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Dr Paul Winter's avatar

From a UK perspective, a lot of conceptual thinking (some of it very dubious) has been carried out on the future of amphibious operations. Yet our actual amphibious capabilities have been seriously degraded through indifference and financial parsimony.

B. A. Friedman's avatar

Same here really. We still got some but a lot has been divested and actual training in amphibious warfare is rare.

Dr Paul Winter's avatar

Thanks. Yes, the US-UK are not in a good position regarding the ability to launch and sustain amphibious operations at reach.

A lot of the blame in the UK rests with the Royal Navy and Civil Service. Not only are they more interested in 'blue water' activities; they also simply do not wish to pay for the amphibious warfare capability.

Regrettably, these myopic and operationally iliterate decisions will come back to haunt us when the amphibious capability is most needed. They have already weakened the Royal Marines and 3 Commando Brigade in particular.