Army to use seaside ports to speed up response to NATO emergencies | UK | News

The British Army will be allowed to use ports across the country to speed up deployments for urgent NATO missions. It comes as Ministry of Defence planners increase the tempo of preparations for possible conflict with Russia The new strategic agreement with Associated British Ports is designed to “seriously increase military capacity to quickly deploy at scale in support of NATO’, MoD sources say.

In the past, the deployment and delivery of army kit has been limited to the Sea Mounting Centre at Marchwood, near Southampton. Originally established in 1943 to aid the following year’s D-Day assault on Normandy, the port – also used for the Falklands war – is still home to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, which resupplies warships at sea.

But now, under the terms of the new deal, troops and logisticians will be free to choose between 21 other ports operated by ABP across the length and breadth of Britain.

Using a port closer to an Army unit’s base will save vital time in deploying and delivering military equipment to and from foreign operations.

It will also, the MOD says, result in less military convoy traffic, save fuel and money and help the Army to strive for its statutorily -mandated “net zero” carbon footprint targets by 2050.

Today (Sunday) it will be tested for the first time , as hundreds of vehicles and pieces of equipment belonging to 7 Light Mechanised Brigade Combat Team will arrive at the Port of Immingham – the UK’s largest by tonnage – following this year’s NATO Exercise Steadfast Dart that took place in eastern Romania.

Last month, the Sunday Express revealed that RAF fighter jets would use regional airports here and abroad in order to bolster NATO defences against Russian aggression.

This latest deal is just a further example of how the Government was taking the prospect of impending conflict seriously, said two former senior army officers with experience of wartime deployments.

“The decision to allow the army to use different ports for expeditionary deployment and recovery from deployment is a good one, and offers a smooth way to try to recover our national reliance, » said former tank commander Col Stuart Crawford.

Col Hamish de Bretton Gordon, who was also a tank commander before heading the Army’s Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Regiment, added: “This is an important step to rectify a situation which became apparent after we mistakenly removed troops from Germany.

“It made no sense for a Yorkshire-based tank regiment to have to trek all the way to Marchwood before deployment.

He added: “This shows how seriously this Government is taking things – we have to be credible before Putin takes us seriously. »

Last night Chief of Defence Logistics and Support, Vice Admiral Andy Kyte CB, said: “This agreement marks a significant step in boosting the resilience, efficiency, and agility of Defence’s Sea Mounting Capability by leveraging ABP’s national port estate.

“The partnership with ABP plays a pivotal role in fortifying the UK Strategic Base, a cornerstone essential for Defence to effectively deploy, sustain, and recover force elements.”

Richard Parkinson, of ABP, added: “As the UK’s largest port operator, our strategic partnership with the Ministry of Defence gives it additional sea mounting resilience and enables seamless deployment and recovery of military vehicles and equipment across the nation, ensuring readiness for overseas missions.”