SAS chief quits over 'negligence' that killed troops in Afghanistan

The commander of SAS special forces in Afghanistan has resigned amid fresh controversy over the equipment available to British troops fighting the Taliban, it was reported last night.

It is believed that Major Sebastian Morley decided to quit over the deaths of four of his soldiers who were killed when their lightly armoured Snatch Land Rover hit a landmine in Helmand province earlier this year.

It is understood he was unhappy at the use of the Snatch, despite his repeated warnings over its vulnerability, according to The Daily Telegraph. Defence sources insisted his departure was for "personal reasons". In his resignation letter, Major Morley, the commander of D Squadron, 23 SAS, was said to have blamed "chronic under investment" in equipment by the Ministry of Defence for his soldiers' deaths.

He believed that Cpl Sarah Bryant – the first female soldier to die in Afghanistan – and three male colleagues all died needlessly. He accused the MoD of "gross negligence" and said its failure to supply better equipment was "cavalier at best, criminal at worst".

One soldier who served with Major Morley was quoted as saying: "We highlighted this issue saying people are going to die and now they have died. Our commanding officer and RSM (Regimental Sergeant Major) tried everything in their power to stop us using Snatch. The point of failure here lies squarely with the MoD. The boys nicknamed Snatch the mobile coffin."

The MoD has come in for sustained criticism over the provision of equipment in Afganistan. Last month, military resourcing was also fiercely criticised by the coroner at the inquest of Cpl Mark Wright, who died after the wrong helicopter was sent to rescue him from a minefield in Afghanistan.

Andrew Walker, the deputy coroner for Oxfordshire, said: "When a life is lost where it need not have been because of a lack of equipment and assets, those responsible should hang their heads in shame."

The latest disclosure comes in a week that the MoD announced it was spending £700m on 700 new armoured vehicles for operations in Afghanistan – acknowledging the dangers faced by troops travelling in the country. However, the Defence Secretary, John Hutton, refused to withdraw the Snatch, saying it was seen as "mission critical".

Instead, he promised that it would be upgraded into a new, more powerful variant, called the Snatch Vixen.

There was no official confirmation last night from the MoD of Major Morley's departure. A spokesman said: "Equipping our personnel is a clear priority and we are absolutely focused on providing them with a range of vehicles that will protect them."