Originally Posted by
Asturias56
Jeez!! This is what happens
The RN is thinking of cutting escorts partly because they don't have enough people to man them and the Carriers at the same time (an outcome many of us forecast years ago) - but do you think once they cut to 17 they'll get the them back in 5 years time - I doubt it ....................... And the ones that are left will be buzzing around the carriers leaving gaps al over the shop - brilliant!!
The naval leadership made a case in 2015 to have a manpower uplift of something like 1500 personnel. Unfortunately it never happened as Cameron was scared of cutting 'troop' ie Army numbers.
Since then there has been ministerial guidance to put more warships to sea - partly because of the need to contribute to NATO. A lot of HQ type posts, occupied by senior people, have been axed in order to recruit more personnel to go to sea. Manpower is planned to increase by 3000 over three years.
I imagine that all sorts of options are being looked into. As Sir Humphrey's Twitter says, nothing has been decided. The cynic in me wonders if some of these things are leaked so that the real decisions do not look so bad.
Cross fingers!