Former Royal Navy chief slams variety of ships in fleet as ‘pathetically low’
A former Royal Navy chief has slammed the present state of the fleet – after it was revealed greater than 1 / 4 of the UK’s frigates by no means left port final yr.
Of the 12 Type 23 frigates, three – HMS Iron Duke, HMS St Albans and HMS Sutherland – spent no time at sea over that interval, in keeping with just lately launched figures from the Ministry of Defence.
A fourth ship, HMS Argyll,spent simply 21 days away from port.
Meanwhile, one Type 45 destroyer – HMS Daring – spent no time at sea whereas present process a refit, with HMS Dragon leaving port for simply 18 days.
Now Admiral Lord West, who was Chief of the Naval Staff between 2002 and 2006, has claimed the variety of ships is ‘pathetically low’ and that Britain ought to possess a fleet that will “make someone’s eyes water if they crossed us at sea”.
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The former First Sea Lord blamed years of defence cuts, an absence of planning and recruitment points for the present state of the Navy.
Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, he mentioned: “We do not have enough ships in our territorial waters, exclusive economic zone or to ensure, with our allies, the security of the sea lanes and that is something that is crucial to this country.
“The danger is we have forgotten that we are a maritime nation which relies on the sea.”
Lord West added that greater than 90 per cent of commerce to and from the UK is transported through sea and that the nation relied on different underwater infrastructure together with fuel pipelines and cables.
The Royal Navy mentioned its fleet “continues to meet all operational requirements”.
Three new Type 26 Frigates, HMS Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast, are as a consequence of enter service within the second half of the last decade.