Plan To Axe Army Battalions Revealed

The Government is to announce plans that will see five infantry battalions axed altogether and other units merged or turned reservists in the biggest structural changes the Army in more than a century.

The defence secretary, Philip Hammond will set how the regular Army will be from 102,000 troops to 82,000 by the end of decade - its lowest level since the Napoleonic Wars.

Sky News obtained details of the five infantry battalions that are to be scrapped as of Government cuts.

They are 5 Scots - The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, one battalion of The Yorkshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, 3rd Battalion The Mercian Regiment (The Staffords) and 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh Regiment.

Sky's defence and security editor, Sam Kiley said: "While this is a cultural blow particularly the people who have served these units in the past, they are part of bigger regiments in any case.

"Where the controversy will lie is the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and The Royal Welsh because they will be to one battalion regiment."

The plan - as Army 2020 - is expected to see the military split two, with a reaction force, ready to respond to emergencies the globe, and an adaptable force capable of carrying a range of tasks and commitments.

Mr Hammond has said the changes - drawn by Lieutenant General Nick Carter - will provide the basis a smaller, more flexible and agile Army into the future.

But the prospect losing historic units has the cause of intense anguish within the service.

Kiley adds: "Back in 2006, the whole idea of the amalgamations we saw then was that the army did not end up single battalion regiments that were unwieldy and very difficult to bring good officers and good men because they got stovepiped in this one institution."

The Daily Telegraph disclosed this week one officer, Brigadier David Paterson of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, had written to the head of Army expressing his bitter disappointment at plans to axe of its two battalions.

his letter to General Sir Peter Wall, Chief of the General Staff, Brig Paterson said the proposal "cannot be presented as the best or sensible military option".

Mr Hammond, will set out details of the proposals in a statement the House of Commons, has acknowledged that they involved some "difficult" decisions.

But he said that cuts could not avoided, with the demands strict financial discipline the Government's 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review.

For the plans to be successful, reductions regular Army strength will need to be offset by increases part-time reservists, with the Territorial Army doubling in numbers from 15,000 30,000.

As as providing specialist capabilities - as medics and intelligence - reservists would be used to reinforce infantry battalions deployment.

They will be expected shoulder a third of the burden of long-term operations.

The Army would also be required to greater use of civilian contractors in areas such as logistics support in to concentrate military capability the frontline.


Adapted from: Sky News, July 5, 2012.