Defence plans to sell off army surplus
DON LAVERY
The Irish Independent
3-Aug-2003
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MEMBERS of the public could soon be able to buy surplus army tanks, armoured cars, trucks and other military equipment under a novel fund-raising plan.
The cash-stretched Department of Defence, which has funded a modernisation programme by cutting the size of the army and selling off barracks and land, is now looking at putting surplus equipment up for auction.
Modernising the army has meant buying hundreds of trucks and other transport vehicles, as well as a new armoured fleet.
As a result over 100 armoured vehicles, including 60 Panard M-3 armoured personnel carriers, 30 AML armoured cars, as well as Irish-produced Timoneys are surplus to requirements, as well as a large "soft-skinned" fleet of trucks, cars, and vans. Eventually, if they are not upgraded, the army's fleet of Scorpion tanks could also be sold off.
Sources said last year over 60 mostly driveable obsolete armoured vehicles were cut up for scrap by dealers paying €500-€1,000 each - while trucks and Mondeo staff cars about 10 years old were also being scrapped.
Obsolete military equipment sales are big business in the UK and on the Continent where hobbyists buy and restore the vehicles and sometimes use them in military "re-enactment" shows or acquire them for film or TV work.
Individual vehicles like the AML armoured car could make five times as much if sold to the public rather then being scrapped. The similar ex-British Army Ferret armoured car can make about €6,500 in the UK; while ex-Irish army Bedford trucks could make about €4,600 and Scorpion tanks could be sold from €20,000 each.
A Department of Defence spokesman confirmed that they were considering re-introducing auctions of military equipment.
Auctions, similar to the Garda vehicles auction, had been held up to about 10 years ago and were seen as a source of revenue for the department, he said.
DON LAVERY
The Irish Independent
3-Aug-2003
**********************
MEMBERS of the public could soon be able to buy surplus army tanks, armoured cars, trucks and other military equipment under a novel fund-raising plan.
The cash-stretched Department of Defence, which has funded a modernisation programme by cutting the size of the army and selling off barracks and land, is now looking at putting surplus equipment up for auction.
Modernising the army has meant buying hundreds of trucks and other transport vehicles, as well as a new armoured fleet.
As a result over 100 armoured vehicles, including 60 Panard M-3 armoured personnel carriers, 30 AML armoured cars, as well as Irish-produced Timoneys are surplus to requirements, as well as a large "soft-skinned" fleet of trucks, cars, and vans. Eventually, if they are not upgraded, the army's fleet of Scorpion tanks could also be sold off.
Sources said last year over 60 mostly driveable obsolete armoured vehicles were cut up for scrap by dealers paying €500-€1,000 each - while trucks and Mondeo staff cars about 10 years old were also being scrapped.
Obsolete military equipment sales are big business in the UK and on the Continent where hobbyists buy and restore the vehicles and sometimes use them in military "re-enactment" shows or acquire them for film or TV work.
Individual vehicles like the AML armoured car could make five times as much if sold to the public rather then being scrapped. The similar ex-British Army Ferret armoured car can make about €6,500 in the UK; while ex-Irish army Bedford trucks could make about €4,600 and Scorpion tanks could be sold from €20,000 each.
A Department of Defence spokesman confirmed that they were considering re-introducing auctions of military equipment.
Auctions, similar to the Garda vehicles auction, had been held up to about 10 years ago and were seen as a source of revenue for the department, he said.
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