British army may shrink to smallest mumber in 250 years

[webfact]

British Army May Shrink to Smallest Number in 250 Years

In the worst-case scenario, the UK defense budget would drop to 1.95 percent of GDP, which is below an obligatory two-percent commitment agreed at NATO level.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Up to 30,000 British army personnel could be laid off by the end of the decade, reducing the number of troops to a 250-year low, the Royal United Services Institute warned in a report published Monday.

The report came amid the United Kingdom's continuing austerity drive. On Sunday, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond declined to say whether further defense spending cuts would be introduced if the UK Conservative party is re-elected in May.

Full story: http://sputniknews.com/military/20150309/1019241595.html

-- SPUTNIK 2015-03-09

[Rancid]

Well as the idea of an EU army has now been floated, and with German approval, maybe they can join that august organisation.

Sounds like an excellent excuse the swell the EU bureaucracy even bigger to overseer it.

[MaeJoMTB]

They should keep all the staff, maybe even recruit more, and ditch all the expensive toys.

Everyone gets a rifle, handgun or sword.

No planes, tanks, ships, missiles or other expensive toys.

Edited March 9, 2015 by MaeJoMTB

[Brit_Doggie]

No surprise there the air force alone can wipe out an entire city so all that is requred is a few ground force equipped with broom mop shovel and plastic bags.

[Yahooka]

No surprise there the air force alone can wipe out an entire city so all that is requred is a few ground force equipped with broom mop shovel and plastic bags.

Yupp............and that was the words of Rumsfeld and his top brass just after the 2003 invasion of Iraq,"this is the last time we`ll see a big invasion force on the ground........the future of warfare is airplanes,missiles and a few SF on the ground".

History has since shown that in the aftermath of an invasion/military campaign you`ll still need a substancial number of boots on the ground.

[MaeJoMTB]

No surprise there the air force alone can wipe out an entire city so all that is requred is a few ground force equipped with broom mop shovel and plastic bags.

Yupp............and that was the words of Rumsfeld and his top brass just after the 2003 invasion of Iraq,"this is the last time we`ll see a big invasion force on the ground........the future of warfare is airplanes,missiles and a few SF on the ground".

History has since shown that in the aftermath of an invasion/military campaign you`ll still need a substancial number of boots on the ground.

They also said that about Vietnam.

[hanno]

No surprise there the air force alone can wipe out an entire city so all that is requred is a few ground force equipped with broom mop shovel and plastic bags.

You can never win a war with an air force alone unless you are willing to turn whole countries into parking lots.

[JingerBen]

No surprise there the air force alone can wipe out an entire city so all that is requred is a few ground force equipped with broom mop shovel and plastic bags.

Yupp............and that was the words of Rumsfeld and his top brass just after the 2003 invasion of Iraq,"this is the last time we`ll see a big invasion force on the ground........the future of warfare is airplanes,missiles and a few SF on the ground".

History has since shown that in the aftermath of an invasion/military campaign you`ll still need a substancial number of boots on the ground.

They also said that about Vietnam.

When brains are missing nothing else means anything.

[elliss]

No surprise there the air force alone can wipe out an entire city so all that is requred is a few ground force equipped with broom mop shovel and plastic bags.

You can never win a war with an air force alone unless you are willing to turn whole countries into parking lots.

Britain is well and truly fk* . we are up to our eye balls in debt , and we do not have a political party ,

with the balls , to speak the truth . The last socialist government , put the lid on the UK coffin .

Our future destiny lies with Germany ,

Lets hope and prey, Angela will take care of us forever .

Proud to be British ? . No way . [unless you are on benefits ]

[Basil B]

As I see it we have had no real need for a army since 1982...

All we seem to be doing is fighting wars that do not concern us because Uncle Sam say's so.

[Kerryd]

Let's see.

German Army

British Navy

Belgian/Dutch Air Force

French Cooks

That oughta about do 'er !

[Kerryd]

On Second thought - scratch the French cooks. I've eaten in French military dining facilities when I took the French Commando Course back in the mid-80s. The food was so bad most of our guys were sneaking out of the barracks to buy food in town and then cooking it in their rooms !

And French Logistics sucked, almost as bad as French military navigation. Our final exercise was a 3 night, 75 kilometer "battle patrol" where we had various encounters and obstacles to overcome. They were supposed to resupply us with food/water/ammo during the patrol but we didn't trust that they would so we carried everything we needed with us the whole way.

On the final morning as we were legging it down a trail to the pick-up point, we passed a French platoon in the woods. They were stopped at an intersection of 2 trails. The platoon commander and his Sgt Mjr were standing there looking at a map as we passed. The Sgt Mjr was overheard suggesting that they should just follow the Canadians as they seemed to know where they were going. The officer of course said no, they would do things the "French" way. We were about 5 kms from the pick up point at that time. That French platoon arrived back at the camp 12 hours after us ! (The "French" way of navigating it seems was, every time they encountered an intersection they would send a patrol down each trail/road for 10-15 minutes. Those patrols would return and report which general direction the trail/road seemed to be heading and then the platoon commander would pick which one to follow !!! In other words, they didn't have a clue how to read a map !!)

Maybe use Italian Cooks instead. Add some East Euro artillery regiments for a little extra kick.

[hanno]

When I did my military service in Germany, we dreaded going on joint exercises with the French: disgusting barracks, disgusting food!!! And it is not like the German barracks where exactly 5-star.

[jacko45k]

Not enough money in the coffers to support an army, other than the army of immigrants arriving daily.

[Srikcir]

As I see it we have had no real need for a army since 1982...

All we seem to be doing is fighting wars that do not concern us because Uncle Sam say's so.

"Uncle Sam" is of course the US Government elected by American citizens.

[maidee]

all those trillions spend by the nations on nuclear weapons they never used... maybe we should get an alien invasion

[ToddinChonburi]

Who will you call when ISIS comes for you ? AMERICA Like you always have !!!!!

You would all be speaking German or Japanese if it was not for the US .

[hanno]

Who will you call when ISIS comes for you ? AMERICA Like you always have !!!!!

You would all be speaking German or Japanese if it was not for the US .

I think there would be no ISIS of the US hadn't left a power vacuum after their ill-fated intervention in the Middle East.

Let's face it, the last "just" war the USA have fought was WWII; it has been a cluster-%$#&@ since.

[ToddinChonburi]

Yes I would agree, interesting how politicians start the war but will not let the Generals win them.

[sawadee1947]

They should keep all the staff, maybe even recruit more, and ditch all the expensive toys.

Everyone gets a rifle, handgun or sword.

No planes, tanks, ships, missiles or other expensive toys.

yeah, give everybody some planks, swords or clubs....good idea to save money...and Germans will supply picked helmets...

[Daniel Ingalls]

Its about time, The American tax payer has spent enough money subsidizing their armed forces. Let EU pick up the tab. It was at once a time the Sun

never sets in the UK, but now, a lot of commonwealth around the world has broken away from Britain. They are not as great a world wide power as it once was.

With Unemployment skyrocketing, over expenditures on freebies for the immigrants, and deteriorating infrastructures, they're running out of money! And so are we Americans. Bob Dylan .......Times, they are a changing!

[Baerboxer]

Who will you call when ISIS comes for you ? AMERICA Like you always have !!!!!

You would all be speaking German or Japanese if it was not for the US .

A tad of an exaggeration there. Surprisingly, the Hollywood version of America winning WW2 single handed, riding to the free worlds salvation like some sort of 7th cavalry charge, isn't historically correct. In fact far from it.

That's not deriding the significant part America played in the early years of two world wars with their innovative supply and lend lease type arrangement. Which of course their allies continued paying back for 50 or more years. And yes, when America finally joined in both wars their military personnel made many sacrifices which will not be forgot. Russia played a somewhat key role in defeating Germany too.

The Western allies paid for WW2 - America wasn't interested in war compensations levied on Germany and Japan, preferring to rebuild them as fronts against the threat of spreading communism. Interesting point is what happened to all the gold and treasures looted by Japanese forces from conquered lands and sent back to Japan. Some interesting books and documentaries on that topic.

America then chose to replace Britain as the "world's policeman" and also supported the dissolving of the Western powers colonized empires. Preferring it's own style of economic and corporate colonization. The greenback became the world's reserve currency and the might US Navy, equipped with massive carriers and their battle groups rules the waves.

After the cold war ended. German reunification, and collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, American influence waned as the military threat diminished - now the rise of ISIS and Muslim fundamentalist extremism as made them more important again, American foreign policy has shaped the world since WW2 more than any other single country. All nations and groups that have done this, Romans, Mongols, Huns, Spanish, French, British have come unstuck and declined. When that will happen to the US is debatable.

Countries in Europe need to wake up to the threat of ISIS, Moslem radicals, and the ambitious Mr. Putin and rebuild what's left of their fast dwindling military capability. Before it's too late.

[Baerboxer]

Its about time, The American tax payer has spent enough money subsidizing their armed forces. Let EU pick up the tab. It was at once a time the Sun

never sets in the UK, but now, a lot of commonwealth around the world has broken away from Britain. They are not as great a world wide power as it once was.

With Unemployment skyrocketing, over expenditures on freebies for the immigrants, and deteriorating infrastructures, they're running out of money! And so are we Americans. Bob Dylan .......Times, they are a changing!

Uninformed as usual. Check out the facts on EU unemployment rates by country and their individual economic forecasts; and some of your other comments. It will help you to stop making silly incorrect comments.

[Steely Dan]

No surprise there the air force alone can wipe out an entire city so all that is requred is a few ground force equipped with broom mop shovel and plastic bags.

Shock and awe type firepower is little use for asymmetric warfare, especially if your land is seeded with the enemy living within. I guess there will at least be less troops to be spat at when they return home from tours of duty and less who will have to avoid wearing their uniforms off duty in order to avoid being beheaded.

[phrodan]

Who will you call when ISIS comes for you ? AMERICA Like you always have !!!!!

You would all be speaking German or Japanese if it was not for the US .

A tad of an exaggeration there. Surprisingly, the Hollywood version of America winning WW2 single handed, riding to the free worlds salvation like some sort of 7th cavalry charge, isn't historically correct. In fact far from it.

That's not deriding the significant part America played in the early years of two world wars with their innovative supply and lend lease type arrangement. Which of course their allies continued paying back for 50 or more years. And yes, when America finally joined in both wars their military personnel made many sacrifices which will not be forgot. Russia played a somewhat key role in defeating Germany too.

The Western allies paid for WW2 - America wasn't interested in war compensations levied on Germany and Japan, preferring to rebuild them as fronts against the threat of spreading communism. Interesting point is what happened to all the gold and treasures looted by Japanese forces from conquered lands and sent back to Japan. Some interesting books and documentaries on that topic.

America then chose to replace Britain as the "world's policeman" and also supported the dissolving of the Western powers colonized empires. Preferring it's own style of economic and corporate colonization. The greenback became the world's reserve currency and the might US Navy, equipped with massive carriers and their battle groups rules the waves.

After the cold war ended. German reunification, and collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, American influence waned as the military threat diminished - now the rise of ISIS and Muslim fundamentalist extremism as made them more important again, American foreign policy has shaped the world since WW2 more than any other single country. All nations and groups that have done this, Romans, Mongols, Huns, Spanish, French, British have come unstuck and declined. When that will happen to the US is debatable.

Countries in Europe need to wake up to the threat of ISIS, Moslem radicals, and the ambitious Mr. Putin and rebuild what's left of their fast dwindling military capability. Before it's too late.

Britain was never the World's policeman.

The US was already proposing themselves for that role way back circa 1902, and yes - the US actually used the phrase "world's policeman," to describe how they saw their role in world affairs.

Staggering stuff, eh?

[Daniel Ingalls]

I'm speaking about Britain not the EU!!!! Thats why so many Britts took up Thailand as a place to live.

Its about time, The American tax payer has spent enough money subsidizing their armed forces. Let EU pick up the tab. It was at once a time the Sun

never sets in the UK, but now, a lot of commonwealth around the world has broken away from Britain. They are not as great a world wide power as it once was.

With Unemployment skyrocketing, over expenditures on freebies for the immigrants, and deteriorating infrastructures, they're running out of money! And so are we Americans. Bob Dylan .......Times, they are a changing!

Uninformed as usual. Check out the facts on EU unemployment rates by country and their individual economic forecasts; and some of your other comments. It will help you to stop making silly incorrect comments.

[Enoon]

Who will you call when ISIS comes for you ? AMERICA Like you always have !!!!!

You would all be speaking German or Japanese if it was not for the US .

A tad of an exaggeration there. Surprisingly, the Hollywood version of America winning WW2 single handed, riding to the free worlds salvation like some sort of 7th cavalry charge, isn't historically correct. In fact far from it.

That's not deriding the significant part America played in the early years of two world wars with their innovative supply and lend lease type arrangement. Which of course their allies continued paying back for 50 or more years. And yes, when America finally joined in both wars their military personnel made many sacrifices which will not be forgot. Russia played a somewhat key role in defeating Germany too.

The Western allies paid for WW2 - America wasn't interested in war compensations levied on Germany and Japan, preferring to rebuild them as fronts against the threat of spreading communism. Interesting point is what happened to all the gold and treasures looted by Japanese forces from conquered lands and sent back to Japan. Some interesting books and documentaries on that topic.

America then chose to replace Britain as the "world's policeman" and also supported the dissolving of the Western powers colonized empires. Preferring it's own style of economic and corporate colonization. The greenback became the world's reserve currency and the might US Navy, equipped with massive carriers and their battle groups rules the waves.

After the cold war ended. German reunification, and collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, American influence waned as the military threat diminished - now the rise of ISIS and Muslim fundamentalist extremism as made them more important again, American foreign policy has shaped the world since WW2 more than any other single country. All nations and groups that have done this, Romans, Mongols, Huns, Spanish, French, British have come unstuck and declined. When that will happen to the US is debatable.

Countries in Europe need to wake up to the threat of ISIS, Moslem radicals, and the ambitious Mr. Putin and rebuild what's left of their fast dwindling military capability. Before it's too late.

Britain was never the World's policeman.

The US was already proposing themselves for that role way back circa 1902, and yes - the US actually used the phrase "world's policeman," to describe how they saw their role in world affairs.

Staggering stuff, eh?

Pax Britannica - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pax Britannica (Latin for "British Peace", modelled after Pax Romana) was the period of relative peace in Europe and the world (1815–1914) during which the British Empire became the global hegemon (dominant power) and adopted the role of global policeman.^[1]

Looks like you need to give Wikipedia (which is only one of many sources) a talking to.

[Scott]

Off-topic post removed.

[rijb]

I hope this won't put the high-net-worth-individuals (HNWIs) in any danger.

http://www.businessinsider.com/which-countries-the-ultra-rich-move-to-2015-3

[Thongkorn]

Britain has some top quality equipment, Quality is better than quantity. There are ships in the British navy that can track 800 separate targets and engage them, They have ships that if they where Anchored in Liverpool can hear ships leaving New York and identify them by their Engines, pilot less fighter jets, The armed forces of Great Britain are small but still can hold there own. and there are some amazing equipment coming on line in the near future,