UK military problems & policies

[davidbfpo]

The UK's top soldier, General Peter Wall, has been interviewed:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...rmy-chief.html

Of note are his remarks on recruiting for military cyber warriors:

The education and personal qualities of our cyber warriors are likely to be a challenge to more linear military behaviour and we therefore need to consider how we recruit.

[Fuchs]

The British military problems and resulting inadequacy of British military policy can be summarised quite concisely in my opinion:

Their willingness to tax the rich's incomes is not sufficient to fund a military which meets the military-related grand strategic ambitions.

They want to be a great naval power, but can only afford a small fleet with tiny numbers of nuclear submarines and medium-sized carriers. They want to be able to bully, invade & occupy in U.S: style with minimised KIA and degree of improvisation, but cannot afford an army or air force (including support assets such as plenty tankers and heavylift aircraft) to do it on their own.
Meanwhile, playing lap dog and following the Americans everywhere has been understood to be superfluous.

[davidbfpo]

A rather good blogger's explanation why the UK has shrunk it's military, in particular the army and the expectation that is enough for UK national interests:http://thinpinstripedline.blogspot.c...real-army.html

From the conclusion:

Given the lack of existential threats, and the reality that there is no real desire for sustained overseas operations for at least the next few years, it is hard to escape the view that the UK not only possesses a reasonably sized army proportionate to its current strategic position, but that by keeping it relatively small, it retains the funds to keep it well trained and well equipped, and in turn enabling it to punch above its weight as a partner of choice for other nations.

[davidbfpo]

From an observer:

Royal Tank Regiment (RTR) is now down to just one Regiment with 56 Main Battle Tanks. For the first time since WWII we have more horses than tanks.

There are two other tank equipped regiments in the British Army, but they are called cavalry regiments and do not have horses for operational use:http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...t-9644238.html

I leave aside the Blues & Royals, the mounted cavalry of the Household Division:


Well I suppose they could give some Cossacks a surpise if they reach London.

[davidbfpo]

A review of Taking Command, by General David Richards, with a foreword by Max Hastings. A model four-star general takes us through his 40 years in the British army

Link:http://www.spectator.co.uk/books/936...view/#comments

A book I might ask for Xmas.

I know he has his admirers - in some strange places - and critics. He can be remarkably direct sometimes.

[davidbfpo]

The British government acknowledged today that a submarine periscope had been sighted in waters near a main U.K. base, (off west Scotland), touching off a massive NATO hunt in November.....A pair of U.S. Navy P-3 Orions, as well as Canadian and French planes and two British warships, scoured the waters for days when the periscope was seen in November.

Link:http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headline...-in-uk-waters/
More detail:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...sh-waters.html

Embarassing as the UK has no maritime patrol aircraft. Even more as the only 'main' UK base in western Scotland are the Trident SSBN facilities in the Clyde. Taken alongside the current higher level of Russian flights and probing it is to say the least interesting.

[davidbfpo]

A rather clear, pointed commentary by a respected military correspondent that the planned budget cuts - across most government departments - will make the British Army and others almost irrelevent:

The UK now becomes the unreliable ally that probably won’t be able to protect its own vital maritime interests.

Link:http://www.theweek.co.uk/uk-news/617...#ixzz3Lb8psgAH