Our TIRED and KNACKERED Navy. 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) - c/s GUCL	ILLUSTRIOUS (CVS) (R06) - c/s GVUH	ARK ROYAL (CVS) (R07) - c/s GCDG
ALBION (LPH) (L14) - c/s GDIU	BULWARK (LPD) (L15) - c/s GDIV	OCEAN (LPH) (L12)- c/s - GCOU

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
DARING (DD) (D32) c/s GPLB	DAUNTLESS (DD) (D33) c/s GMIA	DEFENDER (DD) (D36) c/s GPLC	DIAMOND (DD) (D34) c/s GMIB
DRAGON (DD) (D35) c/s GMIC	DUNCAN (DD) (D37) c/s GPLA	EDINBURGH (DD) (D97) c/s GBBE	EXETER (DD) (D89) c/s GVUJ
GLOUCESTER (DD) (D96) c/s GBBF	LIVERPOOL (DD) (D92) c/s GZIS	MANCHESTER (DD) (D95) c/s GYHG	NOTTINGHAM (DD) (D91) c/s GZIR
SOUTHAMPTON (DD) (D90) c/s GVUK		YORK (DD) (D98) c/s GBBB
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ARGYLL (FF) (F231) c/s GACG	CAMPBELTOWN (FF) (F86) c/s GABK	CHATHAM (FF) (F87) c/s GABL	CORNWALL (FF) (F99) c/s GDLU
CUMBERLAND (FF) (F85) c/s GAAP	IRON DUKE (FF) (F234) c/s GCOB	KENT (FF) (F78) c/s GDIR	LANCASTER (FFGH) (F229) c/s GACH
MONMOUTH (FF) (F235) c/s GCOC	MONTROSE (FF) (F236) c/s GCOD	NORTHUMBERLAND (FF) (F238) c/s GCOH	PORTLAND (FF) (F79) c/s GDIS
RICHMOND (FF) (F239) c/s GCOJ	SOMERSET (FF) (F82) c/s GDIP	ST ALBANS (FF) (F83) c/s GDIT	SUTHERLAND (FF) (F81) c/s GCOZ
WESTMINSTER (FF) (F237) c/s GCOK
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
AMBUSH (SSGN) (S96) c/s GYAT	ARTFUL (SSGN) (S95) c/s GYAS	ASTUTE (SSGN) (S94) c/s GYAR	SCEPTRE (SSGN) (S104) c/s GQIL
SOVEREIGN (SSGN) (S108) c/s GPAB	SUPERB (SSGN) (S109) GQIK	TALENT (SSGN) (S92) c/s GBNZ	TIRELESS (SSGN) (S88) c/s GBNM
TORBAY (SSGN) (S90) c/s GBNV	TRAFALGAR (SSGN) (S107) c/s GBKW	TRENCHANT (SSGN) (S91) c/s GBNY	TRIUMPH (SSGN) (S93) c/s GABY
TURBULENT (SSGN) (S87) c/s GBNJ	VANGUARD (SSBN) (S28) c/s GACK	VENGEANCE (SSBN) (S31) c/s GCUR	VICTORIOUS (SSBN) (S29) c/s GACP
VIGILANT (SSBN) (S30) c/s 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:-
Note the tiny little vessel 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.

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

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 !

  This file shows the MARCH 2010 BRIDGE CARD. Note that HMS Bristol's callsign is not shown. She now uses the radio callsign 2AIT7 !

This is the overall affect of the defence cuts on our armed forces.