British Army could face depletion in 6 months to a year in the event of a large-scale war

[Social Media]

 

The British Army could face depletion within six months to a year in the event of a large-scale war, highlighting the urgent need to rebuild the nation’s reserve forces, according to Al Carns, the UK veterans minister and a serving reservist. Speaking at a conference hosted by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London, Carns underscored the critical role of reserve forces in bolstering the army’s capacity during prolonged conflicts.  

 

Drawing comparisons with the ongoing war in Ukraine, Carns pointed to the staggering casualty rates faced by Russian forces, which average around 1,500 soldiers killed or injured daily. He explained that Russia’s ability to sustain such losses is integral to its war strategy, emphasizing that Britain must prepare to respond to similar challenges by expanding its pool of trained reserves.  

 

"In a war of scale—not a limited intervention, but one similar to Ukraine—our army, as part of a broader multinational coalition, would be expended in six months to a year," Carns stated. He stressed the importance of building depth and mass within the UK’s military forces, particularly through reservists who can be rapidly mobilized during crises.  

 

Military doctrine often highlights that while wars may be initiated by professional armies, they are ultimately concluded with the involvement of civilians, such as reservists and volunteers. Carns, a former Royal Marine colonel, noted that Russia is already moving onto its third army in Ukraine, underscoring the necessity for the UK to strengthen its capacity to generate forces quickly.  

 

“This doesn’t mean we need a bigger standing army, but it does mean we need the ability to generate depth and mass rapidly in the event of a crisis,” Carns explained. “The reserves are critical, absolutely central, to that process. Without them, we cannot generate mass or meet the myriad of defence tasks required.”  

 

Over the decades, Britain’s reserve forces have suffered from chronic underinvestment. Since the end of the Cold War, limited defence budgets have prioritized the full-time army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force, leaving the reserves undermanned, undertrained, and poorly equipped. Essential items such as body armour, weapons, and vehicles are in short supply.  

 

In addition to the active reserves, which consist of individuals who train regularly, Carns highlighted the importance of the “strategic reserve.” This category includes former service personnel who remain eligible for mobilization after leaving regular service. During the Cold War, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) maintained a robust system to track and train this pool annually, ensuring readiness. However, these practices were abandoned after the Cold War, leaving gaps in preparedness.  

 

Today, the MoD lacks comprehensive knowledge of who remains in the strategic reserve, where they are located, or whether they would return to service during a crisis. Addressing these deficiencies would require significant investment and a renewed public outreach campaign to emphasize the importance of national service.  

 

“There is a requirement across government to remind people that freedom is not free,” Carns said. He expressed hope that an upcoming defence review, set to be released in the spring, would pave the way for a renewed focus on the reserves.  

 

“We need to catch up with NATO allies and place greater emphasis on reserves,” he stated. “We need to grow our active reserve—trained volunteers who can respond at short notice. It’s equally important to understand the composition and location of our strategic reserve and to expand it.”  

Carns called for a comprehensive “new deal for our reserves” to ensure Britain’s military remains prepared for the demands of modern warfare.

 

Based on a report by Sky News 2024-12-06

 

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

3 hours ago, Social Media said:

Drawing comparisons with the ongoing war in Ukraine, Carns pointed to the staggering casualty rates faced by Russian forces, which average around 1,500 soldiers killed or injured daily. He explained that Russia’s ability to sustain such losses is integral to its war strategy, emphasizing that Britain must prepare to respond to similar challenges by expanding its pool of trained reserves.  

I think I can speak for most that if the lords and masters asked me to join up as they expected massive numbers of soldiers to be dead in short order, I'd tell them to stick it where the sun don't shine.

 

As it was I did join up during my generation's war, but there was no expectation of large numbers of dead, and in fact the total number was very small, as we did not have the same combat doctrine as the US. They didn't even need to conscript, unlike Australia. Plenty of volunteers.

[thaibeachlovers]

3 hours ago, Social Media said:

Since the end of the Cold War, limited defence budgets have prioritized the full-time army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force, leaving the reserves undermanned, undertrained, and poorly equipped.

Reminds me of being in the Territorials after leaving the regulars. We got the leftover rubbish equipment, and our training was a very bad joke. I only stayed in because I needed the extra money, though even that wasn't much.

 

3 hours ago, Social Media said:

“We need to catch up with NATO allies and place greater emphasis on reserves,” he stated. “We need to grow our active reserve—trained volunteers who can respond at short notice.

They'll have to do a whole lot better at making the reserves an attractive prospect then. Even if they get them to join up with clever advertising, if the actual experience isn't good they won't stay in.

 

I once went to a show where the military was recruiting, and I wished I could join the one they were advertising, as it was so much more exciting than the one I was in!

[thaibeachlovers]

4 hours ago, Social Media said:

Military doctrine often highlights that while wars may be initiated by professional armies, they are ultimately concluded with the involvement of civilians, such as reservists and volunteers.

No mention of conscription then? Every major war from WW1 to Vietnam involved conscription.

[soalbundy]

The sensible soldier is the one who pretends to be keen and then finds the thickest stone wall or the deepest trench to hide in, being a live coward is preferable to being a dead or maimed for life hero, the mindset 'for king and country' is for idiots only.

[sungod]

This is truly good news, If I remember correctly at the height of the cold war life expectancy was 20 mins.

[thaibeachlovers]

8 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

The sensible soldier is the one who pretends to be keen and then finds the thickest stone wall or the deepest trench to hide in, being a live coward is preferable to being a dead or maimed for life hero, the mindset 'for king and country' is for idiots only.

The sensible soldier also never ever ever volunteers for anything at all except working in the cookhouse.

Also never attempt to prove that one is of above average intelligence, as they'll stick stripes on your arm and make you a target for snipers.

 

There is a very good saying.

There are old soldiers and there are bold soldiers. There are no old bold soldiers.

[thaibeachlovers]

7 minutes ago, sungod said:

This is truly good news, If I remember correctly at the height of the cold war life expectancy was 20 mins.

Or thereabouts. I was first told that by a tankie in the BAOR.

[Theforgotten1]

Maybe all the illegal immigrants should have to do national service that’ll stop them coming and remember equal rights to the few women that came with them

[JonnyF]

5 hours ago, Social Media said:

The British Army could face depletion within six months to a year in the event of a large-scale war, highlighting the urgent need to rebuild the nation’s reserve forces, according to Al Carns, the UK veterans minister and a serving reservist.

 

I wonder who is going to volunteer for this? 

 

The illegal immigrants?

Middle class pen pushers?

Young working class indigenous males who have been called everything under the sun by this administration?

David Lammy?

 

I suspect this government would find it extremely difficult to drum up enough people with sufficient national pride to fight for an administration that so clearly depises not only the country, but also despises them and insults/screws them over at every opportunity. 

 

I'm guessing DEI quotas would be dropped pretty quickly when it came to fighting a war.

[jippytum]

Artists like Taylor Swift can fill Wembly stadium unlike the entire Britsh Armed forces sadly could not.

It is appalling illegal immigrants to the UK outnumber our armed forces. 

[Chomper Higgot]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

 

I wonder who is going to volunteer for this? 

 

The illegal immigrants?

Middle class pen pushers?

Young working class indigenous males who have been called everything under the sun by this administration?

David Lammy?

 

I suspect this government would find it extremely difficult to drum up enough people with sufficient national pride to fight for an administration that so clearly depises not only the country, but also despises them and insults/screws them over at every opportunity. 

 

I'm guessing DEI quotas would be dropped pretty quickly when it came to fighting a war.

Always a grievance.

 
 

[renaissanc]

A very small number of people would start a world war. Maybe 2 or 3 people.  Maybe just by Xi or Putin. If mankind can get rid of those (2) people, then 8 billion people plus all other life will not die in a nuclear winter. Populations should think about this.

[billd766]

4 hours ago, renaissanc said:

A very small number of people would start a world war. Maybe 2 or 3 people.  Maybe just by Xi or Putin. If mankind can get rid of those (2) people, then 8 billion people plus all other life will not die in a nuclear winter. Populations should think about this.

Most military units do not start wars.

 

This is mostly done by politicians who rarely get near any fighting.

 

Most militaries have to clean up the mess, left to them by jingoistic politicians who put them there without enough support to do the job properly.

[The Cyclist]

4 hours ago, jippytum said:

Artists like Taylor Swift can fill Wembly stadium unlike the entire Britsh Armed forces sadly could not.

It is appalling illegal immigrants to the UK outnumber our armed forces. 

 

As was said in Parliament

 

" Why do we have more Illegal Immigrants in hotels, than we have Soldiers in Barracks "

 

Sums up the sorry state of the UK.

[FruitPudding]

27 minutes ago, The Cyclist said:

 

As was said in Parliament

 

" Why do we have more Illegal Immigrants in hotels, than we have Soldiers in Barracks "

 

Sums up the sorry state of the UK.

 

Let them fight for Britain if they want citizenship. 

[The Cyclist]

1 minute ago, FruitPudding said:

 

Let them fight for Britain if they want citizenship. 

 

They ran away from their own Countries, not a snowballs chance in hell they would fight for the UK.

[nauseus]

Given the cumulative effect of decades of defence spending cuts and the resulting relatively small size of the UK armed forces today, then 6 months sounds rather generous. I don't see any way that the UK could engage in any "large" scale conflict alone.

[mokwit]

5 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Always a grievance.

 
 

A bit rich coming from a Leftie, and you in particular. As far as I can tell the Lefts platform is grievance.

[mokwit]

 

[candide]

27 minutes ago, FruitPudding said:

 

Let them fight for Britain if they want citizenship. 

Actually, this principle works quite well for the French foreign legion. 

[candide]

8 minutes ago, mokwit said:

 

They don't really recruit them to fight, they recruit them to die. Therefore they don't need to select them according to their fighting ability.

[billd766]

1 hour ago, The Cyclist said:

 

As was said in Parliament

 

" Why do we have more Illegal Immigrants in hotels, than we have Soldiers in Barracks "

 

Sums up the sorry state of the UK.

And for that, you can blame the politicians of all stripes.

[mokwit]

15 minutes ago, candide said:

Actually, this principle works quite well for the French foreign legion. 

Gurkhas too. We used them basically as mercenaries in the Falklands. No family in the UK and probably cheaper compensation if killed. This is not being disrespectful of their contribution and they are most welcome to their citizenship after 14 years of service. They earned their citizenship which is more than can be said for many.

[RubenRemus]

Considering the amount of UK tax dodging mentioined on this board alone, I'm not surprised one bit! 

[The Cyclist]

18 minutes ago, candide said:

Actually, this principle works quite well for the French foreign legion. 

 

It does, because the people who join the FFL actually want to join the FFL.

 

Which makes a massive difference.

[mokwit]

15 minutes ago, candide said:

They don't really recruit them to fight, they recruit them to die. Therefore they don't need to select them according to their fighting ability.

Not disagreeing with that. This is a war of attrition, bleed the Ukraine military dry, and accept the casualties.  Seems recruitment is most active in non white Russian rural areas - the parents get a sheep if their son enlists - your sons life for a sheep

[The Cyclist]

4 minutes ago, billd766 said:

And for that, you can blame the politicians of all stripes.

 

No argument from me, on that one.

 

The top tier of the Tri-Services can also shoulder some of the blame.

[3NUMBAS]

U.K. desperately needs an iron dome or 2 in case Putin goes bonkers with his missiles

[transam]

8 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I think I can speak for most that if the lords and masters asked me to join up as they expected massive numbers of soldiers to be dead in short order, I'd tell them to stick it where the sun don't shine.

 

As it was I did join up during my generation's war, but there was no expectation of large numbers of dead, and in fact the total number was very small, as we did not have the same combat doctrine as the US. They didn't even need to conscript, unlike Australia. Plenty of volunteers.

With you, they won't ask, because of your mental condition, obvious support for Putin......🥴

But Putin would take you on...........