Britain’s Armed Forces are no longer capable of protecting our shores
SIR – The new Defence Secretary, Gavin Williamson, states that “Britain will never be intimidated” as Russian naval activity in our waters increases (report, December 26).
Perhaps Mr Williamson should venture to Portsmouth, where all six of our new Type 45 destroyers are moored, being unseaworthy. Ships are being cannibalised for spare parts due to budget cuts, and there is a severe shortage of sailors. As Russia’s Vladimir Putin tests our defences, we have only a fisheries patrol vessel, HMS Tyne, shadowing a Russian spy ship, and helicopters watching the rest.
Had the Conservative government not scrapped all our Type 42 destroyers, we might have had proper warships available to escort the Russian navy in and out of our waters. Instead, the Government cut the total number of new Type 26 frigates from 13 to six. Doubts also linger about the future of the amphibious assault ships HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark.
The Royal Navy faces a further challenge, in that both our new aircraft carriers will require at least four surface escorts each to defend them, out of a total of 19. That would leave just 11 ships to patrol our territorial waters, take part in Nato exercises, defend the Falklands, stop drug runners in the Caribbean and maintain a presence in the Middle East during these uncertain times.
Since 2010, the Conservative government has made a mess of our defences. Rather than indulging in immature posturing, the Defence Secretary needs to fight his corner and make sure that our Armed Forces are equipped to do the job. Alan Quinn
Prestwich, Lancashire
SIR – In recent years the executive committee of the Army Board appears to have presided over the gradual erosion of both the Army’s combat capability and of its dignity.
The Army’s trained strength is now inadequate to deal with even the most moderate of conventional threats on a sustained footing. Yet the priority among senior officers has not been to press politicians for an increased equipment budget, or to enhance manpower levels, but rather to impose behavioural and institutional constraints that have utterly undermined the Army’s morale.
The decision to admit women to close-combat roles was undoubtedly done for political purposes, yet it has been wholeheartedly supported by senior officers. War is about absolutes, not equal opportunities.
The Army has lost its way and needs firm, decisive and inspirational leadership.
Col Steve Davies (retd)
Richmond, North Yorkshire
SIR – Perhaps the time has come to combine the Army, the Navy and the Royal Air Force into one defence force, as countries such as Canada have done.
As for the incompetent and complacent Ministry of Defence, its staffing levels should be halved. J W Carlin
Gedling, Nottinghamshire