The army is no longer “combat effective” after losing another 3,000 troops, warn former Top Brass

THE Army is no longer ‘combat effective’ after losing another 3,000 troops in a year, former Top Brass warn.

They said the exodus left frontline units vulnerable.

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Ex-Chief of the Defense Staff, General Lord Richards, said: “Never in my long professional life have the armed forces been weaker.

“The army in particular is in the worst shape it has ever been – old equipment, woefully undermanned, poorly trained and with a glaring shortage of ammunition.”

General Sir Richard Barrons, a former Joint Chief, said: “The Army is essentially broken. We must be absolutely clear – the army is no longer combative for the world we live in now.”

And former Army Intelligence Colonel Phil Ingram criticized “poor leadership and appalling living conditions”.

MoD figures show troop strength has fallen to 79,000 regulars in the 12 months to January.

They are set to drop to 73,000 next year, under cuts announced by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace raised hopes he could stop the cuts. But Prime Minister Rishi Sunak gave him half of the £11billion he wanted – most of it for nuclear submarines. The rest will replenish the ammunition that was sent to Ukraine.

Last night, the army said the numbers were being reviewed amid the “biggest transformation in 20 years.”