Originally Posted by
ORAC
Ninthace,
Perhaps - but in terms of Europe there can be cooperation as to who has to do what - as I think the Germans are suggesting. I refer you back to the comment in a previous article ai posted..
As an example, there is concern over our lack of MBT, whilst Poland and others are buying over 1000s, and other armaments needed for a conventional European war.
There could be a quid pro quo where we concentrate on expeditionary air and naval forces, including providing a European nuclear deterrent.
To be frank, the few new MBT/Ajax and other armoured forces we are looking at purchasing are so small they’re irrelevant except in terms of a tripwire capability where we deploy them forward in Estonia etc - and lighter expeditionary units would serve the same purpose.
The days of BAOR, ot that we could deploy an armoured division as in Granby and Telic, are gone forever.
https://www.bundeswehr.de/en/organization/army
What always seems to be overlooked in the debate is the simple fact that while Major Bufton-Tufton (rtd) continues to demand a British Army more akin to the days of BAOR, the boxheads are at 60000 soldiers. Broadly 20% less than the current planned British Army.
As the traditional maritime power in Europe, that's where we should be concentrating (and combat air) - as you suggest.