The First Sea Lord has been asked for a plan to “take forward” the work of the Royal Marines, as ministers effectively confirm they’re again reconsidering the future of the corps’ two amphibious assault ships.
Professor Michael Clarke explains what’s going on, and former Royal Marines Commandant General, Major General Buster Howes, tells Sitrep the Defence Secretary needs to think “very very carefully”.
The Defence Secretary tells the world “watch this space” for possible reprisal strikes against Houthis firing missiles at the Red Sea. British Sailors are already on constant watch there, and former Royal Navy commander Tom Sharpe explains what they experience when missiles and drones are incoming.
And how do you learn to command a multi-million-pound military craft in an environment less explored than space? Ryan Ramsay who used to lead the Royal Navy’s submarine command course shares stories of near misses, pushing people beyond their limits, and how he’s turned it all into life lessons for a new book.
Award-winning Sitrep brings you discussion and analysis on defence, foreign policy and the stories affecting the British forces, presented by Kate Gerbeau, with expert analysis from Professor Michael Clarke.
#forcesnews #sitrep #podcast #warships #middleeast #military #navy #royalnavy
00:00 – On this Sitrep episode
01:34 – Royal Marines future
11:29 – Scrapping old ships before new ones arrive
16:40 – Royal Navy in the Red Sea
26:29 – Learning how to command a submarine
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Remember when we was capable of defending our own land against invaders?
Welcome to 3rd World Britain.
If they get rid of those two ships there's no real way to employ the Marines in their actual field until there are replacements. They'd be highly trained, specialist troops without their primary means of operating. Expensive troops!
Anybody else thinks that all political parties are pushing the U.K. military into a European Union Armed Forces ?
I despair
Retired U.S.A. Lieutenant Colonel here. IK would be crazy to disband the Royal Marines and their unique capabilities. 🇬🇧🫡👍God save the Royal Marines, lord knows the UK MoD has been Gutted since the 1990s. 🙏🙏🙏praying for 🏴
If they decide to disband.and give a time.i think all servicemen and women should stand and be proud and refuse to solider..I know that's a hard thing to ask.but if you don't show comradeship then it will be you next..just my opinion…
our Politian's are idiots sack him right now that defence minister is hopeless deselect all MPs who openly insult those serving defending Britain
USN can play sea taxi for them when it's needed. But this decision is well above my pay grade.
Argentinia will be happy about such a decision.
Think very carefully before you think it is good idea to scrap our defence capability.
This government is delusional. They can't claim they're investing more than ever in the military and expanding it and getting rid of such a crucial capability. It's one thing to get rid of a piece of equipment, disbanding the Royal Marines and trying to pretend that isn't a complete downgrade for the British military would be beyond the pale.
It's utterly absurd to consider disposing of two fully functional ships that were likely a few million three decades ago. It seems illogical, especially when you take into account that replacing them could potentially cost a billion Pounds and necessitate waiting until 2050, given the current pace of ship construction. It's wiser to retain and make optimal use of these vessels, employing a more strategic and thoughtful approach.
"Conservative" government. What a bunch of total 🤡doing things a foreign enemy would love to be able to do.
Makes me laugh given Didnt the conservatives recently champion the idea of more spec force type units , as Grant shapps tries to emininate another crystal ball gazer Philip Hammond former Defence Secretary, who was the hatchet man who culled front line units to form his new look Army based on recruiting 6000 new reservists , aka week-end warriors , sheer folly , he was warned big time , and of course it never happened , even the men and women he made redundant gave him the middle finger even after being offered cash indusements to go part time , all of the above becuase some nameless shirt decided that all future wars would be insurgency ones , which of course must have raised a big smile from Putin , and again today Shapps is in the news re: recruitment problems ! calling for greater female representation in the military amid a collapse in the flow of new recruits . the said problem created by the conservatives when they culled the Armed forces , serious I wouldnt trust him or the other white shirts in Whitehall with action man toys in a sand pit !
Instead of asking questions about the Royal Marines it should be is the current Defence Secretary fit for the job
Absolutely ridiculous. The government need to sort themselves out.
Dont read manual book?
The Royal Marines have caused embarrassment for the DEI lobby but it is not the marines fault. Remember the huge barrack block built for female Royal Marine commandoes completely useless idea as there has not been one female recruit for the commandoes ! Musicians yes commondoes none!
What question, it would be positively madness to lose the RM. The whole armed forces will collapse as no serving personnel will have any respect or trust in the government. How about we get rid off all armed forces, and rely on the EU to protect us. This country is going to the dogs, we are a laughing stock.
Amphibious Warfare …… I know what the second word means but am struggling with the first one, can any Minister help me out with that one?
GOV U.K. is mentally ill & treacherous, it allows invaders in , who throw their I.D. away. Types like Blair & May push high immigration for big business, it creates hell for real Brits. And the top brass army fail to see they could have their soldiers with an enemy at its back. The huge population will smother us & a lot don’t work.
When you vote in a government that thinks Grant Shapps is a competent defence secretary you literally get what you voted for!
Are these Politicians completely incompetent stop the cuts, If not stop sending British troops to any action anywhere as we are a laughing stock now with 2 picks and 1 shovel.
Grant Shapps? Think?😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Never underestimate the duplicity of the Tories. Cameron stood on the Ark Royal, gave a stirring speech about the value of defence then scrapped her the following week.
A few months later Tornado’s were flying from Scotland to Libya to bomb Ghadaffi and kill him, leading to civil war, humanitarian catastrophe and mass migration across the Med
So I would be a bit concerned if I was a Royal Marine
Why did the Parachute Regiment have to be trained in amphibious landings for the Falklands war instead of being inserted by parachute?
The UK is a proud island nation. What happened? I still believe in the UK. It is one a few countries with real strength of mind, spirit. Stop cutting. The world is getting more dangerous everyday. How could anyone cut when the world is more dangerous?
I'm an Aussie so I don't have any actual skin in the game. I know too, just how difficult budgets & staffing are across the West right now. Still, this whole discussion makes my skin crawl. I hate the idea of the Royal Marines losing such a huge capability. Paras are of course not anyone you'd want to have to fight, however they can't come close to doing a fraction of the things the Marines with their large scale ships can achieve. Also, as an antipodean, I am also very sensitive to the relief operations only ships like these can provide. There are very few countries who have forces like the Royal Marines, so I feel it would be a real loss for the global West if these vessles are deemed unaffordable.
in the age of drones and hyper sonic missile those landing ships are just giant floating coffins
You either need modern landing craft equipped to deal with modern threats out you need to adapt and evolve
The Future of the Royal Marines is Me…I'm The True King of England What needs to happen….Herr Charles ,who is my affilliate at the Kings Arms Pub in Arundel West Sussex…This is the Person who Impersonated a Royal Marine at StoneHouse Barracks Plymouth, along with his Henchmen….They were given marine uniforms to wear by Alex Seymour, who was a storeman ,at the time.
This Group of Civilian Villains, then decided to disarm Marine Jerome Michael Rogan, Whilst on Guard at StoneHouse Barracks Plymouth…..Marine Jerome Rogan Obeyed the Orders of the Guard commander, and was Disarmed by Civilians dressed as Royal Marines.
The person responsible is Herr Charles, the manager of the Kings Arms Pub, in Arundel, West Sussex"
Sure only last week they were banging on about "future commando force" and theres been big investment in the marines in last couple year's. Now they're questioning if we even need them?! Wtf is going on?!
This government is completely incompetent and corrupt. It is a national disgrace what they have done to the Defence Forces and our service men and women. I am ashamed of them.
Our government is destroying our country.
General Buster speaks a lot of sense 🎉