THE Royal Navy is scrapping two warships — as Britain’s fleet shrinks to its smallest size in 500 years.
Frigate HMS Lancaster and mine hunter HMS Bangor have orders to return home from the Persian Gulf.
John Gunion – The Sun GlasgowMine hunter HMS Bangor have orders to return home from the Persian Gulf for its last voyage[/caption]
The 7,000-mile journey will be both vessels’ final voyage.
Their replacements are still being built.
They are the sixth and seventh warships scrapped under the current Labour Government.
That leaves 15 major sea surface vessels.
It is the smallest war fleet since Henry VIII founded a professional Navy in 1546.
A Navy source said the service faced “desperate times”.
They said: “The fleet is at its lowest ebb and the new ships can’t come soon enough.”
It comes after the Strategic Defence Review warned the Navy needs a “cheaper simpler fleet”.
A replacement is still being built for Frigate HMS LancasterSolent News Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
