Currently, the United Kingdom does not have a single multi-purpose nuclear submarine at sea, with all such vessels currently docked. This was reported by the UK Defence Journal (UKDJ) on June 27.
“Such a situation is not unprecedented—it has occurred before, in the relatively recent past. While individual boats have occasionally been operational or out of service over this period, the overall trend remains stubbornly consistent: a large portion of the fleet spends significantly more time berthed at the pier than it has ever spent at sea,” the publication states.
Of particular concern to British experts is the status of the Astute-class submarines. It is noted that two of them have effectively been taken out of service after prolonged periods of inactivity, while two others are undergoing extensive overhauls at the Devonport naval base.
On March 23, Jack Watling, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, reported that years of attempts by London to cut costs in what was once a formidable royal navy have rendered a significant portion of its vessels unseaworthy. Moreover, extending the service life of older ships requires enormous expenditures to keep them operational. Repair costs are rising, while combat readiness continues to decline.
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