MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Navy cuts preclude Falklands-type Task Force”

Navy experts have warned that the British Government's decision to scrap Sea Harrier fighters means that Britain could not send a task force to war as it did in the Falklands campaign, according to the London Daily Telegraph.

Devoting three articles to the claim, the newspaper says there is "acute concern in the Fleet Air Arm that after the planes are withdrawn in 2006, the Navy could not unilaterally deploy a task force until at least 2012". During those six years -- and longer if the planned joint Anglo-American fighter is delayed -- no British naval force could counter threat from air attack for lack of adequate fixed wing defence unless it was accompanied by an American aircraft carrier. If Britain had to fight a naval war without active United States participation, as in the Falklands, it would be unable to sustain a task force at sea without crippling casualties.

US carrier would be needed

The newspaper quotes 1982 Task Force Commander, Admiral Sir John "Sandy" Woodward, as saying that from 2006, until the new aircraft comes into service, "any Royal Naval task force facing an air threat similar to 1982 will have to rely on direct US carrier support for its air defence". The Telegraph declares: "There are worries that the decision to axe Sea Harriers will send the same signals as the 1981 defence review which encouraged Argentina to invade the Falklands". The newspaper points out that Sea Harriers accounted for 80 per cent of Argentine air losses. It quotes United States air force sources as saying that 453 Argentine bombing sorties were aborted because of the Sea Harriers' presence. Many bombs were jettisoned early. Commander "Sharkey" Ward, the air ace who led 801 Squadron on HMS Invincible, is quoted as saying: "On present plans, the fleet will be without its first two layers of air defence for possibly at least ten years". In a separate feature, the Telegraph's respected Defence Editor and war historian, John Keegan, says that Britain "could just about" today assemble a similar Task Force to that of 1982 , but there would be shortcomings in air defence.

Depleted warships and merchant vessels

The escort fleet is also much depleted, from 50 frigates and destroyers in 1982 to 31 now. If a task force suffered similar losses as in 1982 -- 9 damaged, four sunk -- it might have to be withdrawn. Nor could as many ships be taken from the much diminished British merchant fleet. But,