The Strategic Fallout from Scottish Independence by Galrahn, Information Dissemination
… The pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP) has created a Defence White Paper detailing its “demands” on the British Armed Forces should the independence vote be successful. These include handing over one of Britain’s only two Typhoon fighter squadrons, 10% of Britain’s rapidly dwindling surface fleet, and 3 of the British Army’s 36 infantry battalions. These losses may seem small, but an independent Scotland would also demand the removal of Britain’s Trident nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBN's) and their associated support units from the longtime British submarine/nuclear weapons bases at Faslane and Coulport. Such a move could threaten the continuing viability of the British nuclear deterrent and likely cost thousands of jobs and millions of pounds in lost investment according to a report issued by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) last month…