British Army Could Crumble in a Year Without Backup Forces, Minister Warns

The British Army could be depleted within "six months to a year" in the event of a large-scale conflict, emphasizing the urgent need to rebuild the nation's reserve forces, according to Veterans Minister Al Carns. Speaking at a conference on reserves at the Royal United Services Institute in London, Carns highlighted the high casualty rates seen in the ongoing war in Ukraine, where Russian forces are sustaining losses of around 1,500 soldiers daily, including those killed and injured. This ability to endure such heavy losses, he said, is central to Russia's strategy and serves as a warning for the UK to enhance its preparedness by expanding its reserve capacity.

Carns, a former Royal Marine colonel turned politician, suggested that in a conflict similar in scale to the war in Ukraine, the British Army, as part of a multinational coalition, would face unsustainable losses at current rates. He noted that while professional armies initiate wars, civilians often end them by stepping in as volunteers and reservists, as seen in Ukraine. Highlighting the depth of Russia's resilience, Carns pointed out that Moscow is already transitioning to its third army in the conflict, a stark reminder of the necessity for countries like Britain to be able to generate manpower quickly in a crisis.

The UK has historically underinvested in its reserve forces, prioritizing resources for the regular armed services—the full-time Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force—since the end of the Cold War. This has left the reserves undermanned, insufficiently trained, and lacking critical equipment such as body armor, weapons, and fighting vehicles. Carns stressed that building depth and mass does not necessarily require a larger standing army but rather an enhanced ability...