The Royal Marines and UK amphibious capability
27 November 2017
In July 2017, the Government announced that it would be initiating a National Security Capability Review to ‘refresh’ the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), on the basis that the threats to the UK had intensified and changed since 2015. Unconfirmed reports have suggested that significant changes to the structure of the Royal Marines and UK amphibious forces are being considered as part of this exercise. These changes are said to include the consideration of substantial reductions in the strength of the Royal Marines and the possible deletion of the Royal Navy’s Albion class ships.
This is the latest in a succession of challenges that the Royal Marines have had to meet. Reductions in strength as a result of the 2010 SDSR have been followed by reconfigurations within the Corps which may have an impact on its ability to sustain its role as a leading-edge, high readiness force. 3 Commando Brigade is dependent on elements of all three Armed Services to support its status as a deployable formation, and these supporting elements have been targeted for reduction in previous reviews. The programme of training and exercising opportunities that is necessary to sustain the capability to operate in a full range of hostile environments has reportedly already been reduced. The future basing of Royal Marine units is uncertain following the publication of the Ministry of Defence’s latest defence estates strategy in 2016. The 2017 Armed Forces Continuous Attitudes Survey reported some significant reductions in morale and satisfaction with Service life in general amongst Royal Marines.
The Royal Navy’s Albion class landing platform dock ships, HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, have designated out of service dates of 2033 and 2034 respectively and Albion has recently completed a £90 million refit. They are the principal platform for delivering ‘over the beach’ amphibious capability. With the forthcoming removal of the helicopter carrier HMS Ocean from service in 2018, the deletion of the Albion class has the potential to seriously compromise the UK’s ability to conduct amphibious operations at a time when nations around the world are investing in and increasing this capability.
The Albion class ships are based in Plymouth, which also hosts headquarters of the Royal Marines and other units within 3 Commando Brigade. Other locations around the UK would also be affected by reconfigurations within these units.
Call for evidence
The Defence Committee invites written evidence on the following questions:
- How important is the amphibious capability provided by the Royal Marines and Albion class ships to the UK?
- How have the reductions the strength of Royal Marines since 2010 and more recent re-configurations affected the Corps?
- What have changes in strength and configuration since 2010 had on supporting units within 3 Commando Brigade?
- What has been the impact of one of the two Albion class ships being placed at extended readiness, so that only one is available for deployment?
- What alternatives exist for UK Armed Forces to replicate these capabilities? Are these alternatives adequate?
- Is the level of training and exercising sufficient to sustain amphibious capability at high readiness?
- What is the likely impact on unit morale and satisfaction with Service life if the reported changes and reductions are implemented?
- What is the likely impact on the communities where these capabilities are based if the reported changes and reductions are implemented?
Send a written submission to the inquiry on The Royal Marines and UK amphibious capability.
The closing date for submission of written evidence is Thursday 21 December 2017.