Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KATHMANDU583
2006-02-28 12:11:00
SECRET
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
CRITICAL AMMUNITION SHORTAGE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHKT #0583 0591211 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 281211Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0525 INFO RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 3644 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE 9274 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO IMMEDIATE 4240 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA IMMEDIATE 9316 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE 3986 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD IMMEDIATE 2226 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL IMMEDIATE 0771 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV IMMEDIATE 0472 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
S E C R E T KATHMANDU 000583
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR S/ES - PLEASE PASS TO THE SECRETARY
DEPT FOR D, P, SA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2016
TAGS: PREL MOPS MASS PTER NP
SUBJECT: CRITICAL AMMUNITION SHORTAGE
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons, 1.4 (b/d).
One Bullet Per M-16
--------------------
S E C R E T KATHMANDU 000583
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR S/ES - PLEASE PASS TO THE SECRETARY
DEPT FOR D, P, SA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2016
TAGS: PREL MOPS MASS PTER NP
SUBJECT: CRITICAL AMMUNITION SHORTAGE
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons, 1.4 (b/d).
One Bullet Per M-16
--------------
1. (S) Royal Nepal Army (RNA) Master General of Ordnance
Major General Prakash Bahadur Basnyat told Emboff on February
28 that the RNA was running critically low on almost all
types of ammunition. The RNA had 16,800 rounds of M-16
ammunition remaining in the depots for its 16,000 M-16s. In
other words, the army is down to one round per U.S.-provided
rifle. With only 130,000 rounds of INSAS ammunition in
central stock and 25,000 INSAS weapons, the RNA had an
average of 5.2 rounds per INSAS. After China had provided
7.62mm ammunition for self-loading rifles (SLRs),the RNA had
only an average of 21 rounds per weapon, although the MGO
noted that the SLRs were 35 years old and perhaps as many as
half of the 32,000 weapons were inoperable. MG Basnyat added
that the RNA had no other ammunition deliveries scheduled.
Other Ordnance Also In Short Supply
--------------
2. (S) The RNA is also dangerously low on munitions for close
air support during missions when it wants to use its
helicopters in battle. According to Basnyat, the RNA had
less than 23 70mm rockets and only nine high explosive 51mm
rockets. In terms of heavier ground weapons designed to
support infantry troops in combat, the RNA was also running
low on mortar rounds (only 317 rounds of 81mm mortars) and
M203 grenade rounds. The RNA has 2,300 hand grenades
remaining. The MGO commented that these numbers left nothing
for training.
Comment
--------------
3. (S) These numbers and the lack of scheduled deliveries are
alarming and we hope that the Maoists do not discover how low
the RNA's stocks are. Unless something positive unexpectedly
happens, pretty soon the M-16's we have provided to the RNA
will be rendered useless. Shortly thereafter, the
Indian-supplied INSAS will suffer a similar fate. MG Basnyat
told us this information informally and we do not believe
COAS authorized the MGO to share this information. We also
do not believe that the Indians are aware of this lack of
ammunition.
MORIARTY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR S/ES - PLEASE PASS TO THE SECRETARY
DEPT FOR D, P, SA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2016
TAGS: PREL MOPS MASS PTER NP
SUBJECT: CRITICAL AMMUNITION SHORTAGE
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons, 1.4 (b/d).
One Bullet Per M-16
--------------
1. (S) Royal Nepal Army (RNA) Master General of Ordnance
Major General Prakash Bahadur Basnyat told Emboff on February
28 that the RNA was running critically low on almost all
types of ammunition. The RNA had 16,800 rounds of M-16
ammunition remaining in the depots for its 16,000 M-16s. In
other words, the army is down to one round per U.S.-provided
rifle. With only 130,000 rounds of INSAS ammunition in
central stock and 25,000 INSAS weapons, the RNA had an
average of 5.2 rounds per INSAS. After China had provided
7.62mm ammunition for self-loading rifles (SLRs),the RNA had
only an average of 21 rounds per weapon, although the MGO
noted that the SLRs were 35 years old and perhaps as many as
half of the 32,000 weapons were inoperable. MG Basnyat added
that the RNA had no other ammunition deliveries scheduled.
Other Ordnance Also In Short Supply
--------------
2. (S) The RNA is also dangerously low on munitions for close
air support during missions when it wants to use its
helicopters in battle. According to Basnyat, the RNA had
less than 23 70mm rockets and only nine high explosive 51mm
rockets. In terms of heavier ground weapons designed to
support infantry troops in combat, the RNA was also running
low on mortar rounds (only 317 rounds of 81mm mortars) and
M203 grenade rounds. The RNA has 2,300 hand grenades
remaining. The MGO commented that these numbers left nothing
for training.
Comment
--------------
3. (S) These numbers and the lack of scheduled deliveries are
alarming and we hope that the Maoists do not discover how low
the RNA's stocks are. Unless something positive unexpectedly
happens, pretty soon the M-16's we have provided to the RNA
will be rendered useless. Shortly thereafter, the
Indian-supplied INSAS will suffer a similar fate. MG Basnyat
told us this information informally and we do not believe
COAS authorized the MGO to share this information. We also
do not believe that the Indians are aware of this lack of
ammunition.
MORIARTY