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The Royal Marines and the UK amphibious capability web forum

Defence Committee

Recent reports suggested that the Government is considering changes to the amphibious capability of the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines as part of the ongoing National Security Capability Review. The House of Commons Defence Committee invited members of the public to share their views on the potential impact of these changes.

The Defence Committee asked for public views on the following questions:

  • How important is the amphibious capability provided by the Royal Marines and Albion class ships to the UK?
  • What is the likely impact on unit morale and satisfaction with Service life if the reported changes and reductions are implemented?
  • What is the likely impact on the communities where these capabilities are based if the reported changes and reductions are implemented?

Deadline for submission to the web forum was Thursday 21 December 2017.

Return to the Royal Marines and the UK amphibious capability inquiry

954 Contributions (since 27 November 2017)
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Total results 954 (page 6 of 96)

Russell Sanderson

11 December 2017 at 09:32

The Royal Marines are a highly versatile force, useful for military and for humanitarian missions. The UK, as an island nation, needs a powerful navy and with overseas territories like the Falklands, a significant amphibious capability. The armed forces have been cut to the bone in recent years and if anything, should be expanded rather than cut further. The first duty of government is to defend the nation and I have significant doubts that this duty is being fulfilled. The armed forces are not like health or other spending that can be easily scaled up if there is a crisis. We need skilled, well trained service men and women and the ships and equipment they need. The military is the country's insurance policy. You would not cancel or scale back your fire insurance to save money, nor should cuts be applied to an already stretched military.

G Y Shin

10 December 2017 at 22:54

I am responding as a British taxpayer & private citizen. I am concerned about all defence cuts in general but also concerned specifically that the Royal Marines may be cut & the Albion class amphibious assault ships "deleted". The Royal Marines are a high-capability force, whose skills & experience in spearheading military actions are difficult to overestimate. Even if the amphibious ships are scaled back, they could make invaluable military contributions in theatres of conflict no matter how they reach the combat area. I oppose the premature deletion of the Albion class amphibious assault ships as they provide a platform for seaborne assault for the Marines. They could also be used as key elements of disaster relief operations e.g. after major earthquakes & hurricanes abroad. The Albion class ships provide the Royal Navy & Royal Marines with large platforms for a wide variety of missions. The Albion class ships could serve as task force flagships e.g. international anti-pracy ops. As we all know, the Royal navy is sadly a pale shadow of its former self. the geopolitical situation is deteriorating with Russia engaged in hostile military activity in the near abroad e.g. Ukraine, Syria; proxy war between Iran & Arab states e.g. Yemen etc. This is hardly the time to be cutting the Royal Marines/Royal Navy. I oppose these proposed cuts without reservation.

Dave Wright

10 December 2017 at 14:26

Obviously the marines being one of our few remaining elite units,reducing numbers and cutting away at it will reduce morale and fighting spirit. The marines can project force at quick notice, an important ability in this world we live in. The ability to land heavy equipment and troops on a hostile shore away from functional port facilities is paramount and cannot be replaced by helicopters. An ability to land a composite force away from harbour facilities, gives a military force greater flexibility and survivability, as an enemy cannot defend their whole coast line but could effectively defend a choke point such as a port.

Chris M

10 December 2017 at 11:51

I would not like another Falkland war in which we would probably lose with these cuts. Do not.

Keith Littlewood

10 December 2017 at 09:36

In the Royal Marines we have a vitally important force providing a capability to intervene anywhere around the globe , in support of British national/interests, this must not be allowed to degrade any further. The Albion class of LPD's is at the heart of this capability. As during the Falklands war Fearless & Intrepid were operating in sight of the beachhead in support of operations ashore , keeping the all important carriers well out to sea out of harms way providing combat air patrols, strike & close air support as was needed, You cannot use huge new carriers in an enhanced role in support of Royal marine operations as amphibious assets can. Carriers need to be out to sea meaning any landing force would have a longer journey in to the beach increasing risk to the landing force & reducing the operating range of helo's and other support assets reducing life expectancy & possibility of success. This country aces a very new role in the world order , we may very well need our Commando Brigade & the Royal Navies capability to deliver them, support them & recover them. when you look back into history whenever the Royal Navy has been neglected this country has suffered as a direct result, we must not let this happen again! Keith Littlewood 40 Commando Falklands Veteran.

Barry Hooper

09 December 2017 at 15:08

It’s total stupidity to cut the size of the Royal Marines and to do away with our amphibious ships the Albion and bulwark and the ocean.It will damage our working relationship with our allies and damage the jobs of skilled dockyard workers and devastate the economy of the South West.

Leigh dawes

09 December 2017 at 14:51

In the current environment, with a more aggressive and modernised Russian capability, rogue nations, state sponsored terrorism and instability in a large number of countries, the fact that we are even having this debate and issue is while not at all surprising, is a good reflection of the current lack of understanding of defence and its needs and requirements by this and previous Governments. The prospect of reducing the Marines and cutting even more ships, reduces what is a European leading Amphibious capability, one that has taken years of skill, dedication, effort to achieve. Once cut, skills are lost, equipment is gone, and words become very cheap. While we still have one of the most advanced and capable military, it is however far to small, no depth and certainly not capable of sustaining ANY sort of losses, either by hostile action or accident. Stop any more cuts, USE a percentage of the overseas aid budget IMMIDIATLY, to properly resource and fund our defence. We are an Island Nation, most of our imports are by sea (and I am talking as an Ex full career Army guy here)and the Navy in its current state is unable to effectively carry out its given tasks. Come on UK Government, stop bean counting, stop paying lip service to the militaries needs and for Christ's sake stop answering every question about defence saying "with an ever increasing spending 128 Billion blah blah....." It would be nice if even more than a few of you have ever served, then at least you would understand a little more. As it is you are currently acting in a way that could, and possibly will, end up in the deaths of British service personal and citizens.

James Jackson

09 December 2017 at 11:43

We are an Island nation and need a strong defence by depleting the forces that is something we will struggle to do. The Royal Navy’s Albion class ships should be kept as we need them to accommodate the Marines and others to be able to land them where they need to go, if the Falklands were invaded again how could we get troops onto the ground from a air craft carrier ( it cant be done in my opinion). This is a time when we should be increasing our defence spending to 4% of GDP like we used to do. As a side note increase the money they are paid at the end of the day there job is to defend the realm which means they potentially will have to kill or be killed not shuffle papers around and get paid more for doing that. I have never served however to those that do and have done I am and will be forever grateful. Stop the treasury dictating what the forces get as the forces what they need and give them the budget to get it. Remember the cuts in the 80s that was almost regretted in 1982. If you don't give them what they need we might as well have a self defence force. Sorry if I have waffled on I am just an ordinary person who has never done anything like this before

Richard Ormonde

09 December 2017 at 06:12

Why do you think it is a good idea to reduce this capacity? Save money - everyone want to do that everywhere BUT An effective armed force is like an insurance policy, you pay for it but you don't need it until you need and WHEN you do you wish you'd paid for the platinum policy not the copper policy and in hindsight, it would have saved you money. Have the Royal Marines given value for money? What price have they paid protecting your interests - blood, limbs and lives. Cut them and you won't be able to respond to conflict, morale will affect function and recruitment and you will destroy the localities where they are based.

James London

08 December 2017 at 22:13

As a former long service Army Officer it would indeed be foolhardy, in the extreme, to reduce the Royal Marines & their capabilities to operate from the existing naval vessels; including the need for a follow-on HMS Ocean. As an island nation we need to retain a realistic & sustainable marine force that can be effectively trained, deployed & supported from the sea. Not knowing from where future threats or concerns may derive, one can be absolutely certain that our Armed Forces will be required to be used beyond the near continent of Europe & the sea is the medium we need to be masters of. An amphibious capability, with sufficient capacity in men, materiel & shipping will be critical not only to deal with a multitude of hazardous requirements but also to ensure the sufficiency of special forces' recruits.

Total results 954 (page 6 of 96)