A navy and an air force are judged relatively easy to justify for Britain, while an army that is not forward deployed faces harder questions. Its usefulness is acknowledged, but politicians can challenge where it would go, how long deployment would take, and whether it could arrive in useful strength. Rebuilding the British Army of the Rhine is judged financially unrealistic. The proposed response is to identify what the Army can usefully do and build around those tasks. Seeking first rank in every capability is considered unaffordable for the Royal Navy as well.
Notable Point · 3:08:21-3:10:21
Making the case for a deployable British Army
The British Army faces questions about deployment time, destination, and useful strength, alongside a proposal to concentrate on the tasks it can afford to perform.