A simple league table below the American and Chinese superpowers misses an important part of British capability. Britain may not deploy the largest contingent among the next tier of states, but it can often keep that contingent operating far from home. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Royal Logistic Corps, and strategic air transport are combat-enabling capabilities rather than overhead. The ability to sustain a distant force is central to comparing national naval power.
Chapter · 1:41:36-1:43:23
The logistics behind Britain's global reach
Britain's claim to global military reach rests less on having the third-largest force than on possessing the auxiliary, land-logistics, and airlift systems needed to sustain deployments.