These forces based in the UK would be available to SACEUR for use in war in some or all of the three regions (the Centre and the Northern and Southern flanks) together with the air transport and shipping resources for deploying them, The offensive support aircraft also have independent deployment options in ACE and provide the only reserves for aircraft based in Germany,
17. Our forces in Cyprus are not formally committed to NATO but they contribute to the cohesion of MATO's Southern Flank. The 16 strike aircraft based there (and committed to CENTO) are targetted by SACEUR.
18. Peacetime national tasks are met from forces which would, in war, be committed to NATO, Thus the bulk of the troops in Northern Ireland since 1969 have been drawn from those in BAOR and UK Land Forces on temporary rotation, We have assumed, in the context of this' roview, that we must remain in a position to provide troops for Northern Ireland,
The Critical Level
19.
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At present the UK contributes both to the lanâ/air element of NATO strategy -- to deter aggression in Western Europe - and to the sea/air element to retain the use of the sea for NATO and prevent the sea link with the US from being severed and provides forces to protect the UK base and the sea and air space round it. The Chiefs of Staff consider that there is no military justification for making any reduction in forces but have nevertheless assessed the minimum level of forces which in their judgement we need to contribute to NATO to preserve the confidence of our allies in the continuing credibility of NATO strategy,
This level of forces we have called the Critical Level,
20.
The force levels in NATO at the Critical Level are summarised at Arnexes D, E and F. The main reductions involved, as compared with present plans,
are as follows:
The withdrawal and disbandment of NATO-committed naval and maritime air forces from East of Suez and the Mediterranean, which is the region of ACE least directly relevant to UK defence, resulting in a reduction of the destroyer/frigate force by 13 per cent and mine countermeasures vessels by 17 per cent, A reduction by a quarter in conventional submarines and by a third in afloat support. Naval uniformed manpower would be
reduced by 9,000 men.
i
The reduction of BAOR from the currently planned establishment
of 58,000 to 50,000 men (but this could only be effected following an MBPR agreement). The reduction of the home-based Army establishment (inoluding 10,000 war reinforcements for BAOR) from 78,000 to
75,000.
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SECRET
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