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Scottish Sun
10-07-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
Royal Navy scraps two warships as Britain's fleet shrinks to its smallest in 500 years
A Navy source said the service faced 'desperate times' SINKING NAVY Royal Navy scraps two warships as Britain's fleet shrinks to its smallest in 500 years Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) 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. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 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
The Irish Sun
10-07-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
Royal Navy scraps two warships as Britain's fleet shrinks to its smallest in 500 years
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. 2 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 That leaves 15 major sea surface vessels. READ MORE ON THE NAVY 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'. Most read in The Sun Proud Scots workers watch latest Royal Navy frigate roll out at Babcock Rosyth shipyard 2 A replacement is still being built for Frigate HMS Lancaster Credit: Solent News
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Time of India
UK Navy's dubious first in 500 years, Admiral Ben Key sacked for sex with subordinate
Admiral Sir Ben Key , the former First Sea Lord and head of the Royal Navy , has been dismissed from service following a misconduct inquiry into an extramarital affair with a subordinate officer. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed that he has lost his rank but will retain his pension. The sacking marks the first time in 500 years that a First Sea Lord has faced dismissal due to misconduct. Sir Ben, 59, was suspended in May 2025 after allegations emerged of a relationship with a female subordinate. The complaint reportedly came from the officer's husband and invited a formal investigation. In a statement, the MoD said, 'Following a full investigation, Admiral Sir Ben Key's behaviour has been found to have fallen far short of the values and standards expected of service personnel. This has resulted in the termination of service and his commission.' A distinguished naval career ends in disgrace Sir Ben joined the Royal Navy in 1984 as a university cadet. Over the years, he qualified as a helicopter aircrew and a Principal Warfare Officer. Live Events He commanded several vessels, including HMS Sandown, HMS Iron Duke, HMS Lancaster, and the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious. He rose to First Sea Lord in 2021. He led major operations including 'Operation Pitting', the UK's evacuation from Afghanistan, and 'Operation Prosperity Guardian' to protect maritime routes in the Red Sea. In 2016, he was knighted and awarded the KCB (Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath). Sir Ben was scheduled to retire this summer before the inquiry disrupted his plans. He has been the head of the Royal Navy since 2021. In recorded history, a similar incident was in December 1917 when Admiral of the Fleet John Jellicoe was dismissed (asked to resign) from his position, though that was as Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet, not First Sea Lord. Personal statement and apology In a statement after his dismissal, Sir Ben said: 'Serving as First Sea Lord has been one of the greatest privileges of my life, and I pay tribute to the dedicated and professional officers, sailors, Royal Marines and civil servants who make up the Royal Navy.' He sincerely regretted his actions from the previous spring, stating that they did not meet the standards he held for himself or for the Royal Navy. Consequently, he fully accepted the decision of the Defence Council. Apologizing to his close ones, he said, 'I am very sorry to those I have hurt personally, and I apologise to everyone who serves with the Royal Navy. I am very grateful for the support of my wife, family, and friends during a very difficult time.'
South Wales Guardian
31-05-2025
- South Wales Guardian
Royal Navy warship seizes £30m of drugs in Middle East
HMS Lancaster deployed its Wildcat helicopter to oversee the operation involving a boarding team from 42 Commando which seized 80 packages of narcotics. A Royal Navy spokesman said the haul was made up of 1,000kg of heroin, 660kg of hashish, and 6kg of amphetamine, worth an estimated £30 million on UK streets. He said: 'It's the second bust in three months for the British warship, which is based in Bahrain and is attached to a New Zealand-led international task spread across the Indian Ocean hunting down illegal activity. 'And it's the second time the Royal Navy's new Peregrine drones – mini-helicopters which conduct reconnaissance sorties for hours on end and feed live information back to Lancaster's operations room – have played a vital part in the success.' Lancaster's commanding officer, Commander Chris Chew, said: 'This is another example of where Lancaster has delivered at range, in isolation, utilising her own organic assets. 'Whether they come in the form of her Wildcat, our uncrewed air system Peregrine, embarked intelligence team or her Royal Marine boarding team, they delivered on operations in support of the Combined Maritime Forces and New Zealand-led Combined Task Force 150.' Armed forces minister Luke Pollard said: 'I congratulate the crew of HMS Lancaster on this significant seizure, which is keeping dangerous and illegal drugs off our streets. 'This operation highlights the unique role our Royal Navy contributes, working to disrupt criminal operations around the world, keeping us secure at home and strong abroad.'
The Sun
30-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Elite Royal Marines pose with £30m worth of seized illegal drugs after storming smuggler's dhow
ELITE Royal Marines stormed a smuggler's dhow and seized £30 million worth of drugs, it has been revealed. Commandos boarded the vessel under the gaze of a Royal Marine sniper who circled overhead in a Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter. 2 2 The troops found 80 bags of illegal drugs including a tonne of heroin. The Navy said: 'The haul came to 1,000kg heroin, 660kg hashish, and 6kg of amphetamine – worth an estimated £30m on UK streets.' The crew of the frigate HMS Lancaster had tracked the dhow with Peregrine spy drones – mini helicopters – as it crossed the Arabian Gulf towards Africa. The warship remained hidden beyond the horizon for over 24 hours before closing in on the dhow and scrambling its boarding teams in fast attack boats and launching the Wildcat helicopter. The Navy said it 'pounced on a drug runner in the Middle East' during the daring High Seas mission. It said: 'After secretly shadowing the suspect through the Arabian Sea for more than 24 hours, frigate HMS Lancaster struck by sea and air to bring the dhow's voyage to a halt. 'Under the watchful gaze of a Royal Marines sniper circling overhead in the frigate's Wildcat helicopter, the boarding team of 42 Commando closed on the vessel in a pincer movement.' Commander Chris Chew, the ship's captain, said: 'This is another example of where Lancaster has delivered at range, in isolation, utilising her own organic assets.' Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard hailed the 200 strong crew for a 'significant seizure, which is keeping dangerous and illegal drugs off our streets'. The warship was serving as part of a taskforce led by New Zealand's Navy to 'disrupt criminal and terrorist organizations' by seizing drugs, guns and illicit goods at sea. Commodore Rodger Ward, the Kiwi commander, hailed the 'tenacity, training and professionalism' of the Royal Navy.
