The former head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Lord West, has launched a scathing attack on the condition of the fleet in response to the revelation that one-fourth of the country’s frigates did not see any action last year.
Britain, according to the Admiral, requires a navy that “makes someone’s eyes water if they cross us at sea.”
The former First Sea Lord expressed concern that Britain’s “pathetically low” number of active vessels wasn’t enough to defend against Russia’s pipeline attacks and China’s military buildup in the South China Sea.
Lord West made his comments after the Ministry of Defense revealed that three of the 12 Type 23 frigates (HMS Iron Duke, HMS St. Albans, and HMS Sutherland) had spent zero time at sea last year.
The time that HMS Argyll was away from the port was a mere 21 days. And while one of the six Type 45 destroyers, HMS Daring, never left port during her refit, the other, HMS Dragon, only left for 18 days.
