Cutting the Royal Marines ‘will abolish the SAS’, warn MPs

Britain’s popular Particular Forces are under likelihood from controversial cuts to the Royal Marines, MPs warn these days.

They peril that cutting back the elite infantry corps will weaken the SAS and other Particular Forces that recruit heavily from the Marines.

In a scathing verdict, the worthy Commons Defence Committee says it would possibly perchance be ‘militarily illiterate’ to axe up to 2,000 Marines and two amphibious assault ships.

The cuts are understood to be into consideration as part of a most foremost overview of national protection power skill.

However in a recent portray titled Sunset For The Marines?, the unsuitable-party Defence Committee says the plans would leave the UK unable to behavior specialised amphibious operations when every other most foremost vitality used to be increasing such capabilities.

They single out the grave consequences for Britain’s foremost Particular Forces, which obtain in to 50 per cent of their recruits from the Marines.

The portray says: ‘The contribution made to UK Particular Forces by the Royal Marines is… indicative of the advantageous of the americans who pass thru its ranks.

‘The progress in the use and tasking of Particular Forces in latest years makes a unbroken “pipeline” of educated and resilient personnel foremost.

‘Lowering the energy of the Royal Marines will substantially decrease the recruitment pool readily available and prick back Particular Forces’ amphibious war abilities.’

MPs additionally bid that direct of most foremost cuts will hit Marines’ morale and counsel they’re being ‘sacrificed’ by Chancellor Philip Hammond’s Treasury.

New Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson is combating the cuts.