MPs warn of risks to British Commandos posed by defense budget cuts

LONDON, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- The House of Commons Defense Committee warned on Sunday that Britain will lose its ability to conduct specialized amphibious operations if plans considered in a National Security Capability Review (NSCR) are not cancelled.

In its report, "Sunset for the Royal Marines?", the committee warns further reductions in the Royal Marines and the disposal of the amphibious ships HMS Albion, and HMS Bulwark, would be "militarily illiterate" and totally at odds with strategic reality.

The early disposal of two of the Royal Navy's amphibious ships would remove any prospect British armed forces of achieving a successful amphibious landing with a substantial force, the committee said.

According to the committee, the capability review was carried out by the National Security Adviser rather than by the Ministry of Defense (MOD).

"The review process has been conducted behind closed doors, without significant input from academics, think-tanks and individual experts," the committee report says, adding options being considered have been dismissed as "speculation" by Prime Minister Theresa May's government.

The report sets out the series of challenges faced by the Royal Marines which traces its roots back to 1664. Since 2011, the numbers of marines have declined from 7,020 to 6,580, along with cancelled training and exercises and a drop in morale.

The report concludes the disposal of the specialist landing craft would remove any prospect of the armed forces achieving a successful amphibious landing with a substantial force.

"It has led to persistent rumours of major cuts in conventional forces. Up to 2,000 Royal Marines, about 30 percent of current strength, would be lost, together with the two amphibious assault ships which are essential for landing personnel, heavy equipment and supplies over a beach," the report says.

The MPs say ships touted as alternative amphibious landing platforms, including the new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, are no substitute for such specialised vessels HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark.

Global trends point to the continuing need for amphibious operations in the future, says the report, adding "The committee's findings establish that every other major defense power is seeking to increase its amphibious capabilities at the very time that the UK may be forced prematurely to abandon them."

Describing the defense budget as desperately inadequate, Defense Committee chairman, the MP Julian Lewis, said unless newly-appointed defense secretary Gavin Williamson secures extra government funding, the Royal Marines will be reduced to a level needed to sustain them as a high-readiness Commando force.

He concludes the Ministry of Defense now has an opportunity to open up the drastic and dangerous proposals to proper parliamentary scrutiny. Enditem