Type 45 destroyer and Type 23 frigate
Express: Royal Navy has FIVE ships ready for operations as vessels 'cannibalised' for parts
ONLY five of the Royal Navy's 19 frontline frigates and destroyers are available for operations, with just two in foreign waters, due to maintenance and crew pressures.
The lack of vessels was revealed as Russia moved to project its naval power by sending more warships to the Mediterranean and carried out live missile tests off the coast of Cyprus.
It has also increased its submarine and spy boat fleet in the North Sea.
Britain's Type 45 destroyers and Type 23 frigates form the backbone of the Royal Navy's operational fleet, with one vessel always on standby to shadow Russian warships sailing close to British shores or through the English Channel.
Their duties also include providing vital anti-submarine and air defence capabilities, as well as escorting larger vessels, such as amphibious assault ships and the new Queen Elizabeth carriers. The Commons Public Accounts Committee has warned that budget cuts over the last four years have affected the fleet's effectiveness.
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WNU Editor: When you start "cannibalising" other ships for parts .... it could only be done for a short period of time.
