Written evidence submitted by the Ministry of Defence
Defence Committee inquiry into The Royal Marines and UK amphibious capability
This paper is intended to inform the HCDC’s inquiry and builds on the evidence provided for other inquiries.
The United Kingdom’s amphibious capability represents a vital component of our nation’s power projection capabilities. As part of that capability, the ships of the Royal Navy’s (RN) Landing Platform Dock Class, HMS ALBION and BULWARK, provide afloat command and control facilities, and capabilities needed to deploy and sustain the Lead Commando Group ashore, by air and sea. These ships can embark one large helicopter or up to three medium helicopters on the flight deck, and carry the equipment required to support aircraft operations. In addition, the Bay Class ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, LYME BAY, MOUNTS BAY and CARDIGAN BAY, provide the capacity and capability to deploy our expeditionary strike forces.
The UK’s amphibious capability will be further enhanced by our new Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC) Aircraft Carriers. As we stated in the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) of 2015, we will enhance a QEC Aircraft Carrier to support our amphibious capability. This commitment demonstrates the importance that this Government places on the future of our amphibious forces and the vital role they will play in the defence of our nation.
The Royal Marines are the expeditionary strike-capable troops of the RN, acknowledged as one of the world’s elite Commando forces. They are trained for worldwide rapid response, able to deal with a wide spectrum of threats and security challenges, operating in often dangerous and extremely difficult circumstances. The main deployable force is 3 Commando Brigade with a Lead Commando Group ready and held at high readiness to deploy globally, in support of the UK’s national interests, including our obligations to our Overseas Territories.
The specialised troops of the Royal Marines deploy around the world in support of UK operations ranging from international engagement, maritime security and war fighting. Recent deployments include Operation RUMAN in the Caribbean, Operation TEMPERER in response to the failed bombing on the London Underground. The Royal Marines have also contributed to the EU’s naval operation in the Mediterranean. Expeditionary strike warfare requires deep knowledge, experience, expertise and skill, which the Royal Marines and Royal Navy have honed together with decades of operational experience, including the Falklands War of 1982.
It is recognised that certain regions rely almost solely on littoral-capable platforms, where an increase in threat often precludes the use of ports. Furthermore, access can often be denied, conditional or unsuitable.
From a multinational perspective, the Royal Marines contribute to the defence of NATO’s Northern Flank using their unique mountain and cold weather expertise. The Royal Marines have key relationships with a number of our Allies, including the United States Marine Corps, the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps, and Armed Forces of France and Norway. They also offer continuous operational support to the Royal Navy in the form of nuclear security, boarding operations and Ship’s Force Protection teams.
As the UK’s expeditionary strike forces, the Royal Marines provide a unique national capability with utility across all levels of potential conflict, from presence to war fighting, offering political freedom and choice. A Task Group can sail early with orchestrated publicity to demonstrate will and capability; alternatively it can be dispatched to poise without announcement if political understatement and diplomatic sensitivity dictate. During offensive operations, prior to landing, it presents a constant factor in an adversary’s planning; any uncommitted expeditionary strike force requires the enemy to maintain coastal defence forces and a centrally held reserve against the contingent threat of an expeditionary strike landing. This requirement to operate across the spectrum of conflict is enduring and remains relevant to today’s operations.
As the UK’s expeditionary strike Landing Force, the Royal Marines are designed to arrive on a hostile shore, but at a time and place of choosing, tactically configured for immediate action and capable of self-sustainment. In contrast, other forces deployed by sea or airlift require an airport or seaport of disembarkation through which they can be administratively offloaded. They require time and space to conduct integration in the theatre before they are ready to conduct operations; this is all likely to require Host Nation Support.
Following the SDSR 2010, adaptations were made to ensure the Royal Marines continued to achieve all tasking, and continue to do so.
In 2017 the Royal Navy Structural Re-balancing Programme was announced, this will be rolled out over time to be achieved by 2020. This has resulted in the reconfiguration of 3 Commando Brigade. No redundancies were made as a result of this initiative.
The supporting units are considered to be 29 Commando Royal Artillery (RA) and 24 Commando Royal Engineers. While the Royal Marines have undergone changes its both liability and structure, 29 Commando Royal Artillery has changed in size under the Army 2020 measure proportionately to 3 Commando Brigade.
24 Commando Royal Engineers have recently re-structured in order to create a more balanced and enduring operating model, and have enough liability to meet mandated outputs and commitment to the Lead Commando Group.
As at 1 October 2017, the Royal Marines Full Time Trained Strength is approximately 6,520; 99.3% of the 6,570 liability. The Naval Service will continue to have the appropriate number of front line Royal Marines to achieve all tasking and will ensure that the Royal Marines are properly trained and equipped to perform the vital tasks we ask them to undertake.
The 2010 SDSR stated that one of the Royal Navy’s two Landing Platform Docks would in future be placed at low readiness while the other was held at very high readiness for operations. HMS ALBION and HMS BULWARK have, accordingly, alternated in the low and high readiness profile since 2010. HMS ALBION recently exited her five-year period of low readiness following a successful £80 million regeneration programme and she is now undertaking her Operational Sea Training.
On current plans, the decommissioning dates for HMS ALBION and HMS BULWARK are 2033 and 2034 respectively. The Royal Navy and Royal Marines have continued to meet their standing commitments and take part in a wide range of national and international activities, exercises and deployments to maintain readiness and meet the challenges of an uncertain world.
The ability of Defence to move troops from ship to shore is an important one which will be developed in line with current and predicted threats. The 2015 SDSR committed to investing in a QEC Aircraft Carrier being enhanced to support amphibious operations. Together with the existing amphibious ships of the Royal Navy and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, this will provide the capacity and capability to deploy our expeditionary strike forces.
The Royal Marines are the expeditionary strike capable troops of the Royal Navy, acknowledged as one of the world’s elite Commando forces. Held at a very high readiness, they can respond quickly to events anywhere around the globe.
The Royal Navy will continue to play a full role in littoral operations in the future and the Royal Marines will be at the leading edge of those operations, adapting to emerging and evolving threats to maintain their world class skills that are rightly recognised by our allies.
The National Security Capability Review is ongoing. It is being conducted to ensure the UK’s investment in national security capabilities is as effective and efficient as possible. No decisions have been taken and any speculation in the press on specific platforms or capabilities is exactly that: speculation.
The training of instructors is recognised as essential to the maintenance of such environmental expertise and will continue with the Royal Marines Mountain Leaders going to Norway in early 2018 as planned.
We will continue to have the appropriate number of front line Royal Marines to achieve all tasking and will ensure that the Royal Marines are properly trained and equipped to perform the vital tasks we ask them to undertake.
The Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey provides a unique opportunity for the views of the Royal Marines to be expressed and considered in their own right. This significance is widely recognised within the Corps and is reflected in the proportionally high response rate to the 2017 survey.
The 2017 survey concluded that the Royal Marines remain the most satisfied of the Services with a significantly higher proportion of personnel assessing their morale as high when compared to other Services. Work has been started by the Service to gather data related to outflow and morale that will inform any future action plan.
The National Security Capability Review is ongoing. No decisions have been taken and any speculation in the press on specific platforms or capabilities is exactly that: speculation.
21 December 2017