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British buy British

23rd July 1976, Page 27
23rd July 1976
Page 27
Page 27, 23rd July 1976 — British buy British
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

With reference to an article in Commercial Motor, March 26 — -NAAFI shops around for trucks."

The bulk of the article cannot be disputed for we, as a Corps, do not participate in the transport management of NAAFI vehicles, but we do take exception to part of the publication.

The statement that "competitively priced Continental vehicles" are being bought for British Forces in Germany is a most erroneous statement. Except for Berlin, where German vehicles are issued, BAOR is supplied with vehicles of British manufacture, of the same types and marks as used by the Forces in the United Kingdom. Recent acquisitions are the new Foden 16-tonne range of vehicle and AEC 55-seater coach, to supplement our already large fleet of Bedford (cargo and coaches), AEC and Leyland vehicles to mention the more common makes.

Further, the article continues with the statement on an ancillary service re — the provision of regular bus service for NAAFI shoppers. Please be informed that the multitude of wives are, in the main, conveyed by coaches provided by the Forcos, normally in the form of Bedford 39-seater coaches, and lately by use of the new AEC 55-seater coach. This bus service run by the Forces, throughout BAOR. is usually to a strict timetable which also would include, on a normal day, children to and from school (that is SFES Schools), RAF and civilian airfields. for air trooping of personnel to the UK, and a multitude of other tasks.

Also, it should be understood by manufacturer, civilian (including NAAFI) operator or layman, that we in the Forces have not the wide choice of vehicles we can buy owing to the job a vehicle has to perform,as a military function, and also the length of time a vehicle stays in service. Some of our cargo vehicles and coaches are still in regular use after a period of years over which the civilian operator would have possibly renewed his fleet two or three times.

Please remember that NAAFI is a completely separate organisation to the military fleet of vehicles and, to that end, should not be compared one against the other with regard to the buying of vehicles or daily running.

SGT E. J. KIDDLE RCT, Transport and Movements, HO Rhine Area.

Tags

Organisations: NAAFI
Locations: Berlin

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