"Cameron wants troops home by 2015" - The BBC

[Ogre]

Bit harsh, especially if it's not a school night.:E

[Andu]

Have to agree. If they're old enough to carry a gun, they should be allowed out until at least 2300. Well, maybe 2200 on a school night.

[Rotary Girl]

If we do withdraw by 2015, what will we do with all of the new Chinooks we have ordered for delivery by then?
Or will SDSR/ Spending review put a stop on the order?:confused:

[Blighter Pilot]

We'll probably cancel them based on a withdrawal plan which won't work and we'll be left short of SH in-theatre until we withdraw in 2020......

[vecvechookattack]

Exactly. If we withdraw what will the Armed Forces do?

[Bismark]

Come on VVC. The RN will carry on as normal.....policing the worlds oceans and keeping the sea lanes open for the 95% of UK trade and resources, whilst maintaining CASD. The real question is what will the RAF and a standing Army do? This will be a real problem for them as the appetite for UK based training will diminish (local lobby groups against low-flying, tanks etc) and the question of where do you fly all of the UAVs will not have been answered.

If SDSR really does its business it will design in contingency (for post 2015) whereby we mothball (in Arizona) 4 of the 7 C17s, 50% of FSTA (if we ever get that number), reduce Typhoon numbers (poss by RAFVR flying much reduced hours each year, disband the RAF Regt......ie an RAF of 17-20000. JSF training will largely be conducted from the sea...reduced shore footprint and in US waters (noise lobby) and to employ the 2nd CVF. The Army will reduce to about 85000 (reduced Tanks, Apache sqns etc). The RN and RM will form the UK contingency force (Strike and Amphib) and see an increase in patrol platforms (1500-2000 tons) for counter piracy/counter narcotics/border security.

There again....

[grandfer]

According to the news this morning on BBC Radio Devon , Pr**k sorry I mean Nick Harvey, LibDem MP for North Devon & new Coallition Government Defence Minister, said that withdrawing our troops by 2015 was all his idea & was one of the items on his Manifesto for the last General Election ! (Hasn't he done well? )
:mad::mad:

[Pontius Navigator]

Come on VVC. The RN will carry on as normal.....policing the worlds oceans and keeping the sea lanes open

Will they have any appetite for this now that the cocktail parties have been abolished, or have they been quietly reinstated>:}