The British army could be wiped out in just six months of war.

The warning was issued by senior UK Defence Ministry official Alistair Carns on December 4th during a speech at a conference on military reserves at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London. According to Carns, a former Marine colonel, a level of casualties similar to the conflict in Ukraine would lead to the destruction of the British army within 6-12 months, Sky News reported.

The British army could be wiped out after six months of conflict, as happened in Ukraine.

"In a war of a similar scale to the one in Ukraine, not a limited intervention, our military, within the framework of a broader multinational coalition, would be wiped out at the current casualty rate within six months to a year," the official said. Carns estimated that Russia is losing around 1,500 soldiers per day.

British Army Challenger 2 tank

PHOTO: UK DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

The UK Ministry of Defence official in charge of veterans and personnel emphasized that his point was not that Britain needed a larger army, but rather "the need for depth and rapid expansion in the event of a crisis."

As of October 1st, the British Army had 109,245 personnel, including 25,814 volunteer reserves. "Reserves are crucial, they are central to that process. Without them, we cannot generate significant strength, we cannot meet the multitude of defense tasks," said Carns. The official also argued that Britain needs to catch up with its NATO allies in placing a greater emphasis on its reserves.

Commenting on the statement, a spokesperson for the UK Prime Minister's Office said that Defence Secretary John Healey had previously spoken about the status of the armed forces inherited from the previous administration, according to The Guardian.

"That's why we're investing billions of pounds in defense, and why we're undertaking a strategic defense review to ensure we have the necessary capabilities and investments to defend the country," the spokesperson said.

Western weapons have quality but lack quantity.

Prior to the July election, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, then leader of the opposition Labour Party, accused the ruling Conservative Party of shrinking the military to its smallest size "since Napoleon's time."

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/quan-doi-anh-co-the-bi-quet-sach-chi-trong-6-thang-chien-tranh-185241205074425503.htm