--- title: "The Royal Navy is using US troops to crew their ships, but this time we won’t go to war over it" date: "2018-04-02" modified: "2020-10-21" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/royal-navy-using-u-s-troops-fill-ships-time-wont-go-war/" categories: - "Coast Guard" - "History" --- # The Royal Navy is using US troops to crew their ships, but this time we won’t go to war over it ![]() The United Kingdom's Navy is experiencing a big manpower shortage brought on by years of intentional recruiting shortfalls. As a result the British approached the U.S. to help fill the gaps, but the needed help came from the Coast Guard not the Navy. --- The first time the Royal Navy used American Navy personnel it resulted in the War of 1812. Now, more than 200 years later, the discussion is much more amicable. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul F. Zukunft explained the situation at a recent event: ![]() *Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft and First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff of the U.K. Royal Navy Adm. Sir George Zambellas discuss the future relationship between the U.S. Coast Guard and U.K. Royal Navy. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Patrick Kelley)* "Sixteen years ago, the Royal Navy was looking at budget challenges and they figured that one way they could meet budget is if they bring in no new personnel accessions," Zukunft said. "They did that for three years. So now, over 16 years later, you've got this big hole in the Royal Navy in sea-going ratings, engineers and electricians." The Royal Navy's First Sea Lord, the head of all Naval personnel for the UK, Adm. Sir George Zambellas, [personally asked for Coast Guardsmen to support the Royal Navy's operations](). He offered to pay all permanent change of station costs and put the troops and their families up to "live the great European lifestyle." ![]() *U.S. Coast Guard First Class Cadet Holly Madden logs a reading in the engine room aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Eagle. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class NyxoLyno Cangemi)* The Coast Guard agreed. The Royal Navy will soon host 36 enlisted men and women from [to support its Type 23 Frigate operations](). The UK needed machinery technicians and electrician's mates first and foremost. This is actually not the first collaboration, as the Royal Navy and U.S. Coast Guard have been longtime partners, especially through Joint Interagency Task Force South, a key counter-trafficking task force in the Caribbean. When Adm. Zunkunft asked Lord Zambellas why he didn't ask for sailors from the U.S. Navy, the First Sea Lord replied: "Well, you have old ships, we have old ships. Yours aren't under warranty, ours aren't under warranty. When they break, far away from home, the first thing you do is call is the duty engineer to come down and fix it. You don't call a contractor." ![]() *This is what happened the first time the UK started using U.S. troops on board its ships. (Library of Congress)* ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()