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supplies in Spring 1974, these controls have been maintained so
as to achieve an overall saving of some 10 per cent in consump-
tion in the 1974-75 financial year. The measures have entailed
considerable reductions in the use of transport of all types
and of domestic fuels. Although these substantial short-term
savings have been achieved without detriment to the operational
capability of the Services, they have cut into the training needed
to maintain the high professional standards of our forces.
The Services are therefore examining a range of measures designed
to achieve greater efficiency in the use of fuel oils and better
fuel conservation so that they can maintain their contribution
to the national effort in the longer term, without loss of efficiency.
Force Improvements
43. The capabilities of the British forces have been enhanced
since 1973 with the introduction of several new equipments into
service.
a.
These include:
Royal Navy
(i) HMS Swiftsure and HMS Sovereign, the
first of the modified "Swiftsure" class of
nuclear-powered submarines;
(ii) the first Type 42 guided-missile destroyer,
HMS Sheffield;
(iii) the first type 21 frigate, HMS Amazon;
(iv) the Sea Dart (surface-to-air), Exocet
(surface-to-surface) and Ikara (anti-submarine)
guided-missile systems;
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