Admiral Fires A Broadside Over Defence Cuts

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USS ALASKA
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Admiral Fires A Broadside Over Defence Cuts

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London Daily Telegraph
September 19, 2009
Pg. 4


Admiral Fires A Broadside Over Defence Cuts

By Aislinn Laing

THE Royal Navy will not be able to fight future global threats if it suffers any further cuts to ships and submarines, the new head of the service said yesterday.

In his first public statement since becoming First Sea Lord two months ago, Adml Sir Mark Stanhope said a reduction in defence spending would limit Britain’s influence abroad and increase the risk to its citizens.

Sir Mark was speaking at the opening of the National Museum of the Royal Navy at Portsmouth, where a broadside of 64 cannons was fired from Nelson’s Victory in his honour.

He spoke out after both Labour and the Conservatives suggested that a replacement for the Trident nuclear deterrent could be among the projects to be axed to save money.

There are also concerns that the £4billion project to build two new aircraft carriers could also be shelved or further delayed.

Sir Mark said he accepted that the Armed Forces had to tighten their belt. However, he said it was “vital” that the Navy’s strategic capability was maintained. “That means striking a balance between the number of ships and submarines the nation can afford to build and operate, and the range of capabilities each will have,” he said.

“I need a certain number of ships if I am to deliver on the worldwide commitments we already have. We also need to retain a minimum level of military capability. Once capabilities are lost – we may not be able to regrow them in time for the next operation.”

Sir Mark would not be drawn on the Trident nuclear capability, saying the Royal Navy was the “custodian” of the system but that decisions about its need had to be made by politicians.

However, he admitted that the decision to build the next generation of aircraft carriers could still be overturned.

Contracts have been signed to build HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, which are due to enter service from 2015. But Sir Mark said a forthcoming Strategic Defence Review could scupper those plans.

He said fear of future cuts was affecting morale in the Navy ranks. “They worry about the future and are proud to be part of an organisation that is doing the business the nation wants them to do,” he said.

Baroness Taylor, Minister for International Defence and Security, who also attended the opening, said there was no intention to cancel the carriers’ contract. “There are plans to build a second carrier,” she said. “Those plans are still active.”