ALL six hunter-killer subs are stuck in port as the Navy has no working docks for repairs.
Three have been tied up for more than a year, leaving UK waters “spectacularly exposed” to record levels of Russian threats.
AlamyChief of Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin has said Russian ‘underwater activity’ is at its highest level since the Cold War[/caption]
Kenny Ramsay – The Sun GlasgowHMS Ambush has been at Faslane since August 2022[/caption]
PA:Press AssociationHMS Audacious has been at Devonport since April 2023[/caption]
PA:Press AssociationHMS Astute has been at Faslane since December 2023[/caption]
The nuclear-powered vessels are designed to hunt Russian subs, spy on Britain’s enemies and deliver special forces on secret missions.
But none of the Astute-class subs — the the fleet’s newest — have conducted a single operational voyage this year.
HMS Ambush hasn’t sailed for two years.
HMS Audacious has spent 15 months in His Majesty’s Naval Base Devonport.
HMS Artful has been 14 months at HMNB Clyde, where HMS Astute has been since December.
A ship-lift to crane subs out of the water at Faslane has been out of action for over a year after the firm that made the ropes closed down, and the Navy couldn’t replace them.
The only suitable dry dock in HMNB Devonport is midway through a years-long upgrade by contractors Babcock.
The only Astute-class sub to go to sea this year was HMS Anson. It was taking part in trials and returned in May.
Only HMS Triumph, the last of the older Trafalgar class boats in service, has attempted a mission this year.
The 33-year-old vessel was due to sail to the eastern Med where it could spy on Hamas terrorists and stalk Russian Kilo-class subs sailing out of Vladimir Putin’s Tartus base in Syria.
But the sub turned back at Gibraltar after off-loading its Tomahawk missiles.
It returned to Devonport on July 3 and is due to be decommissioned.
Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin has said Russian “underwater activity” is at its highest level since the Cold War.
An ex-sub captain warned: “It leaves British waters spectacularly exposed. The best thing to fight a sub is a sub.
PA:Press AssociationHMS Triumph at Devenport last month[/caption]
PAHMS Anson has been at Faslane since trials in May[/caption]
EPAHMS Artful at Faslane since May 2023[/caption]
“The Navy is reaping the whirlwind for a failure to make decisions earlier.”
Admiral Lord West, former Navy chief, added: “Action must be taken now to start rectifying problems of submarine availability and that will involve money.
“Awaiting the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review is not an option.”
The Navy said it was making a “significant investment” in infrastructure at bases.
A spokesman said: “Rest assured British waters are always fully protected with assets including warships, patrol aircraft and subs.”
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