We must cease being dependent on the USA when it comes to defence - Yorkshire Post Letters
From: Len Gallon, Braithwaite Road, Keighley.
It was interesting to read the Letter from Paul Richardson re the reduced state of the Royal Navy. I also did my National Service in the Royal Navy 1955-1957, serving aboard HMS Ulysses which was part of the Sixth Frigate Squadron alongside HM Ships URSA, Undine and Uranus. Hope I remembered names correctly.
Regarding the length of time for the current Destroyer HMS Dragon to set sail for the Med, I think back to the Christmas period of 1955 when we were based in Malta. On the Boxing Day of that year all four ships departed Malta. Orders must have been given from the Admiralty to head to Cyprus to hunt for Russian-Alien Submarines.
Unfortunately, there was a force 10 gale blowing as we departed harbour and some crew members from HMS Ulysses were swept overboard resulting in three or four deaths.
The ship was unable to stop and carried on its voyage to Cyprus. This is a subject which seems to be surrounded in mystery as enquiries over the years from many former crew members as to why the forecastle had not been temporally cleared before we were out into the open sea have never been answered in detail. The reasons remain a mystery.
Apart from that it certainly is a tragedy that the Royal Navy together with our other Armed
Forces have been reduced to the current state where it would be almost impossible to launch a reliable and viable defence against any major threat to the United Kingdom.
Without exception all our political parties are culpable for this inexcusable situation. Priority must be given immediately to remedying this situation.
One lesson that we and the rest of Europe must learn from the Trump administration is that we must cease being dependent on the USA and must be completely independent and to rely on our own United European defence systems in cooperation against the ongoing threat from Russia and other alien countries who seek to ‘rule the world’.
Another point is that bringing back National Service would be quite a good idea and I am sure that many young men and maybe ladies would benefit from the experience in these uncertain times where finding full and useful employment is not as easy compared to the days of my youth.