1981 Defence White Paper facts for kids

The 1981 Defence White Paper was an important plan for how the United Kingdom would defend itself. It was called "The UK Defence Programme: The Way Forward" and was published by the Conservative government led by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The main person behind this plan was John Nott, who was in charge of defence at the time.

The main goal of the plan was to spend less money on defence because of a tough economic time in the early 1980s. It also aimed to focus more on helping NATO (a group of countries working together for defence) and less on military actions far away from home. However, many people later felt that this plan actually weakened the UK's defences. Some even believe it was one reason why the Falklands War started.

What Changes Were Planned for the Royal Navy?

This defence plan suggested big cuts to the Royal Navy's surface ships. For example, it proposed selling the new aircraft carrier Invincible to Australia. This would have left the UK with only two aircraft carriers.

The plan wanted the Royal Navy to focus mostly on finding and fighting submarines for NATO. It thought that big operations far from the UK, like landing troops on beaches, were unlikely. There was even a risk that the entire Royal Marine amphibious force, which specializes in these landings, might be shut down. The plan also said that two important assault ships, Intrepid and Fearless, would be taken out of service by 1984.

Even though one new Type 22 frigate was ordered, John Nott said that nine of the navy's 59 escort ships would be taken out of service. These were mainly older ships like the County, Leander, and Rothesay classes. This decision was made because it was becoming too expensive to fix and maintain these older warships. Some older destroyers and frigates would be kept in reserve, ready if needed. Along with cutting ships, Nott also announced that between 8,000 and 10,000 people would leave the navy.

Nott also announced plans to order five more nuclear-powered attack submarines. This would bring the total to 17, showing a greater focus on the navy's underwater forces. A new type of regular (conventionally-powered) attack submarine, called the Type 2400, was also planned. The navy's existing plan to build 20 surface warships was not affected by the cuts. However, the overall number of surface ships would still go down because older ships were being removed faster than new ones were being built. The plan also confirmed that the navy would get the Trident submarine-launched missiles. This was part of the government's plan to update Britain's nuclear weapons.

The ice patrol ship Endurance was also going to be removed from duty in the South Atlantic. The government of Argentina saw this as a sign that the UK was weakening its presence there. This encouraged Argentina to invade the Falkland Islands. The Chatham Dockyard, an important naval base, was also set to close. Plans for new destroyers, the Type 43 and Type 44, were cancelled, as was an improved version of the Sea Dart MkII missile.

What Changes Were Planned for the British Army?

The regular army was going to be reduced to 135,000 soldiers, which meant 7,000 fewer people. To balance this, the Territorial Army, which is a reserve force, would slowly grow by 16,000 people (from 70,000 to 86,000). In Germany, where Britain had troops helping NATO, about 2,000 soldiers would be removed, leaving a total of 55,000. This was done by taking away one divisional headquarters.

Nott also announced that four armoured regiments would get the new Challenger tank. There would also be an increase in the order of the MILAN anti-tank missile, which is used to destroy enemy tanks.

What Changes Were Planned for the Royal Air Force?

The Royal Air Force (RAF) would lose 2,500 people. However, the plan promised to keep all of the RAF's ongoing projects. It also confirmed that the RAF would buy the AV-8B Harrier in cooperation with the United States.

Two squadrons of F-4 Phantom jets were to be kept for air defence in the UK. Two more Phantom squadrons in Germany would also stay. These jets were not phased out as planned when the Panavia Tornado ADV was introduced. The number of updated Nimrod Mk II maritime patrol aircraft would also increase by three, to a total of 34.

Because the plan focused on air defence, the number of Hawk trainer jets equipped with AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles would be doubled to 72. These would help support the RAF's main fighter squadrons.

How the Falklands War Changed Defence Plans

After the Falklands War, many of the ideas from the 1981 defence plan were re-examined. A new defence plan in December 1982 introduced several changes. These changes aimed to make the UK's armed forces more mobile and flexible for future operations, both within the NATO area and elsewhere.

These new plans included several ways to make the Royal Navy stronger:

• It was confirmed that three aircraft carriers would be kept in service. Usually, two would be active, and one would be undergoing repairs or in reserve.
• The assault ships, Fearless and Intrepid, would be kept. This decision was actually announced before the Falklands War started.
• The landing ship RFA Sir Galahad, which was lost in the war, would be replaced. The ship RFA Sir Tristram, which was damaged, would be repaired.
• Two more Batch II and two Batch III Type 22 frigates were ordered to replace destroyers and frigates lost during the war.
• The plan was to keep 55 destroyers and frigates in active service until the mid-1980s, with none in reserve. This was a big change from the 1981 plan, which aimed to reduce the fleet to 50 ships, with up to eight of them in reserve.
• Aircraft carriers, assault ships, and Type 82 and Type 42 destroyers would get better air defence systems.
• Operational aircraft carriers would get their own airborne early warning system, using the Searchwater radar.
• All naval aircraft lost in the war would be replaced. Seven more Sea Harrier fighter jets and six more Sea King helicopters were also ordered.
• Two more Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessels (ships that find and clear mines) were ordered.
• The ice patrol ship, HMS Endurance, would stay in the South Atlantic.

Further changes were made to improve the ability of the Army and Royal Air Force to operate far from home:

• 5 Brigade would be strengthened for future operations outside the NATO area. Some Hercules transport aircraft would be fitted with special equipment to allow the brigade to parachute into action by 1985.
• Six Tristar aircraft were bought to be changed into air-refueling tankers and large transport planes.
• RAF Harriers and Chinook heavy-lift helicopters lost in the conflict were replaced. Five more Chinooks were also bought.
• At least 12 more F-4 Phantom fighter jets were bought from the United States. These replaced Phantoms already in RAF service that were now assigned to defend the Falkland Islands. These extra Phantom F4J(UK) aircraft made sure there was no gap in the air defence of the UK mainland.
• 24 more Rapier surface-to-air missile launchers were bought for the Army and the RAF Regiment.
• The amount and variety of items in the war stockpile, specifically for operations outside the NATO area, were increased by investing at least £10 million.