And we thought we had it bad here during the Great Ammo Panic of 2013 following the Sandy Hook shooting. That shortage was due to excess demand. It looks like western Europe’s post-war cradle-to-grave welfare state spending is finally catching up with them and crimping their already meager military efforts. It’s come to this: Dutch soldiers don’t have enough ammunition for training and have simulate the sound of firing their firearms during exercises . . .
But the Dutch high command can’t let their dogfaces sit around all day just because they’re out of gun food. Here’s Jean Debie of the military union VBM:
“Even if you have no bullets, you have to train with your weapon. That means, as a soldier, you say ‘bang, bang!’
We’re guessing ‘bang, bang’ is used to simulate rifle fire. If they’re getting in some range time with their handguns, the Netherlands’ best are probably saying ‘pew, pew.’ There’s no word as to whether tank crews have been reduced to shouting ‘KA-BOOM!’ yet.
As mirror.co.uk advises, the Dutch brass are hoping to re-supply the troops soon.
“The ministry understands troops are not always happy with this.
“Once funding is available, stockpiles will be replenished.”
But having to generate their own sound effects isn’t making the average grunt happy.
“This is disastrous for the morale of the military. You do not want to do this to a professional.”
But you have to wonder how long Dutch soldiers will be considered professionals if they can’t actually fire their guns.