Defence Minister Al Carns has confirmed that the Army Rangers and Royal Marines Commando Force form a key part of the UK’s emerging special operations-capable structure, designed to enhance flexibility and resilience across modern warfare missions.
In response to written parliamentary questions from Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty, Carns said the Strategic Defence Review 2025 recognised that “the current threat environment means Defence needs greater choice and resilience across the spectrum of military effects.”
He stated that “units such as the Army Rangers and the Commando Force will provide the special operations-capable forces required to improve the UK’s warfighting capabilities as well as helping fulfil our contribution to NATO’s Special Operations Taskforce 2026.”
The clarification fits with the Strategic Defence Review’s push to better integrate conventional and irregular warfare. It implies that while the UK’s main Special Forces, like the SAS and SBS, will stay out of public view, a broader range of units will now take part in NATO-led special operations and expeditionary missions.
The planned NATO Special Operations Taskforce, set for 2026, shows the alliance’s move toward a more joined-up special operations framework designed to handle both hybrid and high-intensity threats.
All good stuff.
Pity HMG keep removing their enablers, like helicopters, amphibious vessels, and transport aircraft.
I also understand that the Royal Signals Sqn assigned to ASOB has been nicked from elsewhere, leaving that other formation with less, or is duel hatted.
So while they are “improving the UKs “warfighting capabilities” as Mr Carns says, we are weakening our warfighting capabilities at the same time by removing aforementioned assets.
Are we not, Mr Carns?
So it’s more spin, isn’t it?
And going even further back, before the Rangers and the SIG even existed, we had full size Infantry Battalions that ACTUALLY formed part of several all arms Brigades, which had their own CS and CSS….in themselves nvaluable for warfighting and indeed some of our Brigades have no CS CSS at all, making them paper Brigades.
But HMG won’t dwell on that.
The Army and RM then had 8 such Brigades, post Cold War up to the modern era of cuts from 95 onwards.
So as much as I support and agree with the need for Special Operations forces to work in the Grey Zone, I still find it ironic that those orphaned Infantry Battalions that lost their Brigade level supports to cuts are now conveniently available to form the SIG, then the ASOB, which itself doesn’t require the same CS CSS as a conventional Brigade would.
Even in 2007, we had 10 Brigades in the Army plus regional brigades.
But yes, ASOB is a cut by any other measure. Having spoken deeply to friends within the Bde, there is neither the logistical capability nor the political will to use them in the same way the US uses it’s Special Forces.
And as for Future Commando Force – utterly irrelevant to how we actually want to fight. It’s purely a way to preserve the Royal Marines without having to pay for an Amphibious theatre entry capability (from friends within the RN and RM).
Thanks, Bob, so my count was 2 out, who did I miss?
I was basing it in the period up to 2010.
1,12,19 Mechanized. ( 19 went Light )
4,7 20 Armoured. ( 4 went Mechanized )
16 Air Assault.
3 Commando.
.?
Ah! 11 and 52 Infantry Brigade for Helmand and using other Brigades CS CSS?
Well depends what Special Forces you mean. If you mean Delta than yes, because that’s the realm that SAS operate in. If you mean GB’s then, no, Rangers work alongside them. Neither Rangers nor GB’s have huge logistical footprints, and the political permissions are slowly coming as the capability matures.
(Another thing worth noting is there are considerable differences in the culture, capability, permissions and lived experience of the 4 Ranger Battalions, and that is something that the Brigade is trying to get a grip on, but will take time).
Sorry, Dern, GBs?
Green Berets.
These comments sections are just full of either whiny gammons or Russian trolls. It’s relentless. Every article. Just constant moaning.
Whiney Gammon, sounds tasty……
My wife’s favourite, Gammon.
Although Mum used to soak the Gammon in cider for some time….
Christmas soon too.
Indeed, and many folk who live on nostalgia… take the Hercules sold to Turkey (can’t remember the new spelling)… they are all in need the main box spar (I think that’s right) replaced before the Turks buy them… great for Marshall’s at Cambridge but it does point out that these were time expired airframes. And there’s still whinging about the Harrier… but again that’s ancient history. Wars aren’t won with nostalgia. … remember when we had our chaps in red coats… that never stopped us winning,.. why did we change?…. never been the same since we stop the rum ration. Mind you, I have some sympathy with that!
thx for sharing your complaints 🙂
oops – reply @ RobRoss
😆 He’s at liberty to scroll on by.
Pointing out some home truths with the historical and ongoing hypocrisy in HMGs statements isn’t moaning, it’s offering balance to the constant positivity coming from the MoD and HMG at how wonderfully they support Defence.
It’s relentless….every week, just constant Grandstanding and announcing more programs.
😉
Yep and a lot of actual fu#k all being done.
We are now in ‘full tilt’ Cold War 2 with a belligerent Russia that will attack from any angle.
The Govenment response has been to do nothing.
There should have been an immediate mini budget, where defence funds were lifted to 3.5% .
The SDSR changing course to take this new reality into account. What we’ve got is the square route of nothing from a dithering and utterly useless government.