not only is the price paid quite significant but it’s a big saving when you look at shipping and storage costs in the UK. Overall it’s been a huge saving to the UK taxpayer."
"We ensure no sensitive military equipment gets disposed of. You won't see surplus UK military vehicles driving around Basra."
Deputy Head of Overseas Disposals Jonathan Smith
The kit is being tendered by international company, L Jackson ME, who are responsible for advertising, viewings, payments and removal from the Contingency Operating Base, the main UK forces base near Basra.
The majority of materiel is scrap or off-the-shelf commercially available items.
Deputy Head of Overseas Disposals Jonathan Smith said:
"We ensure no sensitive military equipment gets disposed of. You won't see surplus UK military vehicles driving around Basra."
British forces are now leaving Iraq in accordance with the UK's security agreement with the Iraqi Government. Since the end of UK combat operations in the country, a specialist logistics headquarters, the Joint Force Logistic Component or JFLogC, has been in Kuwait and Iraq co-ordinating the massive effort to inspect, pack and return six years' worth of military hardware to the UK.
By the end of July 2009, all UK equipment and troops will have withdrawn completely from Iraq.