Britain may be without a fully operational aircraft carrier until 2030, according to a report published by the Commons spending watchdog. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) says two carriers being built will cost more, offer less military capability and be ready much later than planned.
HMS Montrose has visited Ascension Island as part of her mission to promote British interests in the South Atlantic over the coming months. Ascension supports the airbridge which provides the vital link between the UK and MPA in the Falkland Islands, seat of British forces in the South Atlantic.
Uruguay had to stand up to a world power and deny dock access to a Royal Navy vessel on its way to the Falklands/Malvinas to retain good relations with Argentina, admitted the Uruguayan President Jose Mujica in Guadalajara where he met with members of the Uruguayan colony in Mexico.
“HMS Clyde” celebrated her four years patrolling the Falkland Islands and a special guest Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Charles Montgomery was on hand as part of a visit to Royal Navy personnel in the South Atlantic Islands.
The UK has been without a single warship allocated to defending its shores for a month because of defense cuts and operations in Libya, the Ministry of Defense has confirmed.
The full gamut of the Royal Navy's abilities was on show in the Solent last week, during a series of high-profile action-packed demonstrations. The Solent separates the Isle of Wight from mainland England and is the access to Southampton.
Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose has set sail for a six-and-a-half month deployment to the Falkland Islands and other South Atlantic Islands to maintain a continuous presence protecting British interests.
Fresh from a £40m refit the Royal Navy helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious has begun two months of intensive training off the south coast of Britain. Once the training is completed, the Portsmouth-based warship will be the UK’s on-call helicopter carrier, ready for global missions.
Britain has a new flagship with assault ship HMS Bulwark taking over the mantle from her sister vessel. Just two days after HMS Albion made her final entry to Plymouth for three years, and three days after she herself completed her last major training exercise, Bulwark is ready to assume the lead role, reports the UK Defence ministry.
As part of the UK Armed Forces Redundancy Program, and following on from the Army and the RAF earlier this month, on Friday the Royal Navy begun notifying personnel selected for redundancy in Tranche 1 of the program.