Soldier inventions in Afghanistan

Apr 12, 2012 by BritishForcesNews

The best ideas are often the simplest.

In Afghanistan, the ingenuity of several soldiers is said to have improved operational effectiveness and saved the Ministry of Defence money.

Craftsman Adam Brunetti has fixed many fryers by dismantling them and changing every expensive component.

Now a test box he has invented accurately pinpoints faulty parts and has already saved £100,000 in unneccesary replacements.

An accessory that Camp Bastion's Equipment Support Battalion welders have created can widen breakdown trailers to safely carry large helicopters like Chinooks.

Captain Bob Hicks of the Joint Support Light Aid Detachment says: "It could be the difference between getting the helicopter back into the air in a couple of days rather than a couple of months, or not at all."

On a smaller, but no less vital scale, Company Sergeant Major Kev Stacey of 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland says nozzles he attaches to plastic drinks bottles easily beat a military shower bag.