This week the UK’s military warned that the threats faced by Britain are greater than at any time since the Cold War – it comes as all five of its Astute class submarines are stuck in port and unable to sail
The Royal Navy’s entire available fleet of hunter-killer submarines is stuck in port unable to sail – leaving Britain at risk from Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
All five of its Astute class submarines, which play a critical role in protecting the larger Vanguard submarines, are currently awaiting maintenance and other repair work.
This week the UK’s military warned that the threats faced by Britain are greater than at any time since the Cold War. Sir Richard Knighton, Chief of the Defence Staff, told the BBC: “I’m very clear that this is the most dangerous time I have known in my working life. The risks and threats to this country are greater than I have known since the Cold War.”
Lord West, former First Sea Lord and Labour security minister, said it was ‘unacceptable’ and ‘very worrying’ that Astute subs are out of action.
“The attack submarines are fundamental for looking after our ballistic missile submarines,” he added.
“They are fundamental for frightening and terrifying the Russians. The fact that there has not been money invested in dry docks, in the maintenance facilities, in the men required to maintain and repair the submarines, in the spare parts for those submarines is why we have got to this position.
“It is just unacceptable and puts us in a very difficult position. If we haven’t even got an attack submarine available for use, then things are looking pretty bad,” reports MailOnline.
The Astute subs, which cost £12.2billion, are regarded as the most advanced attack submarines in the world and it is claimed have never been located on sonar by a Russian sub.
The MoD said it did not ‘routinely comment about specific submarine operations and availability’ but insisted British waters were ‘always protected with a range of assets including warships, patrol aircraft and submarines’. A spokesman added: “Strengthening and sustaining our submarine capability is a top priority, and we are taking decisive action to ensure its long-term resilience.”
It comes afer The HMS Prince of Wales, which is the most prestigious of all the UK’s warships, was left briefly out of action while carrying out a critical defence brief.
It was meant to provide security in the Atlantic and High North regions after departing from Loch Long, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, but encountered an issue an insider said proved “devastating for morale”.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the ship experienced a “minor technical issue” during its latest stop in Stavanger, a port city in south-western Norway. The aircraft carrier is expected to sail in the coming days, the ministry added. An MoD spokesperson said: “HMS Prince of Wales is currently conducting a port visit to Stavanger as part of the Carrier Strike Group’s deployment across the North Atlantic and Arctic.
“We expect her to set sail in the coming days. We continue to work closely with our allies and partners to improve global security and strengthen defence cooperation as recently demonstrated on exercise Dynamic Mongoose.”