Lord Sovereign
The resident Britbong
3% of GDP seems to be a bit of a magical number when it comes to modern developed nations and defence spending. Whilst 2% is the bare minimum (gold star for effort bullshit), 3% is very good and means you take defence seriously. However, I do wonder what a country such as my own, Britain, could afford with that level of expenditure. By my calculations, 3% of Britain's GDP=£60 000 000 000, which is roughly $75 000 000 000 in yankee dankee doodle shite money.
What sort of military could Britain field with this spending? As I understand it, the British Armed Forces would be beefed up to a strength they've not seen since the end of the Cold War (I'm hardly expecting the might they wielded during the days of empire. For better or for worse, those times have passed). In particular, I'm concerned with naval matters as the United Kingdom is an island nation and the Royal Navy should be our pride and joy.
As it stands, Her Majesty has 149000 men at her disposal with 44000 reservists at an expenditure of roughly 2% GDP. They are divided as such.
British Army: 75000 regulars, 27250 reservists. Roughly two thousand armoured vehicles and over two hundred Challenger 2 battle tanks.
Royal Navy: 32760 regulars, roughly 11000 reservists. 78 commissioned ships (including two carriers, two amphibious dock transports, four ballistic missile submarines, seven nuclear fleet submarines, six guided missile destroyers, thirteen frigates, thirteen mine-counter measures vessels and twenty-four patrol vessels), plus thirteen ships in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (people forget how important these chaps are, as without their tankers, replenishment vessels, dock ships and such, the fleet could not function. I'd put some money their way as a matter of priority)
Royal Air Force: 32940 regulars, roughly 5000 auxiliaries and reservists. 832 operational aircraft (157 Eurofighter Typhoons and 18 F-35s, with a total of 138 F-35s to be procured by the RAF. The old Tornados are fucking gone with no replacements. We have no dedicated air supremacy fighter. Given that the Russians are selling Su-57s on the cheap, I'm surprised no one has cashed in on that.)
Oh! And last, but most certainly not least, the Corps of Royal Marines (ship bound commando death machines that would send the crayon eaters crying home for their mommas): 7760 regulars, 750 Royal Marines Reserves. Not much in the way of armour aside from some jeeps with machine guns.
(No Space Force sadly. )
I may ask these questions again in the context of other countries, like France, Italy, Holland, Ireland and such. Should be fun!
What sort of military could Britain field with this spending? As I understand it, the British Armed Forces would be beefed up to a strength they've not seen since the end of the Cold War (I'm hardly expecting the might they wielded during the days of empire. For better or for worse, those times have passed). In particular, I'm concerned with naval matters as the United Kingdom is an island nation and the Royal Navy should be our pride and joy.
As it stands, Her Majesty has 149000 men at her disposal with 44000 reservists at an expenditure of roughly 2% GDP. They are divided as such.
British Army: 75000 regulars, 27250 reservists. Roughly two thousand armoured vehicles and over two hundred Challenger 2 battle tanks.
Royal Navy: 32760 regulars, roughly 11000 reservists. 78 commissioned ships (including two carriers, two amphibious dock transports, four ballistic missile submarines, seven nuclear fleet submarines, six guided missile destroyers, thirteen frigates, thirteen mine-counter measures vessels and twenty-four patrol vessels), plus thirteen ships in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (people forget how important these chaps are, as without their tankers, replenishment vessels, dock ships and such, the fleet could not function. I'd put some money their way as a matter of priority)
Royal Air Force: 32940 regulars, roughly 5000 auxiliaries and reservists. 832 operational aircraft (157 Eurofighter Typhoons and 18 F-35s, with a total of 138 F-35s to be procured by the RAF. The old Tornados are fucking gone with no replacements. We have no dedicated air supremacy fighter. Given that the Russians are selling Su-57s on the cheap, I'm surprised no one has cashed in on that.)
Oh! And last, but most certainly not least, the Corps of Royal Marines (ship bound commando death machines that would send the crayon eaters crying home for their mommas): 7760 regulars, 750 Royal Marines Reserves. Not much in the way of armour aside from some jeeps with machine guns.
(No Space Force sadly. )
I may ask these questions again in the context of other countries, like France, Italy, Holland, Ireland and such. Should be fun!