Thirty-three Royal Navy warships have been taken out of operational service since 2010, of which eight have been sold, fifteen recycled and ten are still waiting to be disposed of, according to an answer given in Parliament.
Andrew Rosindell, the Reform UK member for Romford, had asked how many warships had been taken out of service, sold or scrapped in each year since 2010.
Luke Pollard, Minister of State for Defence Readiness and Industry, said: “Since 2010, 33 Royal Navy warships have been taken out of operational service. Of these, 8 have been sold, 15 have been recycled and 10 are pending disposal.
“As vessels may be withdrawn from service in one year and sold or scrapped in a later year, these categories are not mutually exclusive, and the figures should not be aggregated.
“As set out in the Defence Investment Plan, this Government is investing in new frigates, amphibious ships, new submarines and new standardised vessels alongside a new Hybrid Navy of uncrewed and autonomous systems to increase our Navy’s lethality and deterrence.”
Thirteen new frigates are being built across two classes, eight Type 26 anti-submarine ships on the Clyde and five Type 31 general purpose ships at Rosyth, and Norway has since selected the Type 26 design for its own fleet. Three Fleet Solid Support ships are under construction to resupply the carrier groups, new transport ships are planned to take over from the amphibious and Bay class vessels. The submarine service is completing the Astute class before moving to the four Dreadnought ballistic missile boats and then to SSN-AUKUS attack submarines, which ministers have said will be delivered at a rate of one every eighteen months from the mid-2030s.
The period covered includes the retirement of the Type 42 destroyers, the progressive withdrawal of the Type 23 frigates, and the decision to dispose of the amphibious assault ships Albion and Bulwark, the latter of which is being sold to Brazil.
The damage done by Cameron and Osborne was immense, across all services. Done at the same time as increasing aid to 0.7% of GDP to virtue signal.
Billions spent on military operations that were none of our business such as Libya
Part of an EU collective zombie mind of net zero, coupling to Putin’s gas network and a centre left policy on migration, and an infiltration of all aspects of Governance.
Same across all services. It will come home to roost if we see civil disorder. Lack of courts, prisons, cells, public order units, stretched capacity in fire service , emergency planning and energy resilience.
They will have to call in the army, already overstretched.
Planned vandalism.
No wonder many people answer no to the question of fighting for their own country.
The challenge is to change the way the country is run so that young people in particular feel everyone gets a fair shout. Interesting to see the schoolchildren leading street protests across the channel. The French have screwed themselves up – quite an achievement for such a gifted country. Burnham is spot on in prioritising the issue of education, career paths, apprenticeships and the disgraceful number of young people not in education, training or employment: also the issue of affordable housing. Thatcher once said ‘there is no such thing as society’. Cameron and Osborne were acting out that philosophy and the Tories almost succeeded. That said, it was good to hear Burnham say that while this country is not perfect, it gave his parents a good life and it’s worth fighting for. We have to get into that mindset.
Every conflict is our business David assuming you are someone who values freedom.
Currently we are spending money on the people’s priorities. Hopefully the people are beginning to understand that defence has been underfunded and we need to improve on that. We were able to shift money on a temporary basis to other areas however now it needs to come back.
I don’t value freedom’s of countries in Africa Mark. Not our problem.
It’s selective anyway. There are plenty of regimes would could remove by bombing if we didnt mind forever wars.
We seem to be the cash cow. Apparently we have a moral duty to help Pakistan fight climate change according to Miliband. I don’t care
Nor do I care if Palestinians get a homeland, or if there is war in Sudan, or if the Taleban won’t educate girls. Not our problem.
33 warships leaving service over 15 years is pretty normal for a fleet that should number in the 70-80 vessel range. it’s the lack of ships replacing them that’s the problem.
we have 16 ordered an in production and we are likely to add another 16 in the next few years, if we maintain all this then we are likely to have a decent sized fleet in the next decade again especially if we can get the 4 amphibious ship replacements and possible 6 new multi role mine counter measure vessels that Norway is hinting at and 6 RORO point class replacements too.
Labour hasn’t ordered a single warship. Just issued bullshit and hot air.
I’m unclear but haven’t they ordered the 3 Fleet Supply ships. In three years is all they have ordered I’m sure about is the wrong aircraft for the RAF, namely 12 F35A’s which have the unenviable task of launching Free fall Nukes on the Russians. I doubt they would get within 100 miles of target for a job that should be done by a Small Ballistic Missile. True to form the RAF hates Ballistic missiles as they spoil the pitch for the boys to whoop it up in make believe dogfights. Can someone tell us what the Army has had ordered? Labour are on the other side; that much is clear.
Labour last ordered a Frigate I recall in 1978.
This government has not ordered a single fast jet. I don’t believe they intend to either in this Parliament. The second tranche of F35B, 15B, 12A, have not been ordered, just endlessly re-announced.
RAF, 23 AW149.
Army, some Jackal E patrol vehicles, 12 Sky Sabre, lots of Drones, some trucks.
Massively optimistic to think the current batch of T26 and T31 are going to come out “on schedule” and free of issues.
Much more likely is that in 10 years we’ll be ironing out bumps and still won’t have 6 T26 in service along with a lot of realisation that saying hybrid navy and actually turning that into a practical reality are very different things.
Most likely huge financial shock between now and then and country will awaken to the reality we’ve been living far beyond our means for 20-30 years.
Still as long as the coking mind doesn’t open and North Sea licences are banned we’ve done an excellent job.
The Tories are being blamed for an awful lot in defence terms, some of which is undoubtedly true, but let’s look at the facts.
In terms of major Royal Navy combatants two Incincibles have been disposed of since 2010, but one of those had already been decommissioind; eight Type 42’s, four Type 22, six Type 23 and six Trafalgar class. Pollard is now saying that Labour is investing in new ships. He is talking of course about four Dreadnoght class, the Astute class, the eight Type 26 and the five Type 31. What he does not say is that they were ordered by the previous Tory government.
Let’s look at the RAF. The Tories were without doubt responsible for the withdrawal of the last of the Harriers and later, as it was replaced by the Typhoon, the Tornado FGR4. Contrast this with Blair/Brown. The Tornado F3, the Jaguar and the Sea Harrier were all disposed of in the early 2000’s. GCAP, later Tempest was planned by the Tories.
I have no problem criticising politicians of any party but let’s start with reality. Labour have been in power for almost two and a half years. What has their contribution been to date. The answer is next to nothing. It is for them to PROVE that they intend to DEFEND THE UK NOW..
True.
One of the type 45s has the lethality of more than 8 T42s. Other examples could be made.
The issue I have is that all Governments need to maintain a base level of defence through good times and bad.
However we should always be able to boost numbers at relatively short notice to match the threat. This maintains the deterrent effect.
It is great that we can spend money occasionally on other stuff however it is a bit worrying when this discretionary appears to be needed permanently.
That’s not really the point I was making, but even if it was I very sure that a 45 cannot be in eight different places at the same time.
Point taken however when there is a crisis it tends to be in the same place. Falklands, Red Sea etc.
👍 Fair point
A T45 only has 48 missiles which is not 8 times more than the 22 that the T42 had. Although Asters are vastly better than Sea Dart.
A T42 cost about £100m in 1980 which is equivalent to about 300m in 2005, but a T45 cost £1bn so that makes it about 3.3 times worse on cost and we only bought half as many as a result.
Tend to disagree there Tim. The 6 ships were cancelled because defence was not a priority. Needed to have some as we would look weak if we didn’t but quantity wasn’t a factor (In my opinion) at that time.
As I point out above Labour are on the other side. When people wake up and realise this they will be asking why was this allowed and their suspended attempt to sell the Chagos has gone ahead they will be angry. The Labour traitors should all be called up, given a shotgun with 12 rounds and sent to fight against the Houthis instead of Special Forces.
The only time they put themselves in dangers way Jonno is when they have to have a general election. Hopefully this crowd will disappear.
Exactly. Though I must admit a lot of the rose tinted glasses wearing Labour fans have vanished from this site of late, no wonder.
I hold both parties equally responsible, as the cuts must start with 1995 Tory Front Line First.
They do seem to have some how. Perhaps even they can see the damage being done. I can’t remember if there was a time when there was an SDR that dleivered what it promised. Was there one? 🤔 I’ve just watched (again ) Churchill…The Wilderness Years, when he was trying to convince Ramsey MacDonald, Baldwin and Chamberlein that Hitler was dangerous. Isn’t it great that we learn from our history.
All SDRs are cuts dressed up as strategic.
Cutting and gapping key capabilities isn’t strategic, it’s insanity driven by the need to spend on welfare to get votes.
All SDRs cut as they said they would, I’ve not known one to actually expand the forces.
👍 The budget on Wednesday. I’m sure our “honourable” ex S of S will find the money. 😒
Too little too late ..that should be the Government Moto for the MOD
Yes, its Grossly Negligent. Thank goodness Harry is back to save us.
33 ships left service since 2010. Added since then is 5 B2 Rivers, 2 carriers, 2 2nd hand mine warfare and survey vessels.
Lethality and deterrence my arse !!