During a Commons exchange, SNP MP Dave Doogan questioned the Government on whether any of the Royal Navy’s new Type 26 anti-submarine warfare frigates, now also ordered by Norway, would be stationed in Scotland.
Doogan argued that “an independent northern European nation of 5.5 million people, Norway, has just signed an order for £10 billion-worth of the world’s best anti-submarine warfare frigates, designed and built in Glasgow in Scotland. Despite that, despite Scotland’s longer coastline, and despite the ingenuity displayed in that product, none of those Type 26s—unless I am wrong—will be stationed in Scotland.” He challenged the Minister to confirm otherwise.
Responding, Defence Minister Luke Pollard pointed out that the new frigates are replacing the Royal Navy’s existing Type 23 anti-submarine ships at Devonport. “The Type 26s replace the anti-submarine warfare Type 23s in Devonport, where they will be based,” he said.
Pollard said that Scotland already hosts substantial defence assets, citing “quick-reaction fighters at Lossiemouth and our Royal Navy submarine force based at Faslane.” He added that the UK Government is continuing to invest heavily in Scottish defence jobs and facilities, contrasting that with what he described as indecision from the Scottish Government.
For a moment there I thought the Scots were demanding Norway station it’s Type 26’s in Scotland as well.
This to me smacks of trying to find a way to continue moaning instead of congratulating successive Governments and BAE for getting the order for significant work in Scotland. Never happy some people.
The SNP have a ‘neglect’ fetish. As a jock myself, I’m embarrassed by them.
Agree,
Much better keeping the submarines in Scotland.
Frigates in Plymouth
Everything else Portsmouth
If the entire UK Armed Forces were stationed in Scotland generating billions for the Scottish Goverment, the SNP would call it an occupation. They have their script and they’ll always stick to it.
💯
The SNP like MAGA and Reform are populists. They just make shit up to cause trouble then pretend they are the solution
Absolutely. It amazes me how so few people see the similarities.
Yep popularism’s must always have a problem..even if in the case of frigates based in Scotland it’s a made up problem.
I’m no expert but I can look at a map and see that Norways coastline seems way longer that SNPland’s.
Maybe I’ll take a proper look.
83,000km for Norway and 18,000 km for Scotland
Coastlines are fractal so their length is largely impossible to determine. iIRC Norway doubled theirs simply by conducting a more accurate survey.
If the RN had more escorts, then home porting some in Scotland at Rosyth, during a period of expansion, would make sense.
With only 14 escorts, half of those not operational,what’s the advantage?
“what’s the advantage?”
It give them something else to moan about. If all the frigates were based up in Scotland the SNP would complain about Scotland being made a target.
A future platform with her two uncrewed vessels might amount to a modern Squadron… Shirley we could put one future Squadron in Scotland 😉
I think if the shtf we will need to disperse all our systems
The whole world knows where we keep everything .
Too few eggs in too few baskets .
Just my point of view but history can teach some thing.
The “strange” things about navies is that they can move to wherever they are required…..
If the MOD ever pulls it’s finger out and commits to a worthwhile number of these magnificent ships I’d say sure let 3 or 4 be based in Scotland just to shorten transit times to patrol routes.
The RN remains 6 frigates short of its SDSR disclosed “at least 25” frigates and destroyers.
4 more type 31s and a couple more type 26s must be possible? Definitely shipyard capacity can squeeze them in.