Trainee troops supply own 'audible ammo'

LONDON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Britain's military establishment is apparently so low on ammunition it lacks enough to train its soldiers, the Telegraph said Friday.

As a result, some trainees have reportedly taken to shouting "bang bang" as they go through dry runs with their weapons.

Besides lacking training rounds, there also are similar problems with the Minimi light machine gun, which lacks both "blank attachments" that let blank rounds be fired safely and cleaning kits.

That impacts specific troops preparing for deployment to Iraq.

Although the 12 Mechanized Brigade, scheduled to go to Iraq in April, will spend the next three months training, many members will never once fire their weapons with either blanks or training ammunition before then.