This topic has gone far beyond the original "Ark Royal" starter hasn't it.
But most of the posts have concentrated on the decimation of the "Bits That Matter"...that is, ships, aircraft,tanks and so on.
Very little has been said about the bits of the MoD that aren't "front line". The newspapers seem to equate everyone not in uniform as a "pen-pusher". Whilst I agree 100% that we have too many "office staff", there are many, many people employed by the MoD who "do" stuff.
When we read about (for instance) the thousands of people employed, the news always seems to think that they are all siiting behind a desk. Not so. The MoD demands a huge maintenance staff without whom the "front line" bit would just fall apart. You name it, the list is too long. But think about it. Research, Development, Testing, all has to be done. Mainly by employees of the MoD.
My personal poisoned finger would be aimed at the suits in Whitehall who seem to be so overmanned that complacency has become endemic. Just witness the laxity within the procurement section. BY.