Head of British Army quits after his boss claimed a 'naval officer could do his ... trends now
The head of the Army is stepping down after allegedly falling out with the overall chief of the Armed Forces, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin.
Discussions are already taking place to replace Gen Sir Patrick Sanders, who has served as chief of staff for just a year so far, over rowing with the top Royal Navy officer over troop cuts and procurement priorities.
While the Royal Navy and RAF have maintained their numbers, the Army is being slashed to 73,000 soldiers - and is braced for further reductions.
Many senior officers also believe the Army has been on the wrong end of decisions about what equipment to buy.
Only a few days ago Sir Patrick launched a withering attack on the Army's armoured vehicles and tanks, likening the several-decades-old fleet to 'rotary dial telephones in an iPhone age'.
General Sir Patrick Sanders (pictured) has stepped down from his role after allegedly falling out with the overall chief of the Armed Forces, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin
Adm Radakin (pictured) previously held the role of head of the Royal Navy, with army sources reportedly complaining that he often dedicated vast funds to expensive warships
Only a few days ago Sir Patrick launched a withering attack on the Army's armoured vehicles and tanks, likening the several-decades-old fleet to 'rotary dial telephones in an iPhone age'.
Adm Radakin previously held the role of head of the Royal Navy, with army sources reportedly complaining that he often dedicated vast funds to expensive warships.
The suggestion, serious or otherwise, that another senior military official, General Gwyn Jenkins could also do Sir Patrick's job supposedly infuriated Sir Patrick.
Gen Jenkins has been fast-tracked throughout his career and served with the Special Boat Service (SBS) in Afghanistan and Iraq.
He also jumped the queue of top brass when, in August 2022, he was appointed Sir Tony's deputy as Vice Chief of the Defence Staff.
A source said: 'It was naïve of Sir Tony to make that remark at a senior strategy group meeting, because it was always going to get back to Sir Patrick, who wouldn't be amused.
'There wasn't any love lost between them anyway, but this didn't help. They're in different places over what direction the UK's armed forces should go in.
'Sir Tony is driving the so-called 'Pacific tilt' [Britain's foreign policy of seeking to be a major player in the region] and Sir Patrick is focusing on Ukraine and protecting the Army from more cuts.
'He has been outspoken about the need to maintain a credible force and retaining enough soldiers. Finally he's had enough and he wants to sail around France.'
King Charles III (right) with Admiral Sir Tony Radakin (left) during a ceremony he presented new Standards and Colours to the Royal Navy; the Life Guards of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment; The King's Company of the Grenadier Guards, and The King's Colour Squadron of the Royal Air Force, at Buckingham Palace in London
Britain's first female general, Lieutenant General Sharon Nesmith, is among those who could succeed Sir Patrick.
Former SAS officer Lieutenant General Roly Walker, Lieutenant General Ralph Wooddisse and Lieutenant General Nick Borton are the other candidates.
Sir Patrick's retirement has been announced only 16 months after he was appointed Chief of the General Staff. He will leave office in 2024, when he could have stayed onto into 2025.
Last night Tory MP Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the Commons defence select committee, suggested Sir Patrick may have paid a high price for being outspoken.
He said: 'Sir Patrick's departure is a huge loss to the Army. He is willing to tell political leaders what they should hear rather than what they'd like to hear regarding the true state of the Army.'
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace also described Sir Patrick as 'a first class general', but he insisted: 'Senior officers come and go and that is the nature of our armed forces.
'The fight against Russia, through our support for Ukraine, has been carried out by a range of people and I don't think that interrupting the normal scheme of things will make a difference.
Gen Sanders also slammed the country's decision to donate Challenger 2 tanks and other weapons to Ukraine, saying it left the nation 'temporarily weaker as an army, there is no denying it'
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace updating MPs in the House of Commons on the latest situation in Ukraine on Monday
A challenger 2 Main Battle Tank pictured during a Land Combat demonstration in October 2018
'Ultimately I'm confident in the quality of generals I'll be interviewing for the post.
'When I appointed General Patrick the condition was he would be doing two years. So there is no point listening to gossipy reporting that he's spoken out and his time will be cut short.'
