MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Scathing comments on Labour’s Defense Plan, Sir Keir has scrapped more warships than Britain lost in Falklands War

In an interview with The Sun, West, said, “the bottom line is that Keir Starmer hasn’t really worried about the size of the Navy and he has allowed it to be marginalized”. (Pic PA)

Former First Sea Lord Admiral Lord West has warned that the Royal Navy was in its worst state for 350 years, “the number of ships we have is pathetic, to do the things we need to do.”

Lord West added: “The last time the Navy took this sort of hammering was in Samuel Pepys time [1667] and the Dutch sailed up to Chatham, burnt the fleet and stole the flagship.”

In an interview with The Sun, West, who commanded the frigate HMS Ardent which was sunk in Falklands War, added: “The bottom line is that Keir Starmer hasn’t really worried about the size of the Navy and he has allowed it to be marginalized.

In the Falklands campaign recalls West. the Navy lost two destroyers, two frigates, two landing ships and the merchant vessel Atlantic Conveyor to Argentine bombs and Exocet missiles.

The RFA Sir Tristram landing ship was later recovered and remained in service until 2005.

However, “today the senior service has just five working frigates, no amphibious assault ships and the smallest fleet since it was founded by Henry VIII. Of the six hunter killer subs in service only one has sailed this year. Three have been in port for three years”.

Prime Minister Starmer has axed four frigates, two assault ships, two tankers, and a nuclear powered submarine since he moved to 10 Downing Street exactly two years ago on Sunday.

Today the senior service has just five working frigates, no amphibious assault ships and the smallest fleet since it was founded by Henry VIII.

Plans for the Royal Marines to get six new Multi Role Strike Ships for amphibious assaults were scrapped in Labor’s Defense Investment Plan. Dip also confirmed the Navy would abandon plans for crewed Type 83 destroyers and Type 32 frigates.

It said the plans were “unaffordable and not what the modern threat demands”.

The Navy’s new focus is un-crewed vessels, including Type 91 missile barges and Type 94 sensor drone ships to detect enemy warships.

Nine new frigates and a hunter killer submarine are currently under construction while HMS Agamemnon, the newest Astute-class sub, is undergoing sea trials.