Beags
Would I go back?
To the RAF of 1973? Yes!
To the RAF of 1983? Yes!
To the RAF of 1993? Perhaps... But probably not.
To the RAF of 2003? Definitely not.
To the RAF of today? Definitely not.
I reckon the rot really set in post Strategic Defence Review (SDR) '97, that would chime with your thoughts.
In hardware and personnel terms, the planned configuration of Britain's forces to 2015 may be summarised as follows (pre SDR figures/plans in brackets):
Trident submarines 4 (4);
Trident missiles 58 (65);
Maximum nuclear warheads per Trident submarine 48 (96);
attack submarines 10 (12);
aircraft carriers 2 very large (3 smaller);
destroyers/frigates 32 (35);
roll-on roll-off container ships 6 (2);
minesweepers 22 (25);
offensive air support 154 (177);
C-17 heavy airlift planes 4 extra
tank regiments 6 larger (8);
Regular Army 112,300 (108,000)
Territorial Army 40,000 (56,000)
Air Defence Sqns 5+OCU (6+OCU)
In addition, the government pledges to go ahead with the controversial order for 232 Eurofighter aircraft, and will shortly be bringing into service a fleet of new Apache helicopters, 'smart' weapons and improved intelligence and reconnaissance equipment. Most importantly, a four-star 'Chief of Defence Logistics' is appointed to manage logistics across all three services. It was also decided to form a 400-personnel joint army/air nuclear, chemical and biological reconnaissance regiment, based with the Royal Armoured Corps.
The rot and 'capability holidays' continued after this and the force now looks nothing like this for 2015!
LJ