Red faces at Army's pink tanks

MORE than 4,000 tanks and other military vehicles in Iraq have been painted with a camouflage that won't come off.

A third of the Army's tanks and trucks are covered in a "desert pink" that would make them stick out like sore thumbs if they were in action anywhere else.

Army chiefs spent thousands on a new paint system that rapidly changed the usual khaki coat into Iraqi pink. It worked a treat - but a special jetwash mix of water and detergent designed to hose the new paint off doesn't.

A senior Army source last night said: "The detergent gets so hot in the Iraqi sun it turns the paint into a sticky goo that won't come off. Now all those 4,000 vehicles will have to shipped back to England to have the paint stripped off."

This is just the latest problem our troops have had with equipment. They had to face shortages of rations, body armour - and even toilet paper.

Last night Patrick Mercer, Tory spokesman for homeland security, said: "The tanks will be stuck in desert colours for a long time. Let's hope Tony Blair doesn't want to join in any European conflict - our pink vehicles will stick out like sore thumbs."

The Defence Logistics Organisation said the paint will be removed by "a variety of means" but would not go into details.

r.hamer@sundaymirror.co.uk

Copyright 2003 MGN LTD
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.