One of the ways of assessing our navy of today, is by looking at a book called ACP 113 [Ships Callsign Book].
I am looking at the 2008 edition.
In this edition, the ships controlled by the Royal Navy are shown to be 292.
However, of that number, our "FIGHTING NAVY" can be seen to consist of 54 ships and submarines, BUT, of those listed, several are no longer in service and several are not yet in service, so the number is less that 54. Of that lesser number, several are now old and near to, if not past, their "sell by date". Rephrasing "fighting navy", we observe that our current "MODERN FIGHTING NAVY" is appreciably less that 54 vessels.
Thus, the navy CANNOT support further cuts as proposed by the Coalition Government. SEE BELOW for update after the Defence Cuts were announced on the 19th October 2010, and also to view the March 2010 BRIDGE CARD.
Our less than modern fighting navy consists of:-
3 Carriers
3 Assault Ships
14 Destroyers
17 Frigates
17 Submarines
but as I say, some of those have gone and some of the listed are yet to come.
These are in type order as shown above:-
|
INVINCIBLE (CVS) (R05) GUCL
|
ILLUSTRIOUS (CVS) (R06)
GVUH |
ARK ROYAL
(CVS) (R07)
GCDG |
|
ALBION (LPH)
(L14)
GDIU |
BULWARK (LPD)
(L15)
GDIV |
OCEAN (LPH)
(L12)
GCOU |
|
DARING (DD) (D32) GPLA
|
DAUNTLESS
(DD) (D33)
GPLB |
DEFENDER
(DD) (D36)
GMIA |
DIAMOND (DD) (D34) GPLC
|
DRAGON
(DD) (D35)
GMIB |
DUNCAN
(DD) (D37)
GMIC |
EDINBURGH
(DD) (D97)
GBBE |
|
EXETER
(DD) (D89)
GVUJ |
GLOUCESTER (DD) (D96)
GBBF |
LIVERPOOL
(DD) (D92)
GZIS |
MANCHESTER (DD) (D95)
GYHG |
NOTTINGHAM (DD) (D91)
GZIR |
SOUTHAMPTON (DD) (D90) GVUK
|
YORK (DD)
(D98)
GBBB |
| ARGYLL (FF) (F231) GACG |
CAMPBELTOWN (FF) (F86) GABK |
CHATHAM (FF) (F87) GABL |
CORNWALL (FF) (F99) GDLU |
CUMBERLAND (FF) (F85) GAAP |
GCOB |
KENT (FF) (F78) GDIR |
|
LANCASTER
(FFGH) (F229)
GACH |
MONMOUTH
(FF) (F235)
GCOC |
MONTROSE (FF) (F236) GCOD
|
NORTHUMBERLAND (FF) (F238)
GCOH |
PORTLAND (FF) (F79) GDIS
|
RICHMOND (FF) (F239) GCOJ
|
SOMERSET (FF) (F82) GDIP
|
|
ST ALBANS
(FF) (F83)
GDIT |
SUTHERLAND (FF) (F81)
GCOZ |
WESTMINSTER (FF) (F237)
GCOK |
|
AMBUSH (SSGN)
(S96)
GYAT |
ARTFUL (SSGN)
(S95)
GYAS |
ASTUTE (SSGN)
(S94)
GYAR |
SCEPTRE (SSGN)
(S104)
GQIL |
SOVEREIGN
(SSGN) (S108)
GPAB |
SUPERB (SSGN) (S109) GQIK
|
TALENT (SSGN)
(S92)
GBNZ |
|
TIRELESS
(SSGN) (S88)
GBNM |
TORBAY (SSGN)
(S90)
GBNV |
TRAFALGAR
(SSGN) (S107)
GBKW |
TRENCHANT
(SSGN) (S91)
GBNY |
TRIUMPH (SSGN)
(S93)
GABY |
TURBULENT
(SSGN) (S87)
GBNJ |
VANGUARD (SSBN) (S28) GACK
|
|
VENGEANCE
(SSBN) (S31)
GCUR |
VICTORIOUS (SSBN) (S29) GACP
|
VIGILANT (SSBN) (S30) GCUQ
|
A further 44 warships are listed as follows, shown in alphabetical order and not by class:-
|
ARCHER (PBR)(P264)
GAAQ |
ATHERSTONE (MHSC) (M38)
GBPJ |
BANGOR (MHSC)
(M109)
GCUL |
BITER
(PP) (P270)
GAAR |
BLAZER
(PP) (P279)
GAAU |
BLYTH (MHSC)
(M111)
GCUN |
BROCKLESBY (MHSC) (M33)
GBPQ |
|
CATTISTOCK (MHSC) (M31) GYHJ
|
CHARGER (PP) (P292) GAAX
|
CHIDDINGFOLD (MHSC) (M37) GBPD
|
CLYDE (PPH)
(P257)
GXRS |
DASHER
(PP) (P280)
GAAV |
ECHO (AGS) (H87) GAAC
|
ENDURANCE
(AGSA) (A171)
GXRH |
|
ENTERPRISE (AGS) (H88)
GXUH |
EXAMPLE (PP) (P165) GABA
|
EXPLOIT (PP) (P167) GABD
|
EXPLORER
(PP) (P164)
GABB |
EXPRESS (PP) (P163) GABC
|
GLEANER (AGSC)
(H86)
GDJF |
GRIMSBY (MHSC)
(M108)
GCUK |
|
HURWORTH
(MHSC) (M39)
GBPL |
LEDBURY (MHSC) (M30) GWAE
|
MERSEY
(PP) (P283)
GBSY |
MIDDLETON
(MHSC) (M34)
GYHL |
PEMBROKE
(MHC) (M107)
GCUJ |
PENZANCE
(MHC) (M106)
GCUI |
PUNCHER
(PP) (P291)
GAAW |
|
PURSUER (PP) (P273) GAAT
|
QUORN (MHSC)
(M41)
GABT |
RAIDER
(PP) (P275)
GCUV |
RAMSEY (MHSC) (M110) GCUM
|
RANGER (PBR)
(P293)
GAAY |
ROEBUCK (AGSC)
(H130)
GCYB |
SABRE (LPV)
(P285)
GWBY |
|
SCIMITAR
(LPV) (P284)
GWBX |
SCOTT (AGS) (H131) GCUP
|
SEVERN (PP) (P282) GBSK
|
SHOREHAM
(MHC) (M112)
GCVO |
SMITER
(PP) (P272)
GAAS |
TRACKER (PP) (P274) GCUU
|
TRUMPETER (PP) (P294) GAAZ
|
|
TYNE (PP) (P281) GAAD
|
WALNEY
(MHC) (M104) GACT
|
Next comes 17 RFA's:-
|
ARGUS (AGH)
(A135)
GDSA |
BAYLEAF (AOR)
(A109)
GCDC |
BLACK
ROVER (AOR) (A273)
GREU |
CARDIGAN
BAY (AOR) (L3009)
GCID |
FORT
AUSTIN (AFS) (A386)
GSEV |
FORT
GEORGE (AOR) (A388)
GCOG |
FORT
ROSALIE (AOR) (A385)
GSEU |
|
FORT
VICTORIA (AOR) (A387)
GACE |
GOLD
ROVER (AOR) (A271)
GRET |
LARGS BAY
(AOR) (L3006)
GCIA |
LYME BAY
(AOR) (L3007)
GCIB |
MOUNTS
BAY (AOR) (L3008)
GCIC |
ORANGELEAF (AOR) (A110)
GURK |
RESOURCE
(AOR) (A480)
GRFE |
|
SIR
BEDIVERE (LSL) (L3004)
GSRE |
WAVE
KNIGHT (AOR) (A389)
GWBU |
WAVE
RULER (AOR) (A390)
GCVR |
The following vessels are listed as being under Navy control. They are RCLV and RCTV, 13 in number, respectively, Royal Corps Logistics Vessel and Royal Corps Transport Vessel:-
|
AACHEN (RCL)
(L110)
GABU |
AKYAB (RCL)
(L109)
GCSQ |
ANDALSNES
(RCL) (L107)
GCSN |
ANTWERP (RCL)
(L106)
GBSU |
AREZZO (RCL)
(L111)
GABV |
ARROMANCHES (RCL) (L105)
GBSV |
AUDEMER (RCL)
(L113)
GABX |
|
BREAM (RCTV)
(WB03)
GWOD |
EDEN (RCTV)
(RPL)
GDDZ |
FORTH (RCTV)
(RPL)
MTAN |
MEDWAY (RCTV)
(RPL)
MTAM |
PERCH (RCTV)
(WB06)
GWOG |
ROACH (RCTV)
(WB05)
GWOF |
Combat Support Boats {?} are plentiful with 32 of them !:-
| CSB0001 (CSB) MDVP4 | CSB0002 (CSB) MDVG9 | CSB0003 (CSB) MDVE7 | CSB0004 (CSB) MDVQ5 | CSB0005 (CSB) MDVG4 | CSB0006 (CSB) MDVH5 | CSB0007 (CSB) MDVF8 |
| CSB0008 (CSB) MDVM2 | CSB0009 (CSB) MDUM7 | CSB0010 (CSB) MDUP6 | CSB0011 (CSB) MDUS6 | CSB0012 (CSB) MDUT6 | CSB0013 (CSB) MDUV5 | CSB0014 (CSB) MDWQ5 |
| CSB0015 (CSB) MDWT7 | CSB0016 (CSB) MDXD8 | CSB0017 (CSB) MDWU3 | CSB0018 (CSB) MDWU4 | CSB0019 (CSB) MDWC6 | CSB0020 (CSB) MDVV7 | CSB0021 (CSB) MDVY2 |
| CSB0022 (CSB) MEES4 | CSB0023 (CSB) MDVX2 | CSB0024 (CSB) MDVU9 | CSB0025 (CSB) MDXX5 | CSB0026 (CSB) MDXV6 | CSB0027 (CSB) MDXH9 | CSB0028 (CSB) MDXG7 |
| CSB0029 (CSB) MDXX4 | CSB0030 (CSB) MDVK7 | CSB9931 (CSB) MDVD6 | CSB9932 (CSB) MDVG5 |
When I was a boy in the 40's, UTILITY WEAR was accepted as nowhere near the best but it will do because of the war shortages ! Now we see a list of 26 LCU's, LCU meaning Landing Craft Utility:-
| 9730 LCU 01 (LCU) (L3509)
GCYO |
9731 LCU 02 (LCU) (L3510) GCYN |
9732 LCU 03 (LCU) (L3511) GCYQ |
9733 LCU 04 (LCU) (L3512) GCYR |
9734 LCU 05 (LCU) (L3513) GCYS |
9735 LCU 06 (LCU) (L3514) GCYT |
9736 LCU 07 (LCU) (L3515) GCYU |
|
9736 LCU
07 (LCU) (L3515)
GCYU |
9737 LCU
08 (LCU) (L3516)
GCYV |
9738 LCU
09 (LCU) (L3517)
GCYY |
9739 LCU 10 (LCU) (L3518)
GCYZ |
3508
LCU(9) (LCU) (L3508)
GIAL |
700
LCU(9) (LCU) (L700)
GNWA |
701
LCU(9) (LCU) (L701)
GOHZ |
|
702
LCU(9) (LCU) (L702)
GQBH |
704
LCU(9) (LCU) (L704)
GNZU |
705
LCU(9) (LCU) (L705)
GPCU |
706 LCU(9) (LCU) (L706)
GRBE |
707
LCU(9) (LCU) (L707)
GTRU |
708
LCU(9) (LCU) (L708)
GQJU |
709 LCU(9) (LCU) (L709)
GQKH |
|
710
LCU(9) (LCU) (L710)
GTBE |
711
LCU(9) (LCU) (L711)
GVPA |
713
LCU(9) (LCU) (L713)
GACL |
714
LCU(9) (LCU) (L714)
GACM |
715
LCU(9) (LCU) (L715)
GACN |
Now to really scare the enemy, 61 auxiliaries of all sorts and sizes:-
|
LESLEY
(AH) (A172)
GQOF |
LOYAL
WATCHER (AH) (A159)
GXHJ |
LOYALTY
(AH) (A360)
GBSS |
MASTER
CRAFTSMAN (AH)
GCOV |
MELTON
(AH) (A83)
GBSW |
MENAI
(AH) (A84)
GBSX |
MEON (AH)
(A87)
GBSZ |
|
MESSINA
(AH) (A107)
GBTG |
MOORFOWL
(AH) (Y33)
GACY |
MILL REEF
(WB) (WB08)
GABZ |
MOORHEN
(AH) (Y32)
GACX |
MYRTLE
(AH) (A199)
GQOJ |
NETLEY
(AH) (A282)
GACC |
NEWHAVEN
(AH) (A280)
GAAB |
|
NEWTON
(AH) (A367)
GURN |
NIMBLE
(AH) (A222)
GAAF |
NUTBOURNE
(AH) (A281)
GACA |
OBAN (AH)
(A283)
GACD |
OILPRESS
(AH) (Y21)
GXGH |
OMAGH
(AH) (A285)
GBBC |
ORONSAY
(AH) (A284)
GBBA |
|
PADSTOW
(AH) (A286)
GBBD |
POWERFUL
(AH) (A223)
GAAG |
SALMAID
(AH) (A187)
GAAM |
SALUKI
(AH) (A182)
GZMV |
SALMOOR
(AH) (A185)
GAAK |
SHEEPDOG
(AH) (A250)
GNIC |
SPANIEL
(AH) (A201)
GZCK |
|
TORMENTOR
(PB) (A142)
GXUJ |
TORNADO
(AH) (A140)
GXUG |
WARDEN
(AH) (A368)
GACZ |
SULTAN
ADVENTURER (AH) (A103)
GZEE |
WATERMAN
(AH) (A146)
GXHF |
YARMOUTH
NAVIGATOR
MLJT |
ADAMANT
(AH) (A232)
GDIQ |
|
ADEPT
(ATA) (A224)
GZAW |
BOVISAND
(AH) (A191)
GCUS |
BUSTLER
(AH) (A225)
GZAX |
CAMERON
(AH) (A72)
GCOL |
CAPABLE
(AH) (A226)
GZAY |
CAREFUL
(AH) (A227)
GZAZ |
CAWSAND
(AH) (A192)
GCUT |
|
CONDOR (PB)
(A305)
GBTB |
COLONEL
TEMPLER (AH) (A229)
GTTA |
DEWDALE
(AH) (A219)
GRFU |
DEXTEROUS
(AH) (A231)
GAAJ |
DILIGENCE
(AH) (A132)
GCPC |
ENDEAVOUR
(AH) (A361)
GBST |
FAITHFUL
(AH) (A228)
GAAH |
|
FLORENCE
(AH) (A149)
GZAU |
FORCEFUL
(AH) (A221)
GAAE |
FRANCES
(AH) (A147)
GZAT |
GENEVIEVE
(AH) (A150)
GZAV |
HELEN
(AH) (A198)
GZCH |
HUSKY
(AH) (A178)
GZBD |
IMPETUS
(ATA) (A345)
GCOX |
|
IMPULSE
(ATA) (A344)
GCOW |
INTEGRITY
(AH) (A306)
GBTD |
IRONBRIDGE (AH) (A311)
GRIM |
IXWORTH (AH) (A318) GRFG
|
BLUE SWAN [RSC] GBPO
|
Note the tiny little
vessel above called the LOYALTY [A360]. Her callsign "GBSS" once belonged to the mighty Cunard Liner RMS Queen Elizabeth which caught fire and sank in Hong Kong's harbour. |
They even add the leisure side of the navy into these lists! Here are the yachts [16 of them] attached to the naval college at Darmouth:-
| HEADOVERHEELS (NCTY) GCUF | HEADSIWIN (NCTY) GCUE | HEADSTRONG (NCTY) GCUG | HEDONIST (NCTY) GCUD | FOXBRUSH (NCTY) GDIZ | FOXCHASE (NCTY) GDJK | FOXCUB (NCTY) GCUC |
| FOXDALE (NCTY) GDJL | FOXFIELD (NCTY) GDJG | FOXFIRE (NCTY) GDJH | FOXGLOVE (NCTY) GCUA | FOXHOLE (NCTY) GDIW | FOXHOUND (NCTY) GDJE | FOXLANE (NCTY) GDIX |
| FOXMARK (NCTY) GDIY |
FOXTOR (NCTY) GCUB
|
And finally, no navy is worth its salt unless it has listed under its warship list {the very reason for having ACP 113}, 29 yachts belonging to the Joint Sail Association Training Centre
| JSATC ADVENTURE (HMSTC) GXHA | JSATC AMARYLLIS (HMSTC) (Y17) GCOM | JSATC AMORIA (HMSTC) GDIA | JSATC BROADSWORD (HMSTC) GUTC | JSATC CALLISTA (HMSTC) GDIB | JSATC CHALLENGER (HMSTC) GXHB | JSATC CHASER (HMSTC) GUSR |
| JSATC DASHER (HMSTC) GUSZ | JSATC DISCOVERER (HMSTC) GXHC | JSATC DOSINA (HMSTC) GDIC | JSATC ENDEAVOUR (HMSTC) GXHD | JSATC ENSIS (HMSTC) GDID | JSATC FIMBRIA (HMSTC) GDIE | JSATC JANTHINA (HMSTC) GDIF |
| JSATC KUKRI (HMSTC) GUTB | JSATC LAMBIS (HMSTC) GDIG | JSATC LOARD PORTAL (HMSTC) GUTD | JSATC MARLET (HMSTC) (Y2533) GCON | JSATC MITRA (HMSTC) GDIH | JSATC NERETA (HMSTC) GDII | JSATC PEGASUS (HMSTC) (Y2534) GCOP |
| JSATC PLACUNA (HMSTC) GDIJ | JSATC RACER (HMSTC) GUTA | JSATC SABRE (HMSTC) GUBZ | JSATC SEAHORSE (HMSTC) (Y2535) GCOR | JSATC SYRINX (HMSTC) GDIK | JSATC TROCHUS (HMSTC) GDIL | JSATC VOLUTA (HMSTC) GDIN |
| JSATC ZIDONA (HMSTC) GDIO |
In summary, of the 292 vessels listed in ACP 113 as being under UK Naval Control, we have well fewer than 50 recognised fighting vessels. Manifestly, an under sized, tired and almost threadbare navy. Lamentable !
Click to read the MARCH 2010 BRIDGE CARD. Note that HMS Bristol's callsign is not shown. She now uses the radio callsign 2AIT7 !
This picture was taken on the day the defence cuts were announced. HMS ARK ROYAL, pile of scrap metal, alongside in Portsmouth Dockyard.
and this is the overall affect of the defence cuts on our armed forces
