"We'll develop war-fighting plans": First Sea Lord called to Royal Navy base to discuss "threats" facing force
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Crucial war-fighting plans were discussed at a critical meeting involving the head of the Royal Navy.
First Sea Lord Sir Gwyn Jenkins and other top brass met to discuss the “threats” that face the UK and how the armed forces would respond. Joined by the Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Paul Beattie and Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Steve Moorhouse, the event took place at the Defence Experimentation Wargaming Hub in Southwick Park, on the outskirts of Portsmouth.
Operational commanders, representatives from the Army and RAF, academic experts, and industry figures, discussed possible scenarios and how the military would handle them. Gen Jenkins said: “Wargaming is what helps us understand how we apply the force we have today to the threats we face today.
“From this wargame we will be able to develop our war-fighting plans to an even greater degree than we already have, so that we can prove our credibility and sustain deterrence for the nation, and we can fulfil our mission and purpose which is to help protect the nation as part of Defence’s integrated force.”
Participants worked on the destabilising geo-political situation, where the Royal Navy would be asked to explore their actions alongside Nato allies in a situation of rising tensions and escalatory activities. The establishment of the senior wargaming series is the next step in the First Sea Lord’s drive to growing the Royal Navy warfighting readiness to become a hybrid, technologically advanced warfighting force by 2029.
Plans are in place to adopt more un-crewed and autonomous systems, with two variants of drones - Peregrine and the Malloy T-150 - being fully deployed in the Royal Navy. The UK is aiming to take the lead on Nato maritime warfare operations, while maintaining the nuclear deterrent and operations in the High North.