Entire submarine fleet protecting UK from nuclear attack ‘unfit for use’

A whole fleet of submarines that protect the UK from nuclear threat have been removed from the army after they were found to be unfit for use.

With increasing threats from Russia President Vladimir Putin, the head of the UK’s military stressed on Friday that the threats the UK is facing are far greater than during the Cold War.

However, the Mail on Sunday revealed today that all five Astute class submarines which are used to protect submarines carrying Trident missiles have been docked. They are now undergoing repair work.

The Mail said military experts fear this will also leave the UK’s undersea internet and power cables more vulnerable to Russia’s hybrid warfare attacks.

The newspaper quoted a naval source claiming that ‘a lack of investment for decades in providing the back-up infrastructure to keep them (submarines) safe’ had contributed to the issue.

A Ministry of defense spokesperson said: ‘Strengthening and sustaining our submarine capability is a top priority, and we are taking decisive action to ensure its long-term resilience.

‘The Strategic defense Review has underscored the critical importance of sustained and targeted investment across the defense Nuclear Enterprise, and we are unwavering in our efforts to deliver the resources, infrastructure, and support necessary to meet current and future operational demands.

‘We do not routinely comment about specific submarine operations and availability, but British waters are always protected with a range of assets including warships, patrol aircraft and submarines.’

The MoD has repeatedly come under fire recently over security breaches and ships breaking down.

On Saturday, the MoD said a technical issue had been detected on the UK’s largest warship as it was docked at a port in Norway.

On Tuesday, Metro reported that more than 40 suspected security breaches are being reported to the MoD every day.

This included thousands of reports of lost hardware, such as phones and laptops, as well as assets classed as attractive to terrorists.

Speaking on the Astute subs, the Mail reported that the former labor security minister said: ‘The attack submarines are fundamental for looking after our ballistic missile submarines.

‘The fact that there has not been money invested in dry docks, in the maintenance facilities, in the men required to maintain and repair the submarines, in the spare parts for those submarines is why we have got to this position.

‘It is just unacceptable and puts us in a very difficult position. If we haven’t even got an attack submarine available for use, then things are looking pretty bad.’

Chief of defense staff Sir Richard Knighton told BBC Radio 4’s Today program on Friday that the UK is in the ‘most dangerous period’ due to Russia using cyber attacks, technology smuggling, reckless sabotage and ‘assassination attempts’ to test and challenge our defenses.

He said: ‘In my 35-year career, this is the most dangerous period that I have known, and as a consequence, it is important that we enhance the capability and the readiness of our armed forces alongside our allies to deter our adversaries from doing something daft.’

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