The British are downsizing there army, air force and navy. They are reducing there tank numbers by 84 so there may be a few tanks for the taking. We can only wish the Canadian government will be interested. ;D
The British military faces one of the most radical overhauls in its history following sweeping cuts announced by the Government yesterday.
In what he claimed were moves to finally bury the mentality of the Cold War and face up to the conflicts of the 21st century, the Defence Secretary, Geoff Hoon, unveiled drastic reductions in the numbers of aircraft, warships, tanks and the infantry. Around 19,500 jobs will go 1,500 each from the Army and Navy, 7,500 from the RAF, and 10,000 MoD civil servants.
The number of the Army's infantry battalions will be cut from 40 to 36 and regiments will be merged, with some famous "cap badges", such as Black Watch and the Royal Scots disappearing. The number of the Army's main battle tanks, the Challenger 2, will be reduced by 84, and the AS90 artillery pieces by between 40 and 48.
Mr Hoon said the comparatively placid security situation in Northern Ireland had freed up troops for other duties.
The RAF, bearing the brunt of the cuts, will see its base at Coltishall in Norfolk closed, and 62 out of 309 operational strike aircraft 46 Jaguars and 16 F3 Tornados phased out. Adding warplanes no longer in service, but on emergency standby, raises the total to 134. A quarter of the fast jet crews, 69 out of 290, will also be axed.
The Royal Navy will lose 12 ships, including three Type 42 destroyers HMS Cardiff , Newcastle and Glasgow and three Type 23 frigates HMS Norfolk , Marlborough and Grafton . The number of nuclear attack submarines will drop from 11 to eight.
At the same time, Mr Hoon said, there will be investment in new technology including unmanned planes and surveillance equipment, as well as Special Forces the SAS and SBS needed to combat the new enemy, international terrorism and so-called rogue states.