Possible Scottish Defece Force

Please I intend this to be a genuine what if thread …If you want to dicuss whether it’ll happen or not and the politics surrounding it please use the General section.

Earlier this week the SNP set out if there was a Yes vote on September 18th Next year, what a Scottish Defence Force would be made of by “Independence Day” in March 2016. That’s after 18 months of initial negotiations.

The Scottish Defence Force Orbat would look like this…

Airforce HQ (embedded within NATO structures)
A QRA Sqn – Min 12 Typhoons based at Lossiemouth
A Tactical Air transport Sqn, including approx 6 C130J and a Helicopter Sqn
Flight Training through Joint Arrangement with Allies.
Scotland remains part of NATO’s AC2 through current agreements during establishment of Scottish Defence Forces own AC2 during first 5 Years of Independence.

2 Frigates
Command Platform for Naval Ops and development of Specialist Marine Capabilities (Adapted from a current RN Vessel)
4 Mine Counter Measure Vessels
2 OPVs (RN only has 4 total, so possible Longer lead procurement)
Auxiliary support Ships (Initially Shared with RN)

A Deployable Brigade HQ
2 Light Armed reconnaissance Units
2 Light Artillery Units
1 Engineering Unit (Bridging/mine clearance/Engineering Functions)
1 Aviation Unit operating 6 Helicopters in reccon and liaison roles.
2 communications Units
1 Transport Unit
1 Logistics unit
1 Medical Unit

Also Special Forces and Explosive/Ordnance Disposal teams

The plan then goes on to highlight Independence + 5 years

Increase number of Typhoons possibly to 16 allowing possible overseas deployment
Increasing Scottish Contribution to Air Defence capabilities as part of integrated NATO System
Specification of requirement and initial steps of procurement of an MPA Type. Possibly 4 aircraft

2 further Frigates
tanker/ support ship capacity

Develop All Arms Brigade’s capabilities
Increase infantry Strength
Upgrading Light Armour, artillery, aviation and Medical Units
increase strength of Special Forces unit
Increase Deployable personnel to conflict prevention, disarmament defence diplomacy.

Source:Scotland’s Future

Opinions please…

Is 18 months long enough to establish the initial levels?
Is there anything more that should be initially in place?
What about after the 5 year mark…would that level be achievable or sustainable. Could more be done in that 5 years, if so what else?

Finally if the Scottish Defence Force didn’t have to take shares from the RAF, but instead was given a blank sheet of paper, what would a realistic Orbat be like as a initial wish-list, and then at the 5 year mark?