James Bond fans and wannabees circle MoD auctions

[Blowfeld]

James Bond fans and wannabees circle as MoD auctions off surplus spy kit

Defence chiefs look to raise cash, selling SAS watches and armoured cars, aircraft carriers and kilts
Alexandra Topping
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 14 August 2011 16.06 BST

Good news for aspiring 007s: a whole raft of spy gear, including luxury watches, desert warfare camouflage jackets and the odd armoured vehicle is now available at knockdown prices as the Ministry of Defence tries to offload non-vital equipment and plug a hole in its budget.

A range of expensive watches – some originally costing up to £5,000 – as well as an array of other items, from ships to Scottish military kilts, have been put on sale as the Mod tries to recoup a little money.

Items for sale on the Defence Equipment & Sales website include a ladies Crystal Dior watch "set with 48 diamonds 0.24 carat, black lacquered dial, black rubber strap set with black sapphire crystal", worth £4,000, a Raymond Weil Tango men's watch with "Stainless steel case, black dial with red accented hands, luminous Arabic numbers, sapphire crystal glass", that would normally retail at £1,000, and a men's Maurice Lacroix three-dial chronograph watch with "Sapphire crystal scratch resistant glass, white square dial with luminous hands", worth around £5,000.

The watches are likely to have been bought for SAS and defence intelligence operatives working in overseas embassies to help them blend in at events attended by dignitaries and diplomats.

But there are other less expensive, and more offbeat, items on offer at the unusual jumble sale. A mobile hydration system is a snip at £22.50, while new combat jackets ordered for the SAS can be had for £30, despite originally costing £350. Other items include ships' mattresses, a portable dentist's chair and impervious membrane for foot-and-mouth protection – originally costing £550, but on sale at £17.99.

For those with a penchant for fancy dress, Scottish regimental parade socks (£15), can be teamed with military kilts (£30). Would-be soldiers can purchase army-issue grey braces for £7 or a jaunty bush hat for £10.

There are some rather larger items on offer. The HMS Ark Royal is expected to be auctioned for around £3m, despite costing £200m, while Saxon armoured vehicles – the model used in Baghdad, which originally cost £85,000 – are going for £3,000.

Some question the wisdom of the firesale. Conservative MP Patrick Mercer, a former infantry commander, called the move short-sighted: "The one thing of which you can be certain is that once precious defence equipment is sold, it will be needed again within the week."

He told the Mail on Sunday: "It is like selling the family silver. These goods have cost us millions and now they are being sold for peanuts. That cannot be right."

The MoD: "We are committed to delivering the best possible return for the taxpayer when disposing of surplus equipment. Last year alone the Disposal Services Authority (part of Defence Equipment and Support) secured £84m from sales."