Last updated 11:51, Tuesday, 13 January 2009

THE editor of a popular guide to the UK’s naval vessels fears Barrow shipyard could face a nuclear submarines logjam in the future unless the government orders more Astute class submarines now.

By Jon Simpson

Former Royal Navy officer Steve Bush attacks some of the government’s defence policies in the preface to his 2009 edition of the ‘British Warships and Auxiliaries’ guide which lists all Royal Navy ships and submarines in the fleet.

Mr Bush said the navy’s force of frigates and destroyers now stands at 25 and could be cut to as low as 20 – while still being expected to carry out tasks such as protecting aircraft carriers. He added: “The submarine service is also faring badly.”

Although a government review had called Britain’s fleet of nuclear-powered, hunter killer class subs with their cruise missiles “an extremely potent weapons system with an important role to play in support of a wide range of operations”, the fleet was still being cut.

Mr Bush wrote: “Following delays to the Astute class (submarines) and a lack of follow-on orders, the force is due to drop to just eight submarines and may well settle at seven.

“To date, there are only four Astute class on order and despite the government statement that (hunter killer submarine) production would achieve a ‘drumbeat’ of one submarine every 22 months, their commitment to a replacement Trident submarine programme could place even this in jeopardy.”

He added: “With the Astute programme ongoing, one has to ask if the facilities at BAE Systems at Barrow could cope with building two submarine classes simultaneously.

“One thing is sure, more Astute class need to be ordered soon if fleet numbers, and the drumbeat of 22 months, are to be achieved.”