UK MADE MISSILES FOUND

SkyNews ^

[AdLines]

UK MADE MISSILES FOUND

British troops securing the outskirts of Basra have discovered missiles and warheads hidden inside fortified bunkers, reports say.

Cases of rockets, giant anti-shipping mines and other ammunition were found in dozens of Iraqi bunkers near what is marked on maps as the Az Zubaya Heliport.

Some of the boxes are clearly marked with the names of British manufacturers, Gethin Chamberlain of The Scotsman filed in a pool report.

It was not clear when the missiles were made.

Skirmish

One pile of boxes in a store housing rocket propelled grenades bears the name of Wallop Industries Limited, based in Middle Wallop in Hampshire, Chamberlain said.

Two Russian-made Al-Harith anti-shipping Cruise missiles, each 20 feet long and three feet in diameter, and nine warheads, hidden in two enormous reinforced concrete bunkers, were also found.

Another missile, as yet unidentified, was found still crated up at the rear of one of the bunkers.

The discovery of the missiles came as British troops from the Black Watch Regiment fought to secure the area around Iraqi's second city, Basra, ahead of a push to capture the city.

Several units were involved in skirmishes with pockets of Iraqi troops and with civilians who have seized abandoned weaponry.

Reinforced bunkers

It was while trying to secure the area around the heliport that units from the Black Watch stumbled upon the missiles and other weapons

The vast complex, surrounded by chainlink fence and barbed wire, stands to the south west of the town, defended by a network of earth works and with tanks and other armoured vehicles dug in to the surrounding area.

But the defenders have fled after coming under attack from coalition forces.

Outside of the perimeter fence were approximately 40 bunkers packed with a mixture of RPGs and other ammunition. Inside, 22 larger fortified bunkers contain heavy weaponry including the Al-Harith missiles.

Also housed inside the reinforced bunkers were what appeared to be large anti-shipping mines and a host of other munitions.

On one box, written in English, were the words: "Contract AS Navy. 5/1980 Iran."

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-12274550,00.html

[Pushi]

DON'T WATCH THE OSCARS.

[Trust but Verify]

Doesn't mean a thing. Could be very old, could be bought through an intermediary or could be another ruse. If there are lot numbers or whatever, I'm sure the British will be able to track it.

[Calpernia]

>>>Could be very old, could be bought through an intermediary or could be another ruse

Old and intermediary:
Contract AS Navy. 5/1980 Iran

[RS]

"One pile of boxes in a store housing rocket propelled grenades bears the name of Wallop Industries Limited, based in Middle Wallop in Hampshire, Chamberlain said. "

Got to give their marketing guys a nod on picking the right place for the factory.

[skr]

And the terrorist nation-states keeps on connecting, either by sale or capture. I'm wondering why some of the officers are stating that no SCUD missiles have been found, when SCUDs have been reported as the missiles that were fired at Kuwait. Why are they saying anything at all until things are secured for a more thorough search?

[RobFromGa]

on another thread some one said these weapons weren't banned to Iraq. Just passing along the info, not sure if true or not...

[Iwo Jima]

Exactly.

[TLBSHOW]

Interesting turn of events!

[Darksheare]

Oh deer God, teh Brits have GOT to be miffed about that.
If those missiles were made anytime during teh last 12 years, then they were illegally sold and shipped.

Means MI5(?) is going to be talking to people.
With feeling.

[Squantos]

Gonna be lots of ordnance stolen from Iran and Kuwait during past conflicts found.........but spin masters will have a field day anyway.

Stay Safe !

[jimtorr]

that units from the Black Watch

The Black Watch regiment was the first and now I think the last Scottish regiment left in the UK army. The other once proud regiments are now represented by mere companies and battalions.

[TLBSHOW]

Any thoughts?

[MadIvan]

The weapons were obviously diverted to the Iraqis. I'm glad we got a hold of them, the poster who said MI6 will want a chat with these people is absolutely right.

Regards, Ivan

[Salvation]

Hmmmmmmmm.

[cactusSharp]

bet MARC RICH'S fingerprints are all over it....figuritively

[Lil'freeper]

rocket propelled grenades bears the name of Wallop Industries Limited

Good grief. Coincidence? Irony? Humor? With the Brits it's hard to tell.

[The Toad]

Oops. They were probably sold via a 3rd party. The Brits wouldn't do this.

[backhoe]

More info here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/873207/posts
Iraqi arsenal of banned weapons discovered
SMH ^ | March 24 2003, | n/a

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Thanks to Bubba Klinton, we'll probably find American stuff, too. In the meantime, Wallop Industries in the UK had better have their story straight.