The United Kingdom has again temporarily been left without attack nuclear submarines at sea, UK Defence Strategy writes. According to the outlet, none of the Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarines is currently carrying out combat missions: all are at bases, undergoing maintenance, repairs or trials.
Two submarines have been at the Faslane base for a long time, while two more are undergoing deep maintenance in Devonport. The only boat that recently completed a deployment is also in Devonport after returning from combat duty. Another submarine is undergoing trials and has not yet entered full operational service, while the final boat in the series is still under construction.
UK Defence Strategy notes that the main problem is not so much technical faults in the submarines themselves as a shortage of repair capacity, spare parts, specialists and infrastructure. According to the outlet, some equipment from one submarine was used to keep others operational.
The United Kingdom needs nuclear-powered attack submarines to track Russian ships in the North Atlantic, escort Britain’s strategic missile submarines, carry out strikes with Tomahawk cruise missiles and support aircraft-carrier strike groups.
The U.K. Ministry of Defence said it does not comment on the state of the submarine fleet, but stressed that the security of the country’s territorial waters is ensured by various means.
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