The UK Government has been accused of an "intolerable betrayal" of the Black Watch and other Scottish battalions after it emerged they could be axed.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond warned entire infantry and armoured units would be scrapped under swingeing defence cuts.

His comments triggered concern among senior Scottish Tories who are understood to be prepared to go in to bat for the Black Watch if it is earmarked for the chop.

The party is believed to be keenly aware of the signal such a move would send about the UK Government's attitude to Scotland not least in the run-up to the 2014 independence referendum.

The row comes as Prince Charles, The Duke of Rothesay, is due in Scotland today to inspect soldiers at a parade in Edinburgh to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

The UK Government is committed to cutting the Army from 102,000 soldiers to 82,000 as part of last year's strategic defence review.

Mr Hammond admitted yesterday that to achieve such deep cuts would not be painless, saying "clearly the Army can't get smaller by 17% without losing some units."

Asked if traditional regimental names such as the Black Watch and Green Howards could be lost, Mr Hammond said: "The ancient cap badges have largely gone. They are attached in brackets to some unit names. I can't say to you there will be no loss of battalions in the infantry as we downsize the Army. We are looking at the options."

The Defence Secretary also appeared to brush aside arguments of the importance of ties to traditional recruitment areas.

"It is not the case that all Army units, as they once did, have strong geographical recruitment ties," he said. "We have units that are recruiting a significant part of their strength from foreign and Commonwealth countries."

His comment prompted fears over the future of the Black Watch, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and the Royal Highland Fusiliers.

Angus Robertson, the SNP's Westminster leader, said: "The disbandment of these senior units would be an intolerable betrayal by the UK Government.

"It brings into sharp focus the shocking decline of Scottish recruited units and starkly exposes the extent to which the UK Government are running-down Scotland's defence capabilities."

Shadow Defence Secretary Jim Murphy said: "The defence community will be dismayed that history is being dismissed.

"Defence is about more than inputs, outputs and spreadsheets. It is also about people, tradition and pride.

"Philip Hammond seems either oblivious or uncaring about the historic ties that many communities have to Army units and vice versa."

Mr Murphy also accused the Army of being 'top heavy' and called on the Coalition to cut more senior officers.

Mid-Scotland & Fife Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser said he had written to the Defence Secretary asking for clarity on the cuts. But he added that any MoD proposals "must not see our battalions stripped of their history and identity".

He added: "There can be little operational benefit from these changes and I am strongly urging the Ministry of Defence not to proceed with this move, if indeed it is being proposed.

"The MoD must think again as Scotland's infantry units are among the world's best fighting units."

But Clive Fairweather, a former commander in the SAS, expressed doubt that historic names would be lost, predicting instead that a "political" decision would be found.

He said: "Even if the Government pretends the names are not being lost (their) capability would be. But on the other hand, there is no money left in the piggy bank."

An MoD spokesman said: "A review of the future structure of the Army is ongoing and no conclusions have yet been reached."