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considerable expense.
In assessing our present wide-ranging
contributions to NATO, we decided that our ability to reinforce
on the southern flank was less cost-effective than in other areas. Consequently it is in this area that we have decided to make
substantial changes in our commitments:
a.
The Amphibious Force. At present our amphibious capability consists of a Royal Marines brigade headquarters, four commando groups, a logistic regiment and Army support units, two squadrons of RN support helicopters, two commando ships (HMS Hermes and HMS Bulwark), two assault ships, (HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid), and afloat support.
HMS Bulwark will be paid off in 1976, earlier than previously planned, and her Wessex helicopter squadron will be disbanded.
HMS Hermes will be declared to NATO as an Anti-Submarine
Warfare (ASW) carrier but will retain a secondary role as a
commando ship. HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid will remain in
service as previously planned throughout the 1980s, but only one ship will be kept at immediate operational readiness, the
Plans to order second being in care and maintenance or refit.
two purpose-built amphibious ships have been abandoned and detailed studies of alternative means of movement in the longer
term are in hand.
No. 41 Commando Group, at present stationed in Malta, will be gradually run down from 1977 to 1979 when it will be disbanded
upon the withdrawal of British forces from Malta. The Royal
Marines brigade headquarters, three commandos and Army support
will remain declared to NATO. One of these commando groups and
the helicopter squadron will continue to be specially trained
and equipped for mountain and arctic warfare for deployment to
northern Norway all the year round.
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