State of the Royal Navy

      The Royal Navy, the most successful naval fighting force in the world, is facing a bleak future with fewer ships and resources. After almost a decade of cost cutting, decommissions and Strategic Defence Reviews, the once proud Royal Navy, finds itself in something of a desperate state.
      In what was originally promoted as a small and necessary cut-back of three Frigates and two Submarines, has seen the wholesale departure of no less than 14 warships and with possibly more losses to follow.
      In the future Royal Naval ships, must take on a greater number of rolls in the maritime world and take on the same workload with fewer ships, when with the rapid advances in technology, physical numbers are no longer deemed relevant.
      The two future and long awaited Queen Elizabeth Class, Aircraft Carriers, are still not due to enter into operational service until as late as 2020 and should operate the F 35 Lightening Attack Aircraft and various support helicopters.
      The Type 45 Destroyer, building programme was originally planned to be for twelve ships, their main duty being to protect the fleet and to act as escorts for the carriers, later being cut back to eight ships and then the final order being for six ships.
      Likewise the much needed and also long awaited Type 26 Frigates, supposedly to be a partial replacement for the Type 23. The original planned order for thirteen ships, now stands at eight ships.
      The final size of the Patrol Submarine Fleet, aside from the nuclear fleet, is expected to be set at seven or eight boats.
      A lot of the Navy's problems are also land based, with the closure of various of various dock and port facilities under the tile of; A Better Defence Estate.