France has offered the UK the use of French Navy amphibious assault ships should the Albion class be retired multiple sources have reported today.

According to two senior French military officials quoted in the Financial Times:

“We have three very capable ships. The idea is that in the case of one of the two countries having to reduce certain capabilities because of budgetary constraints we could mitigate the consequences by standing shoulder to shoulder.”

Tory MP Andrew Bowie, who served in the Royal Navy before being elected to Parliament, told Mail Online in one of their recent articles:

“The British and French navies, as close allies have cooperated for many years and I’m sure their offer comes in good faith.But it really does stick in the craw.

To see the Royal Navy, once the most powerful and feared navy in the word, begging and borrowing from our neighbours across the Channel would be a national embarrassment and would demean us in the eyes of our allies and partners. I hope the Government can put this to bed once and for all and guarantee the future of our amphibious capability, independent of other nations.”

What’s going to happen?

Simply put, very few if any people outside of Whitehall know the answer to this. A letter written by Minister for Defence Procurement Harriet Baldwin in January had denied there are any ‘current plans’ to retire the Albion class amphibious warfare vessels early.

HMS Albion pictured operating with Dutch Royal Marines.

However, the Minister refused to confirm that was still the case during a debate in Westminster Hall prompting fears this has changed. The letter deposited in the House of Commons Library in January, was written after the question of the future of HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark was raised on the Floor of the House of Commons.

She said at the time:

“There are no current plans to decommission the ships early, and I can reassure you that their out of service dates are 2033 and 2034 respectively.”

The January letter.

Baldwin, when asked if this was still the case, appeared to entirely dodge the question:

“I can indeed confirm that I not only wrote those words but that I also I recall writing them.”

She later added:

“The work of the National Security Review is ongoing and no decisions have been put to Ministers.”

It would appear that decisions have not yet been made or at least, the decisions have not been made known.

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
6 years ago

I’m against it.

The UK is perfectly capable of having its own LPD capability should HMG be bothered to pay for them.

Slaine
Slaine
6 years ago

When asked about the lack of anti-ship missile capability from 2018 the MoD have downplayed the issue because our close allies do have this capability. Presumably meaning that the RN doesn’t need them when it could ask our allies to use theirs on our behalf. It would seem that borrowing ships from allies is just an extension of that policy. And what a terrible idea it is.

E
E
6 years ago
Reply to  Slaine

It also confuses me that with a emphasis on defence cooperation we chose a Carrier Design that doesn’t integrate well with our allies.

andy reeves,
andy reeves,
6 years ago

nelson must be spinning in his grave the british navy being forced to defend itself by the support of the french, what next, renting indian submarines u disgraceful and embarrassing for th r.n and the whole nation.

Harry Bulpit
Harry Bulpit
6 years ago

If we do this we will simply be given our marines to the french, as the dutch did to us in the 90s. A complete embarrassment.

Tim62
Tim62
6 years ago

It is of course entirely logical from France’s point of view to make the offer and working together across the Channel is the future. But for the UK to abandon its own amphibious capability is monumentally stupid – given that we are presumably going to focus on limited-scale overseas interventions of a peace-keeping/disaster relief/short-sharp-shock nature, when having LPDs is exactly what we want. True we have had to rent in the past – such as German U-boats as we no longer have diesel electric boats to train against – but getting rid of LPDs (and then what price the RMs?)… Read more »

andy
andy
6 years ago

and if the need ever arose who would man these the French or us,worse still if they got damaged and god forbid sunk who is going to pay for it…a similar situation happened during the Falklands when Ronnie offered the use of a carrier to Maggie but she had the for-sight to say no…another argument is if there is a conflict would the french say yes take them or say no sorry we don,t want to be seen getting involved….seems the Tories are thick,daft but utterly stupid,reduce foreign aid and stop this stupid idea of paying the EU 50 billion… Read more »

Chris
Chris
6 years ago
Reply to  andy

andy – you were doing so well until you felt the need to throw in a political comment. Yes we all know the Foreign Aid budget is not a great idea but it is there. Live with it. There is no chance of anyone removing our obligation (written legislation) anytime soon. And as for your “stop this stupid idea of paying the EU 50 billion divorce settlement” well it beggars belief. Firstly no one actually knows the sums involved and that ’50’ floated about was Euros not £ so equivalent to about 3 years current contributions. I have been anti… Read more »

Steven
Steven
6 years ago

Thr French are subtly encouraging us to cut our own legs off at the knee, further reducing what little influence we have in the World and therefor increasing EU prestige.

Ian
Ian
6 years ago
Reply to  Steven

Exactly – Ruse is a French word

Tim62
Tim62
6 years ago
Reply to  Steven

@Steven @Ian don’t be paranoid, of course they are not

STEVEN KIRKLAND
6 years ago

Ffs really cant get any worse can it?

Proposed cuts to Army, RAF and Navy while Putin orders the nations military manufacturers to produce at War readiness capability.

Demands in Middle East, Korean Penninsula and our rediness here at home must ensure we are up to the job.

Sad state of affairs the UK finds itself in.

Ian
Ian
6 years ago

In 1976 Labour went to the IMF for a bailout loan because we couldn’t pay our way.

In 2017 Tories are offered loan for vital navy ships because we can’t pay our way.

The difference this time is it’s a choice which makes it a scandal of a different order.

Chris
Chris
6 years ago
Reply to  Ian

Ian – Sorry but 1976 was due to ideological failure of a political dogma (ie Socialism). You then make 3 further assumptions: 1. That this story is correct 2. That this offer was requested 3. That we cannot pay our way. 1. This is the FT peddling a non story to set the hounds running. Nothing more. 2. The French making an unsolicited offer is nice but means ‘not a lot’. And maybe should be seen in the context of the EU trying all it can to create difficulty for the UK Government 3. Given our public finances are in… Read more »

Ian
Ian
6 years ago
Reply to  Chris

Hello Chris,

I think you assume your three assumptions 🙂

Chris
Chris
6 years ago
Reply to  Ian

Ian – I apologise I should have said ‘fundamentally incorrect statements for 3 reasons’
Better?

andy reeves
andy reeves
6 years ago
Reply to  Ian

i’d love to see a flet review imagine her maj saying where is it ms may?

George
George
6 years ago
Reply to  andy reeves

well said Andy I agree 100% more power to our armed forces

Chris
Chris
6 years ago

Oh come on Chaps and Chapesses! Wake up and smell the coffee. You have been ‘had’ yet again. Your passion for the military and clear love of country are blinding you to this blatant piece of spin by a journal that was once highly respected. Once again the FT has achieved its rather dubious objectives of peddling stories to embarrass the Government at every turn by getting the hounds running. Its an old trick. The French ships may be very good but we have two excellent ships as well. They are called ‘Albion’ and ‘Bulwark’. Maybe we could do the… Read more »

andy reeves
andy reeves
6 years ago
Reply to  Chris

i still, and will keep on saying is that the ‘blinkered’ obsession with f 35 that has been responsible for a lot of the defense woes, p. Talk about a white elephants we’ll have too many elephants, and orders have been stopped or reduced because the Treasury is trying to find a way to fund it

Dave Branney
Dave Branney
6 years ago
Reply to  andy reeves

If history is correct Hannibal did very well with his – to begin with!

andy reeves
andy reeves
6 years ago
Reply to  Chris

Being ‘had again’ twice in fact, both by the americans1) selling 72 fully serviceable aircraft for less than the price of ONE of the replacement and2) falling for the spin over how good the f 35 is going to be perhaps. to see japen taking delivery of the f 35b that should, as the projects only level 1 partner, shoudl be going to us.

David Steeper
6 years ago

Well I wouldn’t rule this out sharing resources in extraordinary circumstances makes sense. For example the French are reliant on our C17’S to move heavy kit to Africa etc and the USMC will fly some of their F35’s of Q.E and P.O.W until we have a full airgroup up and running. But we have Albion and Bulwark and even if 1 is mothballed or in low readiness at any given time. Which actually could make sense. I refuse to believe that HMG and/or the RN would be so stupid as to sell 1 of them never mind both. Between now… Read more »

andy reeves
andy reeves
6 years ago
Reply to  David Steeper

good post

andy reeves
andy reeves
6 years ago
Reply to  David Steeper

in that case, can we have their frigates?

Colin
Colin
6 years ago

I think the French have offered us this Plan Is to persuade the UK to be part of the EU ARMY

andy reeves
andy reeves
6 years ago
Reply to  Colin

If we’re part of NATO why not a European organization? same thing, either way we couldn’t offer much

Tim62
Tim62
6 years ago
Reply to  andy reeves

@Andy. Indeed, the idea that there will be a unified EU army is a non-starter – but that the EU nations will assign assets to an EU HQ as and when makes sense – sometimes Europe can be less confrontational to others when it’s not part of Nato. Something which has long been acknowledged. The real issue is a lack of spending whether it’s badged ‘EU’ or ‘Nato’. I know the chimera of an ‘EU army’ gets some here excited but it’s a non-story.
best Tim

Levi Goldsteinberg
Levi Goldsteinberg
6 years ago

This is hideously embarrassing for our once great nation. The gutting cuts the Torys have levelled at our armed forces are directly linked to our drastic decline on the world stage in the last 10 years

andy reeves
andy reeves
6 years ago

the r.n has more stab wounds in its back than the ripper left on his victims.

Harry Nelson
Harry Nelson
6 years ago
Reply to  andy reeves

didn’t he use a hammer?

andy reeves
andy reeves
6 years ago

True, and those given the responsibility were not up to the task

andy reeves
andy reeves
6 years ago

Labor and colleges bunch did nobody any favors, Blair and his ‘boy band took the ax to the RN too.

Paul
Paul
6 years ago

The irony is that last year one of the many mis-placed arguments for Brexit is that there must not be a pan-European force. Is this proposal not the start?

andy reeves
andy reeves
6 years ago
Reply to  Paul

Once the NATO tasking is newly revealed showing who is expected to do what, we’ll see a change send e due expectation for the UK to monitor and if necessary plug the Greenland gap and maintain control of the sea lanes past Gibraltar

David Steeper
6 years ago
Reply to  andy reeves

Agree. As far as our contribution to NATO goes I think that’s where we should be focusing on.

andy reeves
andy reeves
6 years ago

navy you have turned this nation with its proud history into a national laughing stock. don’t fob the people off with rubbish about the global combat ship 13, cut to 8 the type 45 destroyer order 12 and cut to 6 and get conned into selling 72 harriers to the u.s for less than the price of ONE of it replacements fulfil the nato role in securing the greenland gap against a russian submarine breakout into the atlantic, secure the sea lanes? we couldn’t defend the gosport ferry, the cheapo frigate will be another disgrace won’t it? you ammuters should… Read more »

Steve
Steve
6 years ago
Reply to  andy reeves

What`s an ammuter ?

Steven
Steven
6 years ago
Reply to  Steve

His spelling and grammer maybe sh*te but do you deny the sentiment ?

Steve
Steve
6 years ago
Reply to  Steven

Not at all but sometimes a full on rant loses some of it’s impact when passion overtakes the poster.
Everything he says I agree with,just felt a little pedantic.

Meanwhile below the Troll from under the bridge (TH) has surfaced so at least some real sport is available. ?

andy reeves
andy reeves
6 years ago

Aircraft carrierswhat aircraft? Paper ones, or ones in ministers dreams? Because reality looks more like a nightmare I’d love it if her man decided it was time she reviewed the fleet, imagine the panic!! i’d pay to watch the panic, they’d bee painting the Gosport ferry gray and putting a fake gun on it. trying to pass it off as a frigate

Ian
Ian
6 years ago
Reply to  andy reeves

and breathe…

Suspect most of us are with you

Mark L
Mark L
6 years ago
Reply to  andy reeves

As we’ve just had the 13th F35 delivered the aircraft clearly aren’t paper Andy.

George
George
6 years ago
Reply to  andy reeves

Ha Ha Andy don’t forget HMS VICTORY is still A commissioned ship

Chris
Chris
6 years ago
Reply to  andy reeves

Andy – You left out Nimrod…

#FacePalm

John West
John West
6 years ago

I suspect that the French offer may actually be in good faith. The CDG is getting on and has not been a model of reliability. Spain’s Juan Carlos and Italy’s Cavour are good, but relatively small. Apart from the UK, they are the only other European operator of a large aircraft carrier. Economically, it would make sense for France to use UK carrier capacity. Politically it also makes sense if the French feel they will be forced to build another carrier to support Europe. Offering their amphibious capacity might simply be an opening gambit.

Paul.P
Paul.P
6 years ago
Reply to  John West

Indeed, it may be an opening gambit. F-35B might be able to fly off CDG or even Mistral, but Rafale can not fly off QE class. Some intriguing options.

Chris
Chris
6 years ago
Reply to  John West

John – The French missed out on their PA-02 carrier when they bailed out of their agreement to build a third QE class carrier with us. Its why they are in such a parlous state with their carrier capability. Never trust the French as they have proved on 3 joint venture programmes now

So I think we should smile sweetly, shrug in a Gallic sort of way and just quietly file the invite in the long grass……

David Steeper
6 years ago
Reply to  Chris

Absolutely. But don’t trust anyone. See F35 !

Paul.P
Paul.P
6 years ago

Sell Ocean to Brazil for £80million. Buy Mistral replacement from France for 1 euro ( the price Egypt paid). What’s not to like?

Ben P
Ben P
6 years ago

You are truly a troll. Pretty sad.

dadsarmy
dadsarmy
6 years ago

First things first, it is great the French have offered this, the military relationship between the UK and France is very important, and both face budget constraints. The Charles de Gaulle for instance has been escorted by a T45, and I think by T23s. It’s what you could call “Smart Defence” which is what NATO is all about, and what allied countries can be about as well. One filling gaps in another’s capabilities. If you take SNMG1 for instance, even though often operating in the north, the UK rarely provides a ship. On the other hand currently Ocean is in… Read more »

Paul.P
Paul.P
6 years ago
Reply to  dadsarmy

Agree. What the proposal does is to provide an option which unlinks the selling or mothballing of Albion and Bulwark from the fate of the RM. Of course they would have to eat French cuisine on their way to an assault; could slow them down on the beaches.

dadsarmy
dadsarmy
6 years ago
Reply to  Paul.P

There was some defence chief meeting 2 or 3 weeks back between the UK and France about more co-operation, and this is probably the first fruits of that. As you suggested above, perhaps this is the opening gambit, with perhaps France wanting some F35-Bs to fly off a QE in the future, similar to the USMC. It’s the way to go, optimising budgets, and avoiding unneccessary duplication.

Not pretty, and some will feel mighty upset, as above! The upside is better communications, more flexible control and command functions, and communications.

Paul.P
Paul.P
6 years ago
Reply to  dadsarmy

In a way it would also vindicate the UK decision to go for 2 carriers and STOVL. If I remember the alternative French proposal to reduce the costs of owning carrier strike capability was 1 – 2 UK QE with cats and traps plus French CGG and new nuclear PA2 with cats and traps but both flying Rafale and/or F-18, since CDG can’t support F-35C. As things have turned out if F-35B can match F-18F for range and payload it looks like the UK made the right call: to share costs across RN and RAF rather than between UK and… Read more »

Steve
Steve
6 years ago

A sensible arrangement, should they go and no replacement is available.

It does however make me wonder what we offer the French. Thanks to the decision not to go cat/trap, the carriers are useless for them, unless we also bring our jets.

They currently need our heavy lift planes, but they have their own incoming soon.

Sig int is still a strong point i guess.

Mark L
Mark L
6 years ago

Calm down TH, this is only a story in the Financial Times. You need to learn that stories in newspapers aren’t the same thing as reality. Also, a 50 Billion Euro (not £) bill spread over many years wouldn’t “bankrupt” the country. You really are a journalists dream, so easily led…..

Steven
Steven
6 years ago

TH, choke on your boyfriend

Chris
Chris
6 years ago

TH – Meanwhile in the real world …….??

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
6 years ago

I single alarmist report in the FT sends the world into meltdown.

Will be interesting to read the naysayer posts when the real cuts come.

Until then, so many here actually get off on speculation and rumour, while one poster gets off on the despair of others, but that person truly has issues.

Tim62
Tim62
6 years ago

@Harold, why oh why would the EU have anything to do with this or the French military in general
?

Peter French
Peter French
6 years ago

If true this would be beyond parody. Trusting another Nation to provide equipment so we can carry out a defensive operation. Emergencies meaning a requirement now and should that happen and even if France can be trusted to provide such equipment could they give it a drop of a hat. The whole concept is whacko
How about the Falklands when getting support room our Continental “Allies” was almost impossible EG Belgium was asked for Artillery ammunition and refused . Some alliance

Darren
Darren
6 years ago

If the Bright UK government have no need for this capability ever, why do we need any help from France, as it is not required? I don’t need this football as I don’t play football. Can you lease me this football, as I play football?

Darren
Darren
6 years ago
Reply to  Darren

I mean, is this just the continued piss-take of this Country, her armed forces and forcing on us this eu wide defence, as in eu army and future eu navy?

Darren
Darren
6 years ago
Reply to  Darren

I think there is a good reason to be worried about PESCO hanging over us, or rather our weak government giving into it.