Norton Manor Camp at Norton Fitzwarren in Somerset to close along with 90 other Ministry of Defence sites.

Norton Manor Camp in Norton Fitzwarren on the outskirts of Taunton in Somerset, home to 40 Commando Royal Marines, is to close along with 55 other military sites across the country.  The Secretary of State for Defence, Sir Michael Fallon, announced the closures which are in addition to 35 other closures previously announced.

Chivenor airfield and barracks in North Devonshire will also close along with more sites in Devonshire, Wiltshire and Somerset.

The loss of airfields seems a particular example of government short-sightedness as their runways make them extremely versatile and are not easily replaced.  Along with Chivenor, Hullavington in Wiltshire, Dishforth in Yorkshire and both Mildenhall and Alconbury in East Anglia are to go.

I also read in the Daily Telegraph that the Royal Navy will soon be without a shipborne ant-ship missile as the Harpoon missile will not be replaced when it is retired from service in 2018.  The Royal Navy's frigates and destroyers will then be relying on the 4.5 inch gun - 1960s style. 

Considering that the Navy's two new aircraft-carriers will have no operational aircraft for years one has to wonder what the present surface fleet is actually capable of if it has to undertake any war-like operations on its own.

This letter in the Western daily Press on November 17th is on a similar theme.

Mixed messages from the ministry.

The Defence Secretary has said that we are seeing a much more aggressive Russia and the real answer to Putin is that we should stay strong and be strong.

Hearing those words one might think that the Government was about to implement a policy of re-armament and expansion of the military. Not so, apparently, 56 more defence sites will be closed in addition to the 35 the Ministry of Defence announced previously.

Considering our Government’s actions rather than its words can Putin’s Russia really be a threat to this country?

Meanwhile, Britain has inaugurated a new naval base in Bahrain which, according to the Bahraini Ambassador to London, will be the busiest centre of operations for the Royal Navy after Portsmouth. This increase in port facilities to support any future military adventures in the Middle East is nothing but a vainglorious attempt to maintain the illusion that Britain still has “Great Power” status and a fleet to match.

S.W.

Ilminster, Somerset