Royal Navy scraps two warships as Britain's fleet shrinks to its smallest in 500 years
SINKING NAVY Royal Navy scraps two warships as Britain's fleet shrinks to its smallest in 500 years
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THE Royal Navy is scrapping two warships — as Britain's fleet shrinks to its smallest size in 500 years.
Frigate HMS Lancaster and mine hunter HMS Bangor have orders to return home from the Persian Gulf.
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Mine hunter HMS Bangor have orders to return home from the Persian Gulf for its last voyage
Credit: John Gunion - The Sun Glasgow
The 7,000-mile journey will be both vessels' final voyage.
Their replacements are still being built.
They are the sixth and seventh warships scrapped under the current Labour Government.
That leaves 15 major sea surface vessels.
It is the smallest war fleet since Henry VIII founded a professional Navy in 1546.
A Navy source said the service faced 'desperate times'.
They said: "The fleet is at its lowest ebb and the new ships can't come soon enough.'
It comes after the Strategic Defence Review warned the Navy needs a 'cheaper simpler fleet'.
Proud Scots workers watch latest Royal Navy frigate roll out at Babcock Rosyth shipyard
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