Army is no longer ‘combat effective’ after losing another 3,000 troops, former Top Brass warn
THE Army is no longer “combat effective” after loosing another 3,000 troops in a year, former Top Brass warn.
They said the exodus leaves frontline units vulnerable.
Ex-Chief of Defence Staff General Lord Richards fumed: “Never in my long professional life have the Armed Forces been weaker.
“The Army, in particular, is in the poorest shape it’s ever been — old equipment, woefully understrength, poorly trained and with a dire shortage of ammunition.”
General Sir Richard Barrons, a former joint chief, said: “The Army is essentially broken. We need to be absolutely clear — the Army is no longer combat effective for the world we now inhabit.”
And former Army Intelligence Colonel Phil Ingram hit out at “poor leadership and terrible living conditions”.
READ MORE ON THE ARMY CUTS
MoD figures show troop numbers fell to 79,000 regulars in the 12 months to January.
They are due to plunge to 73,000 next year under cuts announced by former PM Boris Johnson. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace raised hopes he might halt cuts. But PM Rishi Sunak gave him half the £11billion he wanted — with most of it for nuclear subs. The rest will go on restocking ammo sent to Ukraine.
Last night the Army said that numbers were being reviewed amid the “largest transformation in 20 years”.