b.
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(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
Army
available for the Eastern Atlantic area;
over the longer term, a significant
diminution in the quality of the ships and
weapons systems in service in the Fleet,
compounded by damage to the shipbuilding
and weapon industries which could not easily
be recovered from;
a reduction of maritime effort available for
off-shore tasks and the defence of the UK
base against mining threats;
damage to NATO's confidence in Britain as a
maritime partner capable of contributing
effectively to the protection of the Alliance's
maritime interests and supply and reinforcement
routes; and
a severe reduction in our ability to defend
the UK base.
Even after allowing for additional savings in the
support base, there would have to be a substantial
further cut over and above that necessary to reach
the Critical level in BAOR strength, entailing a
reduction more than pro rata in combat capability
and thus in the assigned NATO frontage that could be
defended. The degree of reduction would depend on
whether HMG chose to make some of the savings by
cutting UK-based units and so running higher risks
- 60
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