EXCLUSIVE: A former member of the SAS and veteran of the Falklands War has expressed concerns about the UK military’s ability to reclaim the island in future.
Cuts to the Royal Navy have left many wondering about the service’s vulnerabilities (Image: Getty)
A former member of the SAS has expressed his concern at the state of the British military and its ability to defend its interests. Mick Hawkes, 65, served in the SAS for 13 years and fought in the ten-week war, believes that recent measures to increase the age at which former soldiers could be recalled into service highlight the predicament the military finds itself in.
Under new plans, former service personnel up to the age of 65 could be recalled back into the forces in the event of war or national crisis. Hawkes dismissed the idea that veterans over the age of 55 would be able to increase the lethality of the military in the event of war and expressed concern for its ability to fight as it once did following the Argentine invasion of sovereign territory. He told the Daily Express: “I just don’t think that there is any way people of that age would be up to it physically.
Mick Hawkes served 13 years in SAS (Image: -)
“Perhaps there are roles in the rear echelons but forget the idea that they might be capable of frontline service.
“The military is a young man’s game, especially warfare. The Government should forget targeting 65-year-olds and get on with a massive recruitment drive to attract young people.
“We haven’t got a fighting force anymore. If we had a situation like the Falklands again, I’m not sure what we would be able to do.”
The Falklands taskforce which set sail to reclaim the territory following the invasion of Argentinian troops, consisted of two aircraft carriers, eight destroyers, 16 frigates.
Years of underinvestment have seen the Royal Navy hollowed out.
Currently, the force has just two aircraft carriers, six destroyers and 11 frigates, meaning that it would be unable to conjure the vessels it did in 1982.
Approximately 30,000 British personnel took part in the operation to reclaim the Falkland Islands (Image: Getty)
The Royal Navy currently has approximately 17,100 sailors down from more than 60,000 personnel at the time of the war.
Land forces have also been reduced significantly, with the British Army currently possessing just over 78,000 soldiers, a fraction of the 163,000 soldiers serving as Britain set sail to repel the Argentinians.
However, a lack of hardware and personnel does not necessarily spell doom for the Falklands should Argentina attack again.
Gaps can be filled in part by modern technology, with drones, cyber and space-based systems all now held by the military to plug gaps formed in the 44 years since the war.
The Falkland Islands also remain much better defended than they had been in the lead up to the Argentinian invasion, with MOD officials cognisant of the threat posed by Buenos Aires.
