Navy facing struggle for survival (1)
The Royal Navy is facing a struggle for survival against a Treasury intent on cutting back on defence spending, a report warns today.
The Royal Navy is now “smaller than it has ever been in its history but the demands upon the few remaining ships remain as high as ever,” says British Warships and Auxiliaries, an annual guide to the state of the Navy.
With Afghanistan absorbing an increasing amount of resources, the Navy’s surface warship and submarine fleets look set to be the most vulnerable.
Steve Bush, the editor of the guide, warns that even though the Navy is to receive two large aircraft carriers and more of the new Type 45 destroyers, there will not be enough frigates and destroyers to protect the most important ships. Mr Bush, who left the Royal Navy in 2000 after 20 years, told The Times: “There are new ships coming through but the fleet has been pared back so much by the Government that there are now not enough escort ships to protect the bigger vessels.
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Related:
Royal Navy’s image suffers from having to operate over the horizon
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mike Says:
Rule Britannia, Britannia rules the waves…….
Mid Island Mike
Posted on January 4th, 2010 at 11:10 am
beentheredonethat Says:
there will not be enough frigates and destroyers to protect the most important ships.
If they don’t provide adequate protection for their captial ships, then don’t even bother building them. They will be sunk. Having spent considerable time working (and socializing because that’s what sailors do all over the world) with Royal Navy sailors, this is a disturbing story. Assigned to a 6 month tour in the NATO Squadron accompanying HMS Juniper allowed me and my mates to become good friends with many RN lower decks sailors. Good enough friends that one day I sent a single roll of toilet paper via the Jupiter’s helicopter to a buddy on that ship for his personal enjoyment. Little did the pilot’s know that they were held up idling on our flightdeck while I wrapped up the roll so nobody would know what it was. Ha, wonder how much that cost? I know from personal experience that we sand drywall with the same grit of paper the RN uses for toilet paper. Anyway, walking the wooden upper decks and the layered gun decks of Admiral Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory in Portsmouth and various naval bases in Scotland and elesewhere has instilled in me personally a great respect for the history, traditions and the people who wear the uniform of the RN. Many of these traditions and a lot of terminology were adopted by the RCN. Some still survive today in the Canadian Navy despite the numerous attempts by consecutive Canadian governments to bury our historic military traditions by Canadianizing us. Royal Navy and Canadian sailors are more like first cousins because unlike politicians, we remember, we value and we serve. Far too often and to the detriment of our military politicians don’t. PMSH has been steadly working towards undoing the damage. Given the current state of the RN if Argentina decides to retake the Falklands it is doubtful that Britian will ‘stand fast’ and defend once again. It won’t be able to but even if it could that country does not have a leader with a vertebrate.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Jupiter_(F60)
Posted on January 4th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
Undecided Voter Says:
If the British Navy is looking for some cheap submarines to enlarge their navy, they could always buy back those crappy ones our lieberal guberment got from them.
I wonder if their still in a Canadian dry-dock some place?
Posted on January 4th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
beentheredonethat Says:
I saw that one was up out of the water on the submarine lift in Halifax harbour in October when I was there. I think it may be the same one (HMCS Chicoutimi?) that’s been up on the lift for a couple of years now at least.
Posted on January 4th, 2010 at 6:30 pm
Undecided Voter Says:
Rumor has it that they plan to put tracks on it thereby turning it into a tank.
I dont know how these rumors get started.
Posted on January 4th, 2010 at 7:02 pm