Posted on 09/16/2016 12:18:39 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
According to newly released official stats, the six vessels clocked up 1,515 days in British docks in the year to this April.
Four of the state-of-the-art ships remained berthed for more than 300 days each, the data obtained from a Freedom of Information request shows.
Former head of the Navy Admiral Lord West said there was a "desperate need" to get the destroyers "out and doing their job".
He said: "We are using Royal Fleet Auxiliary and offshore protection vessels to do jobs that historically would have been done with frigates or destroyers."
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) insisted the fleet was not "sitting idle" and was meeting 'operational tasks'.
Currently just two of the Type 45s are deployed on operations - HMS Diamond in the Mediterranean and HMS Daring en route to the Middle East.
The rest are being used for training, as an escort for other vessels or in maintenance.
The Type 45 destroyer is an advanced class of six guided missile destroyers built for the Royal Navy at a cost of around £1bn each.
Many of the vessels are facing significant periods of maintenance and refit after they encountered engine problems in the Gulf.
The figures show that HMS Dragon spent the longest time in a UK port, notching up 330 days following a nine-month deployment.
HMS Daring, which is joining the fight against ISIS, spent 319 days in the UK.
And after completing a five-month tour in May of last year, HMS Dauntless spent seven months in refit and has not left Britain since, now operating as an engineering training vessel.
HMS Diamond, which deployed to the Mediterranean this month, also spent more than 300 days in the UK.
Maritime expert Lieutenant Commander Mike Critchley, now retired, said the figures show the situation with the destroyer fleet had worsened, adding the 'desperate shortage' of engineers was compounding the issue.
Lt Cmdr Critchley, of Gosport, Hants, said: "This has been going on forever. It's just getting worse as the days tick by.
"If we had more engineers in the navy we could have these ships out at sea.
"But you can't just click your fingers. This is a long-term issue that needs a lot of planning."
A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said: "We are meeting all of our operational tasks and our destroyers are not sitting idle.
"Ships operate out of ports while they go through high-intensity preparations for operations and while they conduct crucial defence engagement."
Penny Mordaunt, Portsmouth North MP and former armed forces minister, said she expects to see ships out at sea more in the coming years.
She said: "The situation has improved considerably over the last year, latterly with only one ship in at a time for maintenance.
"Some ships in harbour have been doing training alongside, and we want to see as many out on ops as possible.
"The improvements have come with better management of spare parts and an improving manning situation.
"Resolving the problems of the Type 45 engine and propulsion systems has also assisted greatly.
"I expect to see these ships spending less time in our harbour and out doing the Royal Navy's mission in future."
Did it get stuck?
Sheesh, tight fit.
Look at the road way bridge they got to move out of the way wonder how long traffic has to wait ?
Lucas Electrics?
Why would they, or any of our allies for that matter, need to get their navy (or other armed forces) back in order...when the U.S. fully covers for them? By doing so, it frees up what they would spend on their own defense to spend on social programs.
The Brits and the Aussies should of bought Burke’s.
As to ships spending too much time being repaired in dock, one is reminded of Richard Gere's lament in "Officer and a Gentleman," "I got no where else to go!"
On Saturday, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) revealed that the Navy's only vessel for repairing damaged warships at sea will be sold off.
https://sputniknews.com/europe/20160822/1044516887/uk-navy-war-disgrace.html
Sounds like the Royal Navy’s version of our Littoral Combat Ships (LCS). Their breakdown rate is so bad the USN ought to send a tug along whenever they go to sea.
And the Navy just announced that the inter-changeable mission modules concept—sold as the “game-changer” for LCS—will be largely scrapped; each LCS will be assigned a semi-permanent mission, such as ASW or mine-sweeping. So much for the idea of ducking into port, uploading a new module and heading back to sea on a different mission.
Not sure how many Type 45’s the Royal Navy plans to buy, but we’re currently on the hook for about 40 LCS’s. The Navy needs to scrap the LCS concept and invest in upgraded frigate, minesweeper and patrol craft designs
That’s what they get for awarding the contract to Jaguar.
I know this is in large part hysterical screaming, and there may some maintenance issues, but it is my understanding that for a navy that works its ships hard 1/3 on deployment/transit, 1/3 maintenance, and 1/3 in some sort of ready reserve status (underway in under 12 hours) is rather common.
Hey, the Canadian Navy has a (one) destroyer and she is standing down next year. It’s available.
It's real. He's Admiral Alan West, Baron West of Spithead, RN, retired. Created a life peer in 2007.
is that the one that won't run in warm water???
I’m no nautical architecht but that is one ugly ship. A feritable F35 of the seas.
Hey, the Canadian Navy has a (one) destroyer and she is standing down next year. It’s available.
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That’s because for years Canada has depended on US taxpayers’ dollars to provide defense for North America, via the USN and the USAF. Canada then uses the money saved to advance the progressive/liberal agenda. ...jmo
It was declared unseaworthy (except in the most desperate national emergency)and its missiles removed a year ago
(There's a reason the National Anthem is "Ow, Canada")HMCS Huron was decommissioned and later sunk in 2007 during live fire training exercises. The other two destroyers, HMCS Algonquin and HMCS Iroquois, were decommissioned and are awaiting disposal. HMCS Athabaskan is still operating. “The SM2 missiles were declared surplus and have been removed from all ships, including HMCS Athabaskan,” added Koronewski. “They are currently in storage pending disposition.”
Given the shrinking size and state of our military, I wouldn't depend on the USA for a while.
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