Military News Today

On Wednesday 10th January, Secretary of Defence, Mr Grant Shapps took to X (formerly known as Twitter) stating reports in the Daily Mail claiming he was to demand a performance review of the Royal Marines and ask the service’s bosses to “justify their experience” were “completely and utterly false”.

This is completely and utterly false.

As I said in the House of Commons on Monday the ‘Royal Marines are absolutely essential’

I’ve commissioned a plan on how their work and capabilities can be bolstered and enhanced to protect Britain from a world that is growing more… pic.twitter.com/EMg6Al3GAv

— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) January 10, 2024

This week has been a tough week for the Royal Navy with recruitment numbers suffering and the possible mothballing HMS Albion & HMS Bulwark to save money with the Defence Select Committee intending to hold an evidence session in the coming weeks due to reports Mr Shapps is considering axing the two ships.

The reports suggest the axing of HMS Albion & HMS Bulwark could to be axed to free up sailors for other vessels due to the recruitment crisis of the Armed Forces, including within the Royal Navy. James Cartlidge earlier this week said no final decision had been made on whether or not to ‘mothball’ both of the Royal Navy ships.

HMS Albion & HMS Bulwark in a report titled Sunset for the Royal Marines from the previous committee warned that axing both ships would be “militarily illiterate” and “totally at odd with strategic reality”. Both vessels which are Amphibious Landing Platform Docks, their role to transport Royal Marines were expected to remain in service until 2034 would be a huge loss to the operational effectiveness of the Royal Marines.

MP John Spellar, vice-chair of the Defence Select Committee, said the Royal Marines are “rightly viewed as a jewel in the defence crown” and are “pivotal” to the UK defending interests around the world.

“But they cannot do that without the right equipment and transport,” he said.

“The Defence Committee is deeply concerned by reports that the Government is considering retiring HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, which the Royal Marines rely on. 

“We first raised the alarm on the damaging consequences this would have for the Royal Marines back in 2018. 

“Losing these ships would make successful amphibious landings very difficult, and touted alternatives are unlikely to fill the hole Albion and Bulwark would leave.”

He added the committee’s plans for an evidence session is “to hold the Government to account on its plans for the Royal Marines’ capabilities”.