Navy is now down to five ships.

[j.sabourn]

According to the International Express this week. That is the sub headline of an article.

Only 5 of the RNs 19 frontline frigates and destroyers are available for operations, with just 2 in foreign waters, due to maintainance and crew pressures.
An acute manpower shortage has further aggravated the situation
The need to supply enough sailors for the new carrier Prince of Wales, led to the selling of the helicopter carrier HMS Ocean.
Story continues.
Why all the problems about spying all others have to do is read the International Express.
Would make a good cartoon for the Mad magazine....while Black spy is busy killing off the renegades and turned operatives.
White spy is just reading the newspaper.
JWS

[happy daze john in oz]

There was a time when Britania ruled the waves.
Obviously she is now away somewhere, on holiday maybe?

[robpage]

In honesty what are we talking about the Destroyers along the way there are also quite a few submarines floating around as well as minesweepers am Patrol boats so I'm assuming that we have still quite a few ships at sea even though were not running around the world showing them the white ensign

[j.sabourn]

According to this article Rob the RN onsists of 19 warships. 5. In readiness of which 2 are in foreign waters. So you have at present. Time of printing 3 vessels to protect the British Isles,. If that is true what does that tell you? It tells others that the uk would not survive a naval attack . Doesn’t need spies around dockyards like of old , just read the newspapers you have your own ready made spy ring. Is no longer the silent service, read all about it as the news boys used to cry. Cheers JWS.

[robpage]

https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-an...ity/operations gives a ,more accurate picture

[j.sabourn]

Like Ivan during the Suez crisis I was witness to the Mediterranean Fleet meeting up with think it was the US sixth Fleet in Valletta harbour in the 50s. Those sights will never be seen again as regards the British Navy . It was an awesome sight of raw naval power the likes of Britain will never see again, and again and that was only the Mediterranean Fleet. If had been combined with the Home Fleet what a picture that would have made. JWS

[Red Lead Ted]

And lets not forget we are an island nation, Water Water everywhere and not a ship to spare. Disaster..............

[John Pruden]

if we stopped giving billions away to richer countries than ours we could/should have a far bigger navy? jp

[robpage]

we will need a bigger navy to chuck the Spanish off our fishing grounds

[Lewis McColl]

if we stopped giving billions away to richer countries than ours we could/should have a far bigger navy? jp

John with respect foreign aid cannot be blamed for everything not being as it should be in the UK.