WW3 fears see Navy chiefs desperately scramble to hurry up supply of recent warships
Scotland’s ship workers are likely to be asked to carry out double shifts to step up production of five Type 31 frigates as the current fleet is ‘rotting and unseaworthy’
WW3 fears are rising(Image: Getty Images)
Desperate Navy chiefs are trying to speed up the delivery of new warships to replace “rotting” and “unseaworthy” ones. Scotland’s ship workers are likely to be asked to carry out double shifts to step up production of five Type 31 frigates.
The frigates they are replacing, Type 23s, were designed for an 18-year life but extended to serve beyond 30 years. Robert Clark, of the 878 Research think tank, said they were “rotting and cannot be kept seaworthy”.
HMS Iron Duke, a Type 23 frigate, was withdrawn from active service in May, three years after a £103m refit. Industry insiders also said that two more of the five remaining Type 23s will “almost certainly have to be declared unseaworthy in the next few months”.
HMS Iron Duke shadows RFN Boikiy(Image: Royal Navy / SWNS)
In addition to the Type 31s, the navy is also building eight Type 26 frigates, with the first three delivered by 2030. The move comes after ministers told the industry to shift towards a wartime footing. Babcock employees currently work eight hours a day after their overtime shifts were cut to plug a £28billion hole in funding.
A naval source said the proposals were being considered. James Cartlidge, the shadow defence secretary, has “strongly endorsed” the naval plans and has been pushing for the early delivery of ships.
He said: “We believe round-the-clock shifts and contingent labour to accelerate the build of the 12 new ships… is the only realistic way of closing the frigate gap.”
Type 31 frigate HMS Venturer is rolled out from the build hall in Rosyth, Scotland(Image: Getty Images)
A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesman said: “We continue to work closely with Babcock to maximise delivery performance within the contract.”
It comes amid rising fears over the potential outbreak of World War Three. The UK government has urged Brits to assemble a three-day survival kit, while the US Pentagon is reportedly drawing up a “doomsday plan” dubbed FORTRESS that could keep American military installations operational, should external support be severed.
Donald Trump’s alleged proposals to escalate conflict with Iran have also been labelled “devastating” by insiders, while a senior UK Army chief warned this month that Brits should “prepare”.
Historian and author Dr David Swift has shared his thoughts on one particular location in Scotland that should be avoided if global conflict breaks out – the River Clyde.
