Decline of Royal Navy frigate and destroyer strength 1983-2013

‘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.

VIDEO: Royal Navy task force arrives at Gibraltar

Photos of Royal Navy vessels at Gibraltar

Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon is pictured operating near Gibraltar during a seven month deployment to the Middle East. © Crown Copyright 2013
Photographer: L(Phot) Dave Jenkins.

HMS Sabre together with sister ships HMS Scimitar form the core of the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron. The small team – the two Scimitar-class patrol boats, 19 personnel, and three Arctic 24 rigid-hulled inflatable boats – is one of only two permanently deployed sea-going units. © Crown Copyright. Photographer: LA(Phot) Stuart Hill.

The Type 23 frigate HMS Westminster loads up with supplies at Her Majesty’s Naval Base, Gibraltar on the morning of the 2nd of March 2011. Crown Copyright. Photographer: Cpl Ralph Merry ABIPP RAF.

Cougar Task Group visits Gibraltar. Crown Copyright. Picture: LA(Phot) Maxine Davies

A member of the Submarine Parachute Assistance Group (SPAG) is pictured on a practices jump into the bay of Gibraltar during an annual training exercise. Crown Copyright. Photographer: Cpl Ralph Merry ABIPP RAF.

HMS Talent (S92) at Z Berth, HM Naval Base, Gibraltar. Photographer: Moshi Anahory.

HMS Daring visits Gibraltar on the ship’s first deployment, 2012. Crown Copyright.

Giving Gibraltar the Obama treatment

Royal Navy hard-pressed to defend Gibraltar

The Royal Navy, stretched thin by budget cuts, ship decommissioning, delayed replacement vessels, and increased operational demands, would be hard-pressed to deploy significant assets to Gibraltar.

Navy ‘can’t do a lot’ about Gibraltar

Defence cuts mean the Royal Navy would struggle to send warships to Gibraltar amid tensions with Spain over the Rock, it was claimed today.

The warning comes amid a dispute with Madrid over Gibraltar’s sovereignty.

Relations between the British territory and Spain have deteriorated in recent months in a row over fishing grounds, with Spanish ministers raising the prospect of imposing a £43 levy on vehicles crossing the border and the possibility of closing airspace.

Mike Critchley, a former naval officer and book publisher from Gosport, told The News: ‘In times past the navy would have had a presence down there, but now the navy is tremendously reduced.

‘The navy can’t meet all its commitments.

‘Ships do go there, submarines go there, and there are some small patrol vessels.

‘But it is a difficult situation, we’re talking about two NATO countries, two EU countries, so obviously the government is just going to be watching what happens at the moment.

‘The navy can’t do a lot about it. This has been going on for a while Someone has got to bang heads together.’

The government has insisted there will be no compromise over the sovereignty of Gibraltar, and foreign secretary William Hague has vowed to stand shoulder to shoulder with its citizens in response to heightened pressure and increasingly belligerent rhetoric from Madrid.

Last night, Mr Hague reiterated the UK’s commitment to the people of Gibraltar after speaking to Gibraltar’s Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo.

He said: ‘I emphasised to Gibraltar’s elected Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, that the UK stands shoulder to shoulder with the people of Gibraltar at this time of increasing Spanish pressure and rhetoric.

‘I also highlighted that we will respect Gibraltar’s 2006 Constitution and the commitments the UK has repeatedly made not to compromise on British sovereignty over Gibraltar.

‘We discussed the need for a political solution to the current tension with Spain, which would be firmly in the interests of communities on both sides of Gibraltar’s border with Spain.

‘I call upon Spain to respect the agreements made at Cordoba and to avoid actions which could increase tension further.

‘We agreed that it was important to respond to actions, not rhetoric, and I confirmed that we would continue to raise our concerns with Spain.’

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/defence/navy-can-t-do-a-lot-about-gibraltar-1-5358162

What price a guard ship?

Your starter for ten… When was the Gibraltar Guard Ship withdrawn?

Whenever Spanish vessels (either from the Armada Española, the Guardia Civil, or a piratical fisherman chancing his luck) intrudes upon British Gibraltar Territorial Waters, I am mindful of this last mention of the Gibraltar Guard Ship in the parliamentary record.

Gibraltar Guard Ship
HC Deb 15 April 2003 vol 404 cc52-3W

Mr. Jenkin To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Royal Navy vessel last carried out the duty of Gibraltar Guard Ship; and which warship is on station carrying out those duties. [109158]

Mr. Ingram The Royal Navy presence in Gibraltar is provided by The Gibraltar Squadron. The Squadron usually comprises two patrol vessels. This is appropriate to the current assessment of requirements. Currently, on a temporary basis, there are four patrol craft in Gibraltar whilst the task is transferred to vessels reassigned from Northern Ireland. HMS Ranger and HMS Trumpeter are the outgoing patrol craft, HMS Scimitar and HMS Sabre are the incoming patrol craft. No frigate or destroyer is deployed as a Gibraltar Guard Ship.

Note the key element of this reply. “No frigate or destroyer is deployed as a Gibraltar Guard Ship.” Oh, how they must have rubbed their hands with glee in Madrid!

Is it any wonder why, 10-years later, illegal incursions in BGTW occur… and occur again… and again… and with seeming impunity?

A politely-worded diplomatic note from the FCO (“You are being naughty. Please stop. If you don’t stop then we will write you another letter.”) is barely worth the paper they it is written on. Occasional fluffing of feathers by Royal Marine RIBs occurs on those rare occasions (subject to predictable protest from Madrid) that a RN submarine occupies the Z Berth. This is patently insufficient.

As far back as 1798, Nelson wrote of his operations in the Mediterranean, “Was I to die this moment, ‘Want of Frigates’ would be found stamped on my heart.” How little appears to have changed! The Royal Navy is decommissioning frigates and destroyers faster than they can build replacements – even presupposing the political will exists in Whitehall to replace them on a like-for-like basis.

One thing is certain, and that is that displays of weakness only encourage the aggressor. Spain is encouraged by Britain’s perceived weakness. Madrid is encouraged by the weak-kneed response of Whitehall to illegal incursions. Diplomatic note follows diplomatic note. Yet this is insufficient to prevent the illegal incursions. Mild hurumphing from the FCO is not getting the job done. A guard ship might.

HMS Cornwall (F99) off Gibraltar in 2004. Cornwall was one of the Type 22 frigates decommissioned by the British government under the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review. “WANT OF FRIGATES!”