Dutch soldiers forced to shout 'bang' because they are out of bullets

Welcome to our Community
Wanting to join the rest of our members? Feel free to Sign Up today.
Sign up

jason73

Yuri Bezmenov was right
First 100
Jan 15, 2015
72,781
134,158

A leaked email revealed that the shortage has become so acute it a number of compulsory shooting drills have been cancelled
Dutch soldiers have apparently been shouting “bang, bang” when they shoot their weapons because of an ammunition shortage.


Soldiers have been imitating gunfire during training drills after being told that they would no longer be able to use live bullets because too much ammunition has been used on international missions.

An email leaked from the country’s Defence Ministry to RTL Nieuws revealed the extent of the shortage, unveiling that the deficiency of ammunition has become so acute that it is creating major problems, including the cancellation of a number of compulsory shooting drills.

“I cannot make it better, but there's really no ammunition,” a section of the email. reportedly reads.

The lack of bullets is also having an impact on the troops’ moral according to military union VBM.

Jean Debie, chairman of VBM told De Standaard: 'Even if you have no bullets, you have to train with your weapon. That means you have to call out bang-bang-bang.”

“That is of course disastrous for the morale of the military. You do not want to do this to a professional.”

Major-General Harm de Jonge said that the lack of ammunition has meant that soldiers are not able to practise shooting and firing techniques regularly, hampering the soldiers' confidence levels, according to RTL Nieuws.

In response to the shortage the Dutch defence ministry told broadcasting company NOS that the problem was due to “high consumption” and “long delivery times”, adding that the soldiers would still be able to practise “as much as necessary”.

Despite the dearth of ammunition, a report commissioned from the European Leadership Network shows that the Dutch government has raised its defence budget to €8 billon for this fiscal year, up from €7.6 billion last year.

The report said: “In fact, it is the first time for over a decade that Europe’s fifth-largest economy will spend more rather than less on defence.”
 

ThatOneDude

Commander in @Chief, Dick Army
First 100
Jan 14, 2015
35,390
34,272
Maybe if they were like us Muricans and loved guns their military would have bullets
 

silentsinger

Momofuku
Jun 23, 2015
21,038
14,484
I still find it bizarre they have an army, let alone an 8 billion Euro a year budget army. I lived in Amsterdam for 3.5 years and I didn't see a single soldier the whole time I was there. They're the least fighty bunch you could ever hope to meet, The Dutch.
 

Leigh

Engineer
Pro Fighter
Jan 26, 2015
10,925
21,293
Friend of mine was in the British army and said they did the same thing. Shout "bang!" Cos bullets were too expensive :/

He said that training with the yanks was unreal - they'd bring out choppers and all sorts.
 

ThatOneDude

Commander in @Chief, Dick Army
First 100
Jan 14, 2015
35,390
34,272
Friend of mine was in the British army and said they did the same thing. Shout "bang!" Cos bullets were too expensive :/

He said that training with the yanks was unreal - they'd bring out choppers and all sorts.
Hence our love for guns, and why everyone calls us when shit hits the fan.
 

lookoutawhale

Mammal of the Sea
Jan 20, 2015
4,404
7,300
Imagine if they got so used to this that during real war they forget to pull the trigger and just yell Bang Bang! confusing the enemy and giving away their position.
 

Bluesville

First 100
First 100
Jan 17, 2015
2,571
2,954
In other news the Belgian army have been equipped with fake roses that can squirt water at a target up to 7 inches away.