Nearly half of the British Army’s armoured vehicles that are being used in Afghanistan are regarded as unfit for operational usage according to new figures.

The military vehicles, ranging from lightly protected patrol models to heavy mine-resistant ambush protected types, have proved to be disqualified for the operations in the region, according to the Daily Telegraph.

The vehicles are not providing the required levels of protection for the crew from insurgent roadside bombs and are incapable of withstanding the topography and climate of Afghanistan as well as undergoing frequent repairs and refurbishment.

The Daily Telegraph figures show, out of 271 Mastiffs, only 134 are operationally ready and only 73 of the 118 Ridgback vehicles are considered serviceable.

In addition, the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) has also withdrawn the highly criticised Snatch Land Rover from its duties in Afghanistan.

The Land Rovers are lightly protected and have proved vulnerable to insurgent improvised explosive devices.

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Snatch Vixen light patrol vehicles also proved vulnerable to roadside bombs regardless of the additional armour and counter-IED measures installed and its latest enhancements.

The MoD is now planning to deploy 400 new light protected patrol vehicles (LPPVs) to replace the Snatch Land Rovers under an urgent operational requirement.