COUNTDOWN TO CONFLICT: AWOL MINISTER: Flintstone soldiers

THOUSANDS of British troops are being sent to the Gulf without desert uniforms after defence chiefs ordered the wrong sizes.

Soldiers pouring into Kuwait have had to dress in tropical fatigues while officials re-order new kit. The blunder came after the order was contracted out to a company in Romania which produced too many uniforms in the smaller size. The error affects around 15,000 troops - who call themselves the Flintstones because it's like living in the Stone Age - and has led to three officers being reprimanded after "blowing their tops" over the shambles. Last night a Whitehall source said: "You expect moaning from the ranks but to get it from officers is a shock."

FOOD

BRITISH troops are routinely going short of food as they prepare for war.

But a host of fast-food joints, including KFC and Burger King, have sprung up around the US camps that our soldiers are able to take advantage of.

Royal Marine Commando Cpl Andrew Foers has even made an SOS plea to his family in England to send food parcels to Kuwait. His sister Debra, 34, from Bradford, is now phoning supermarkets begging them to send out food. She said: "It is disgusting. If they are sending out troops to fight for their country they should at least be provided with proper food."

In contrast the Americans are receiving ample supplies of fruit and vegetables. Meanwhile Britain has pledged to fly out extra rations.

ACCOMMODATION

SOLDIERS have jokingly dubbed themselves The Flintstones because Fred and Wilma's cave is infinitely plusher than their shabby tents.

Army chiefs had developed a more modern, air-conditioned tent but do not have enough to go round.

Our troops also have to put up with primitive portable lavatories.

By contrast the American troops enjoy modern bathroom blocks with excellent hot showers - which they allow the British to share.

The same, however, does not apply to their new airconditioned tents.

Last night an Army source said: "It is lucky that co-operation between the Americans and the British is particularly good." But he insisted: "Despite difficulties morale is high."

LOO ROLL

BRITISH ration packs have enough toilet paper for just one day, so requests for loo roll are frequent.

As each pack contains about six sheets, troops often "borrow" extra rolls from toilet blocks before going on operations. Logistics troops claim there are huge stocks of toilet roll in Kuwait, but they are getting stuck in warehouses and not reaching troops in the desert.

ARMOUR

DOZENS of armoured vehicles have been shipped to the Gulf painted in the wrong colours for the desert.

To put the situation right, defence chiefs are flying teams of painters out to Kuwait to make the necessary changes to the camouflage. At first it had been expected that troops would have to paint the vehicles, but an Army source said: "That would take too long and the time is needed for soldiers to train and acclimatise."

KIT

A MAJOR and more serious complaint is that American combat kit is so much better than ours.

US troops have special "camel packs" which enable them to drink from straws as they move around on operations.

The British still store water in their backpacks and have to stop in order to retrieve water bottles for a drink. US soldiers also have huge stocks of telescopic night vision equipment in anticipation of a night war. By contrast we have a limited supply of such gear, most of it used by Special Forces. The average British soldier is having to spend up to pounds 1,000 to ensure that his kit is up to date, while the Americans get all the latest kit without having to fork out a penny.

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