Costly refit for UK naval destroyers that ‘keep breaking down’

Last Updated: January 29, 2016By

If the most accomplished naval nation in the world can’t even build a working warship, what does that suggest about the planned renewal of Trident?

It’s the obvious question.

Apparently the Ministry of Defence regards its Type 45 destroyers as the “backbone” of the Royal Navy.

If that’s true, then it seems the Navy has a broken back.

Replacement will be expensive and embarrassing – and calls into question every new spending commitment by our most unnecessarily profligate government department.

The Royal Navy’s most modern warships are to be fitted with new engines because they keep breaking down.

In an email seen by the BBC, a serving Royal Navy officer wrote that “total electric failures are common” on its fleet of six £1bn Type 45 destroyers.

The Ministry of Defence said there were reliability issues with the propulsion system and work to fix it would be done to ensure “ships remain available”.

One Royal Navy officer said the cost could reach tens of millions of pounds.

Source: Type 45 destroyers: UK’s £1bn warships face engine refit – BBC News

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  1. Dez January 29, 2016 at 4:10 pm - Reply

    I assume therefore whoever designed this engine and the manufacturer will be eagerly wanting to freely rectify their mistakes so that honest hardworking tax payers do not once again put additional profits into Companies that maybe took shortcuts or were not up to standard when fitting these engines properly. If this was a Government limo that was supplied with a not fit for purpose engine it would be winging its way back whence it came and at no cost to the taxpayer. This assumes of course we are employing robust procurement officers who have wrapped this contract up as tight as a ducks backside……if not why are they still working for Government having left this failure open to a second income stream from its own failure. Feels just like just another IT cock up
    from a bunch learning as they go along on the biggest gravy train ever..

  2. dwrcymru January 29, 2016 at 5:09 pm - Reply

    Made in China were they?

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