British troops combating the heat and dust of Iraq and Afghanistan have a new weapon in their armoury, defence officials announced on Thursday — germ-fighting underwear.
The antimicrobial underpants have been introduced by the ministry of defence as part of a new desert uniform for soldiers.
They are the first undergarments issued to British troops, who traditionally have had to supply their own.
Colonel Silas Suchanek, who led the team that procured the new equipment, said the unisex trunks are made from artificial fibres for comfort, with silver particles woven into the material to prevent sweating.
”It is coated to prevent bacterial infection and we have tried to arrange the seams so that they don’t chafe,” he said.
The army’s new desert kit also includes boots with rubber soles designed to withstand temperatures of up to 300 degrees Celsius, wraparound sunglasses, light Kevlar-nylon helmets and ”combat sandals” for off-duty wear.
The British Army has faced criticism for allegedly inadequate equipment. A government report on a military exercise in Oman in 2001 found that soldiers complained that standard-issue boots fell apart or melted in the sun and in some instances caused foot rot, while the man-made fibres of standard uniforms resulted in heat-stress illnesses.
The government acknowledged that at least a quarter of troops bought some of their own equipment, with US army desert boots a particular favourite.
Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram said the new equipment will make Britain’s troops ”among the best equipped in the world, ready to face environments ranging from desert conditions in Iraq [and] monsoon conditions in Brunei to winter in the Balkans.”
”Support for the modern serviceman or -woman starts from the skin out,” Ingram said.
The defence ministry said the new underwear is already being issued to troops. The rest of the equipment will be introduced by March. — Sapa-AP