Defence cuts: Plot to axe 2,000 Marines would ‘play into our enemies hands’
GETTY Cuts to the Royal Marines would be 'militarily illiterate'
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has been presented with proposals that would see it slash its capabilities in order to make up a £20billion black hole in the budget. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “If the price of such change is the sacrifice of this country’s amphibious capability, we can only conclude this to be a short-sighted, militarily illiterate manoeuvre totally at odds with strategic reality.” Despite the proposal being condemned by Mr Williamson and Theresa May, some MPs are worried that troops will remain at risk until extra funding can be secured for the MoD. The unpopular proposals came as part of the National Security Capability Review.
The plan would see amphibious assault ships HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark join the 2,000 Royal Marines on the scrap heap. The Navy’s new aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, are the product of billions of pounds of investment in the armed forces. However, the Defence Secretary insisted these state-of-the-art ships are no substitute for the at-risk ships. He insisted they are unable to fill the role of the “purpose-built amphibious warships”.
Defence committee chairman Julian Lewis said: “We must reinstate a target of around three per cent of GDP – the percentage which we spent right up to the mid-1990s, long after the ‘peace dividend’ cuts, at the end of the Cold War, had been made. Mr Williamson said the cuts could risk the Royal Marines ability to operate as a “high-readiness Commando force”. MP John Mercy and former Commando said: “This report puts into sharp focus the folly of re- moving from this nation’s military capabilities the amphibious fleet, and reducing the Royal Marines.
Russia's 200,000-strong CHILD ARMY Thu, February 1, 2018 Vladimir Putin’s 'youth army' has swollen by 150,000 recruits in ONE year Play slideshow YunArmia / east2west news 1 of 20 Two teenagers are dressed in military uniform
“In an area where every single other credible tier one military nation is expanding their amphibious forces, we cannot a afford to be heading in the other direction, shrinking to the ‘little Britain’ so many of our foes would like to see.” The report comes after the Army pleaded for reservists to take year-long career breaks in order to fill specialist roles. The service is 4,000 soldiers under-strength despite recruitment campaigns. A failure to retain existing troops and attract new ones is, sources say, putting operational capability at risk.
GETTY Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has denounced the proposed cuts
While some vacancies are listed for 12 months, others demand two years - which would require many to leave their day jobs altogether. Several posts also require an additional six months “pre deployment training” period. More than 990 reservist majors and colonels are needed just to support Operational Commitments stretching from Estonia to Somalia. Reservists who answer the call will sign up to the regular Full Time Reserve Service contracts, giving them the same status as full-time soldiers.
GETTY The HMS Bulwark also faces the axe amid a £20billlion black hole