‘Were I to die at this moment “want of frigates” would be found stamped on my heart.’ Horatio Nelson, 1798.
In 1983, 30-years ago (which scarcely seems credible to this old fart), in the midst of the it-seemed-hot-enough-at-the-time Cold War, in the immediate aftermath of the Falklands Conflict, the Royal Navy planned for a force of 50 frigates and destroyers (HC Deb 28 November 1983 vol 49 cc661-737).
HMS Achilles (F12) Leander-class frigate at HMNB Portsmouth, 1983.
In 1993, post Cold War, already in draw down and reaping the so-called peace dividend, the Royal Navy was facing reductions to a force of 40 frigates and destroyers (HC Deb 25 February 1993 vol 219 c717W).
HMS Amazon (F169) Type 21 frigate sold to Pakistan as PNS Babur (D182) in 1993.
By 2003, in the midst of the Global War on Terror and with the Iraq War coming to the fore, the force had been reduced to 31 frigates and destroyers… of which only 26 were operational (HC Deb 12 May 2003 vol 405 cc47-50W).
HMS Glasgow (D88) Type 42 destroyer at HMNB Portsmouth, 2003. Copyright Kev Slade.
Today, 2013, realpolitik, Spain rattles its sabres over Gibraltar, Argentina remains bellicose over the Falklands, there is continued instability in Libya, Syria and Egypt, there are standing demands for counter-narcotics patrols in the Caribbean and counter-piracy patrols off the coast of East Africa, and the war of terror continues, and there is always the need for a Fleet Ready Escort… well… we’re down to just 19 frigates and destroyers (13 surviving Type 23, 5 Type 45 in commission, 1 Type 45 undergoing sea trials).
HMS Dragon (D35) Type 45 destroyer, off Gibraltar, 2013. Crown copyright.
Just 19. And not a single Type 26 on order. Talked about, but not ordered. Spec’d, but not ordered. Number to be purchased undecided.
Type 26 Global Combat Ship. (Copyright © 2013 BAE Systems)
I don’t want to think about how things will be in 2023.
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Our masters tell us that the ones we have are more capable than ever.True,but they seem to forget they can only be in one place at a time.
The maxim was as true for Lord Horatio as it was in the Falklands. It’s all very well having ‘all singing all dancing’ ships costing £1 billion a piece, but it’s hulls in the water that our Navy needs.
In warfare, you can never be certain if the enemy’s weapon systems operate correctly, but if they had in 1982, we might have lost more than 20 warships. If that happened today, there would be no Royal Navy left, they would be wiped out.
This Government has to stop pussy-footing about and place orders for OPVs to protect Gibraltar & the Falkland Islands right now, to keep BAE Portsmouth building ships, to prepare to build the Type 26 as quickly as we can to restore the Royal Navy to a credible strength. The stupidity of the QE2 carrier mistakes and the ever spiralling cost of the F35 show that politicians and/or civil servants do not know what they are doing.
The next shooting war may only be a short time away. We only have to recall that shortly after SDSR 2010 disposed of the carriers & our all our Harriers, they were needed for Libya. A similar conflict (Syria) could leave the Navy stretched to protect our nation, as well as Gibraltar & the Falklands.