‘Parlous state’: Ex-First Sea Lord bemoans Royal Navy fleet that's 'too small' to defend UK amid Iran bombings
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The Royal Navy is in the most “parlous state” it has been in for 60 years and does not “deliver what the nation needs”, a former chief of the service has said.
Admiral Lord West of Spithead, former First Sea Lord, added his voice to the growing criticism of the lack of military presence in the Mediterranean to defend against Iranian attacks. Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer announced on Tuesday that HMS Dragon would be deployed to defend Cyprus after RAF Akrotiri was hit by kamikaze drone strikes.
Minimal damage was caused to the base and no casualties were reported, but families of service personnel were moved away from the area as a precaution. Two Wildcat helicopters will join the Portsmouth-based Type 45 destroyer, equipped with Martlet missiles to strike down any drones and other autonomous systems. Some have suggested the UK’s decision to have a presence in the Mediterranean has been too slow and questions have been raised over the country’s capability to send vessels on operations.
Lord West said: “The bottom line is the Navy’s in a more parlous state than at any stage in the 60 years I’ve been on the active list. It’s too small, it’s not been looked after properly, there’s been insufficient (funds) spent on it, and I’m afraid it doesn’t deliver what the nation needs.”
HMS Dragon is one of the UK’s six Daring-class air defence destroyers. Half of them are currently being refitted with Power Improvement Project (PIP) enhancements to restore their engines. Three are considering operational, with HMS Duncan completing gunnery exercises and HMS Dauntless recently linking up with the French Carrier Strike Group and her huge aircraft carrier, FS Charles de Gaulle.
Availability has been a concern for many. Both aircraft carriers, HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth, are undergoing maintenance. The country’s only Astute Class nuclear-powered attack submarine that is not undergoing maintenance, HMS Anson, arrived in Australia on February 23.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray insisted the UK had been building up defensive capability in recent weeks amid criticism of a lack of air defence in the region. He told Times Radio: “What’s important is that we have been prepared in the build-up toward this and that we now step up and make sure we have the defensive capability there.”
The UK’s response to the drone strike on RAF Akrotiri appeared to be dwarfed by that of France, who sent their flagship nuclear-powered aircraft carrier the Charles de Gaulle, to the region, accompanied by its air wing, and its escorting frigates. Citing the attack on the British base in Cyprus, Mr Macron said Rafale fighter jets, air defence systems, and airborne radar systems had also been deployed in the Middle East since the US’s offensive operations.