Britain’s waters have been left exposed to Russian threats while all six of its hunter-killer submarines are stuck in port with no dry docks to repair them.
It comes as Russian ‘underwater activity’ is at its highest level since the Cold War, chief of defence staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said.
The hunter-killer subs, which are nuclear-powered, are specifically designed to attack and sink enemy submarines and surface ships.
They play an important role in the Royal Navy Fleet, carrying out short-range attacks, as well as surveillance and intelligence missions.
But none of the Astute-class subs, the fleet’s newest, have conducted a single operational voyage this year, as the Royal Navy has no working docks for repairs.
The Sun newspaper reported HMP Ambush has not sailed for two years; HMP Audacious has spent the last 15 months in His Majesty’s Naval Base in Devonport and HMP Artful and HMS Astute are currently at HMNB Clyde.
HMS Astute (pictured) is currently at HMNB Clyde
HMS Triumph (pictured) did attempt a mission this year but it turned back at Gibraltar after off-loading its tomahawk missiles
HMS Anson (pictured) has been to sea this year but only to take part in trials and returned in May
HMS Audacious has spent the last 15 months in His Majesty’s Naval Base in Devonport
HMS Artful (back left) is currently at HMNB Clyde
HMS Ambush (pictured) has not sailed for two years
The HMS Anson has been to sea this year but only to take part in trials and returned in May, while HMS Triumph did attempt a mission this year but it turned back at Gibraltar after off-loading its tomahawk missiles.
According to The Sun, a ship-lift to crane submarines out of the water at Faslane has been out of action for over 12 months after the firm that made the ropes closed down and the Navy could not replace them.
Not only that, but the only suitable dry dock in HMNB Devonport is currently midway through an upgrade by contractors.
A former sea captain told The Sun that the situation left Britain’s waters ‘spectacularly exposed’ as submarines are necessary to fight other submarines.
He said the Navy is facing the consequences of not making decisions earlier.
Russian ‘underwater activity’ is at its highest level since the Cold War, chief of defence staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said. Pictured: Sir Radakin appearing on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg
Former Navy chief Admiral Lord West told the newspaper: ‘Action must be taken now to start rectifying problems of submarine availability and that will involve money.
‘Awaiting the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review is not an option.’
A spokesperson for the Royal Navy has reiterated that British waters are always protected with assets and that it was making ‘significant investment’ in infrastructure bases.
