DEFENCE chiefs have shelled out £160million in compensation to troops who have complained about cold feet.
Thousands have sued after developing trench foot or similar injuries.
At least 2,000 who took legal action against the Ministry of Defence for negligence after developing the conditions were awarded £150million in total between 2012 and 2023.
Separately, at least 1,700 were also awarded payouts totalling £9.5million over the same period under the Armed Forces compensation scheme.
The figures — obtained by The Sun on Sunday under freedom of information laws — include the millions paid to lawyers.
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Troops have claimed they lost their careers because they were not properly trained to care for their feet in cold weather.
Many legal firms now specialise in suing the MoD on behalf of military personnel who claim they have suffered cold injuries.
But the huge individual payouts have led to conditions being faked or exaggerated.
Last year, a former soldier tried to sue for £1.5million after being medically discharged following a cold injury.
However, he dropped his legal action after MoD surveillance video showed him walking normally.
The court ordered him to pay £70,000 to cover the MoD’s legal fees.
Col Phil Ingram, a former Army Intelligence Officer, said the payouts were a result of a failure in leadership.
He added: “This is a huge waste of tax-payers’ money and has a severe impact on the operational effectiveness of countless personnel.”
An MOD spokesperson said: "The health and wellbeing of our service personnel is a top priority and we are committed to ensuring that our people are well-trained and equipped to minimise the risk of injury.
"Where illnesses and injuries caused by service do occur, former and serving personnel receive the compensation they are entitled to."