CONFIDENTIAL
2.
C.
LEVEL OF R. N. FORCES
6.
with 5 such craft'
The justification for five patrol craft is availability there is a guaranteed permanent availability of 2, with 4 available for limited periods.
7.
1.
Under the Defence Review proposals the R. N. presence was to be reduced to 1 frigate and 3 patrol craft which would ensure at least one vessel being per-
The Chief of Staff's advice to reduce the land forces to manently available. 4 1/3rd major units envisages the R. N. presence as one frigate only. Although the combined Working Party (paras.. 17, 23, 27, 28, 49) confirmed that there should preferably be both frigate and patrol craft it concluded that "if a choice had to be made between them. the frigate is to be preferred on military grounds in present circumstances". However, the report continued that the effect on the public is hard to judge and the Hong Kong Government might need to take this into account at a later stage. The feeling at that time was that, if it really came to a choice, the frigate was to be preferred because of its greater deterrent value.
8.
Although the frigate has been included in the proposed garrison MOD has confirmed that options are open and that there is still the possibility of substituting the 5 patrol craft for the frigate.
9. Although the "preferred" garrison included 1 frigate and 3 patrol craft, it appears that this must be ruled out on grounds of cost and so the choice is between either the 1 frigate or the 5 patrol craft. The R. N. have only these two types of vessel available for service in Hong Kong. Since the functions of the two types of craft are com plementary it is difficult to make a proper comparison between the two.
One of the first considerations must be cost.
D.
10.
G.F. 316
COSTINGS
Royal Navy costs, in totals without supporting detail, are as follows
Tamar plus 1 frigate (plus replacement refit) plus 3 patrol craft
Tamar plus 1 frigate (plus replacement refit)
Tamar plus 5 patrol craft
1 frigate (plus replacement refit) based at a commercial shipyard
= £ 3.7*m..
£ 2.9 m.
= £ 2.1 m.
= £ 2.7 m. *
*(this is only an estimate and is possibly on the high side).
CONFIDENTI
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