TNAG-0539-FCO40-634-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 165

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during the winter of 1973-74.

Despite a return to nearly normal

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 financial year 1974-75. 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 with little 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 IMPROVEMENT S

51. The capabilities of the British forces have been enhanced

since 1973 with the introduction of several new weapons systems

and equipments into service. These include:

a.

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) HMS Wilton a glass-reinforced plastic mine

countermeasures vessel;

(v)

the Sea Dart (surface-to-air), Exocet (surface-to- surface), Ikara (anti-submarine) and Martel (air-to-surface)

guided-missile systems;

II

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