Fleet of British destroyers reaches historic minimum – Telegraph
According to a report, only two out of the six modern destroyers in the UK are currently in active service. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The British Royal Navy’s destroyer fleet has reached historic lows, with only two of the six advanced vessels currently operational, The Telegraph reported on Saturday, citing the UK Ministry of Defence.
Four Type 45 destroyers are undergoing extensive repairs, maintenance, or other work in dock in Portsmouth, resulting in the smallest fleet size the British Navy has seen in over a century, according to the report.
The Type 45 destroyers, also referred to as the Daring class, represent the backbone of the Royal Navy’s air defense capability. Designed for anti-aircraft and anti-missile warfare, these ships have been struggling with various maintenance issues. One vessel has spent more time in repairs than in active duty since its commissioning 12 years ago, the outlet pointed out.
This significant reduction in the number of operational warships has heightened concerns regarding national security, as MPs have warned that the UK is becoming increasingly vulnerable to potential sea and air attacks.
“These reports of only two operational destroyers are extremely concerning. Destroyers provide air defense and with only two destroyers, we simply cannot defend London, let alone the United Kingdom,” MP and defense select committee member Mike Martin stated in an interview with The Telegraph.
Furthermore, out of the Navy’s eight Type 23 frigates, only six are currently operational, the report indicated.
With just eight out of 14 destroyers and frigates ready for immediate deployment, in stark contrast to more than 800 during the Navy’s peak in 1945, the UK fleet is at its lowest point since the destroyer program began under Queen Victoria, the outlet noted.
Earlier this month, British Ministry of Defence official Alistair Carns conceded that the UK is unprepared for a conflict on the scale of the ongoing situation in Ukraine. He mentioned that, in the event of a serious conflict, the UK could exhaust its military personnel within six months to a year.
As of July, the British Army numbered just over 73,000 active-duty soldiers, marking the lowest count since 1823. During that time, the UK’s population stood at around 20 million, a figure which has now increased to 67 million.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
Four Type 45 destroyers are undergoing extensive repairs, maintenance, or other work in dock in Portsmouth, resulting in the smallest fleet size the British Navy has seen in over a century, according to the report.
The Type 45 destroyers, also referred to as the Daring class, represent the backbone of the Royal Navy’s air defense capability. Designed for anti-aircraft and anti-missile warfare, these ships have been struggling with various maintenance issues. One vessel has spent more time in repairs than in active duty since its commissioning 12 years ago, the outlet pointed out.
This significant reduction in the number of operational warships has heightened concerns regarding national security, as MPs have warned that the UK is becoming increasingly vulnerable to potential sea and air attacks.
“These reports of only two operational destroyers are extremely concerning. Destroyers provide air defense and with only two destroyers, we simply cannot defend London, let alone the United Kingdom,” MP and defense select committee member Mike Martin stated in an interview with The Telegraph.
Furthermore, out of the Navy’s eight Type 23 frigates, only six are currently operational, the report indicated.
With just eight out of 14 destroyers and frigates ready for immediate deployment, in stark contrast to more than 800 during the Navy’s peak in 1945, the UK fleet is at its lowest point since the destroyer program began under Queen Victoria, the outlet noted.
Earlier this month, British Ministry of Defence official Alistair Carns conceded that the UK is unprepared for a conflict on the scale of the ongoing situation in Ukraine. He mentioned that, in the event of a serious conflict, the UK could exhaust its military personnel within six months to a year.
As of July, the British Army numbered just over 73,000 active-duty soldiers, marking the lowest count since 1823. During that time, the UK’s population stood at around 20 million, a figure which has now increased to 67 million.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
