"Disgrace" as operational Royal Navy ships fall to new low, where are they all including HMS Queen Elizabeth?
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The number of operational ships in the Royal Navy has fallen to a worryingly low figure.
As things stand, only three of the six Type 45 destroyers are available for active duties. Other vessels are going through upgrade and maintenance packages.
It’s a similar story for the Type 23 frigates, with only six of eight currently available. Both of the Royal Navy’s aircraft carriers, HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth, are on the side-lines.
Former First Sea Lord, Admiral Lord West, said this was a serious concern given the uncertain geopolitical outlook, and the government isn’t grasping the seriousness of the situation. He told The Sun: “The number of operational ships is a disgrace.
“We are so weak at the moment. No wonder President Trump laughs at us all in Europe. We used to have a powerful Navy and that gave clout and fighting power.” He added: “We now have insufficient ships and submarines operating in our economic waters to secure our security.”
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed to the national publication that 50 per cent of the fleet, comprising of 63 ships, are available for operations. The total number of destroyers and frigates is 14, and only one in five of the Astute-class nuclear submarines is in use.
“All Royal Navy vessels rotate through planned operating cycles, including routine maintenance, and we continue to operate in accordance with Defence requirements and priorities,” a spokesperson told The Sun.
Where are all the Royal Navy ships?
Queen Elizabeth-class carriers
HMS Prince of Wales has been alongside HMNB Portsmouth since she returned from the Indo-Pacific on November 30. She is undergoing maintenance ahead of her 2026 sea programme.
HMS Queen Elizabeth remains in Scotland after leaving Portsmouth on July 16, 2025. She completed various sea trials on the way to the Rosyth dry dock, but has been there since.
Major upgrades are being made to the £3.2bn warship, with engineers inspecting and improving systems which aren’t accessible when the vessel is afloat. Little update has been given about the aircraft carrier since, as she continues the second phase of her upgrade programme. Mechanical problems were discovered while she was docked in Portsmouth, found during routine machinery trials.
Type 45 destroyers
HMS Defender, Diamond, and Daring, are all undergoing refits and upgrades in Portsmouth. Minister for defence industry and readiness, Luke Pollard, confirmed in December that HMS Defender and Diamond were undergoing Power Improvement Project (PIP) upgrades - enhancements to their engines to fix underlying issues.
He added that HMS Daring, which has not been to sea for over 3000 days, has gone through her PIP enhancements. The UK Defence Journal reported in August that she is being crewed up for trials and could re-join the fleet during the first half of 2026.
Type 23 frigates
The Duke-class ships are in a precarious position. They are due to be replaced by modern Type 26 and 31 counterparts, but they are still a few years away from joining the fleet. The earlier a new ship is expected to be on operations is 2028.
This could prove to be a worrying gap, as many of the ships are showing their age from various deployments. HMS Iron Duke has not been to sea since October 10, according to the shipping movements analyst Britsky.
Engineering work is continuing on HMS Kent ahead of a return to sea. HMS Richmond is set to be decommissioned following a ceremony in the Yorkshire Army town last week, though no confirmed date has been given. HMS Sutherland, Portland, and St Albans, have all been operational. HMS Somerset is in maintenance.
Astute-class submarine HMS Anson is currently heading to Australia for an AUKUS deployment, with all four other submersibles - HMS Astute, Artful, Audacious, and Ambush - having not been at sea in recent months. Several River-class offshore patrol vessels have been conducting various operations in UK waters and across the globe in the Pacific, Caribbean, and Falklands.