In response to a parliamentary written question from Sarah Jones, Shadow Minister for Industry and Decarbonisation, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) disclosed details regarding the loss and theft of ammunition from its facilities.
The question posed by Sarah Jones was:
“To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much of each ammunition type was lost from his Department’s facilities in each year since 2015. To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much of each munition type was (a) lost and (b) stolen from his Department’s facilities in each year since 2015.”
Andrew Murrison, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence, responded:
“The security of ammunition is taken very seriously within the Ministry of Defence (MOD), and we have robust procedures in place to deter and prevent loss and theft.
Given the frequency and dynamic nature of military training, exercises and operations it is very difficult to mitigate against all risk of loss. When losses of ammunition are identified, a search will be conducted, and the loss is reported upwards. All losses and thefts of ammunition are investigated, in partnership with Ministry of Defence Police, Service Police and Home Office Police Forces as appropriate.
The below table details ammunition lost and stolen from MOD Facilities from 2017-2023. This includes military establishments, ranges, training areas and on operations. It has not been possible to validate data prior to 2017 without incurring disproportionate cost.”
The table included in Murrison’s response details a total of over 7,000 rounds of various types of ammunition, including 5.56mm, 7.62mm, 9mm, 4.6mm, 12.7mm, and .22 calibres, reported as lost or stolen from 2017 to 2023.
| Year | Ammunition: Type | Quantity | Lost/Stolen |
| 2023 | 5.56mm | 90 | Lost |
| 7.62mm | 145 | Lost | |
| 9mm | 47 | Lost | |
| 2022 | 5.56mm | 167 | Lost |
| 7.62mm | 625 | Lost | |
| 9.mm | 40 | Lost | |
| 4.6mm | 13 | Lost | |
| 12.7mm | 1 | Lost | |
| 2021 | 5.56mm | 884 | Lost |
| 7.62mm | 99 | Lost | |
| 9mm | 117 | Lost | |
| 2020 | 5.56mm | 2421 | Lost |
| 7.62mm | 1031 | Lost | |
| 9mm | 76 | Lost | |
| 4.6mm | 2 | Lost | |
| .22 | 19 | Lost | |
| 2019 | 5.56mm | 285 | Lost |
| 7.62mm | 1703 | Lost | |
| 9mm | 76 | Lost | |
| 4.6mm | 42 | Lost | |
| 12.7mm | 10 | Lost | |
| .22 | 1000 | Stolen | |
| 2018 | 5.56mm | 5 | Lost |
| 9mm | 17 | Lost | |
| 4.6mm | 20 | Lost | |
| 2017 | 5.56mm | 247 | Lost |
| 5.56mm | 1 | Stolen | |
| 7.62mm | 1 | Lost | |
| 4.6mm | 21 | Lost |
So what’s changed from 2017/18 for the massive increase?
Fujitsu Software !
Just going to point out that 500 7.62 link isn’t actually that much. That’s like 2 belts.
Amnesty Bush territory.
Welcome back, Dern.
Not sure anything has changed. Losses and thefts are random and do not follow a pattern or trend.
Thanks to all the replies (esp Frank!)
I have no axe to grind or any other motive other than interest as I was a shrink specialist as a stock control manager and was always looking for trends
” I have no live rounds, empty cases, or misfires in my possession Sir!”
Every time I used to run a range, I would have to account for the rounds first by bidding for them (1) (Then signing for them from the ammo clerk) and then at the end of the day signing the range book,(2) to state how many rounds had been fired down the range and then handing them back to the Ammo clerk later on (as well as brass which had to be checked to ensure there were no live rounds)
I guess that a large number of the missing rounds are due to serials 1 , 2 and 3 not matching up. but in reality they were fired . Granted some will have been lost such as a lost mag here, (as I have seen doing a river crossing) But the article paints the picture that the military is somewhat lax over the handling and carriage of arms and ammo. It isn’t
I’m seeing that too….. It states that just the one 5.56mm has been “stolen” … although 1000 x .22 have also but I can see that those were the only ones that might have slipped out the back door….. nothing much to see here really.
Sorry, that was me (well the .22 was my mate) đź‘Ť
Why does this Sarah Jones want to know this stuff? – not in her remit, surely.
It would have been useful to know the breakdown of: ball, blank or tracer (as appropriate).
In reality these are tiny amounts, and even 1000 rds of .22 LR only take up as much space as a brick! Anyone who uses Bisley on a regular basis will tell you what can be found left on the firing points, especially on Century range! Stanta ranges are always littered with live rounds, usually end up in the different range wardens ‘blinds’ boxes!