We are in the home straight with the Think Defence Future Defence Review and about to start on the Land component.
- Equipment
- Armoured vehicles
- Organisation
- Territorial Army
Anyone got any other suggestions?
FDR – Land
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5 Comments
The Future of ceremonial commitments in the capital. Does a modern british army need 626 horses (2007 figures) purely for ceremonial purposes? Given the cuts and changes made to other formations, can such a large ceremonial commitment be justified?
What mix of heavy, medium and light armoured forces do we need?
What about the amount of air mobile units?
I’d have thought Organisation would need to be first in a long term view.
No point argueing about what vehicles we should use in the future until we know whether we even want an armoured division.
My blueprint would be fairly straightforward and controversial
• 50% cut in all Colonels and above. Stop range inflation by fixing roles at the lowest level practical.
• Fix the Parachute Regiment in the Joint SFSG role at Battalion strength. This move would allow them to concentrate on a specialist role.
• Make the existing Royal Marine Commando brigade, a permanent brigade sized Joint Rapid Reaction Force. Get rid of all the other RM roles and Headquarters.
• Establish 2 Heavy (Challengers and Warriors) Brigade groups. One should be centered on the Household Division. Fix one company of each Guards Regiments in the state ceremonial role.
• Establish 6 Medium (Mastiff, etc) brigades optimized for COIN operations.
• Make all Gurkha and Commonwealth recruitment for hostilities only. All recruits should remain permanently in theatre for the duration.
2 Armoured Brigades each of 1 MBT Reg, 1 FRES Scout Reg and 2 Warrior Infantry Btlns. A total of 6 Armoured Battle Groups deployable.
2 Light Brigades along the lines of 3 Commando Brigade (3 Btlns Infantry with supporting arms). Trained (but not specialised) in Air assault, Mountain Warfare and Amphibious assaults. Along with 16AA would form the Light Division. With 3 Commando Brigade and 16AA added, that gives a total of 4 Light Brigades.
4 Medium Brigades each with 3 Btlns of FRES equipped Infantry.
All Helicopters to become a Strategic asset and not assigned to any one formation.