The Guardian – Nuclear submarines went to sea with potentially disastrous defect

British vessels Turbulent and Tireless allowed to leave port with safety valves sealed off, risking catastrophic explosion, leaked memo reveals

Defense Technology International – Serpent’s Tale

“The Type 45 with its Principal Anti-Air Missile System, Sea Viper, and the Samson Radar is arguably the most effective anti-air warfare platform in the world,” proclaims the British government in a recent response to the Defense Committee. Unfortunately, of course, at the moment the argument is hypothetical, since the ship’s main armament has yet to function fully correctly.

The Economist – England expects

Defence spending matters in the home of the Royal Navy

The Times – Warship rescues Britons stranded in Santander

More than 300 Britons who travelled across Europe or arrived from South America and the United States in the hope of being evacuated by the “British armada” were rewarded yesterday with a place on HMS Albion.

The Times – Royal Navy called in to repatriate Britons stranded by volcanic ash

Two Royal Navy warships have been deployed to the English Channel to rescue stranded Britons. HMS Ark Royal and HMS Ocean are ready to start a Dunkirk-style relief mission. A third Royal Navy vessel, HMS Albion, is already on its way to Santander in Spain to pick up troops and “may be able to be of help.”

New York Times – ‘Little Ships’ Rerun Finds Its Own Dunkirk

BBC – UK sets up Chagos Islands marine reserve

The UK government has created the world’s largest marine reserve around the Chagos Islands. Islanders, who were evicted to make way for the US air base on the island of Diego Garcia, say a reserve would effectively bar them from returning.

BBC – UK opens centre to tackle security risks at sea

A national control centre to help protect the UK’s interests at sea has been set up by the government.

Daily Telegraph – Navy intercepts Argentinian warship near British waters

The Royal Navy has intercepted an Argentinian warship near British waters in an apparent escalation of the row over the Falkland Islands.

BBC – Argentina takes Falklands oil dispute with UK to UN

Argentina is seeking United Nations support in its new row with the UK over oil drilling off the Falkland Islands.

US Naval War College Review – Great Britain Gambles With The Royal Navy

The news late last year that the Type 23 frigate HMS Northumberland was to be replaced on the Falklands patrol by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Largs Bay in order to join the international counterpiracy effort in the Gulf of Aden raised quite a few eyebrows. This was not because anyone seriously thought that Argentina would seek to profit from the absence of a British warship in these contested waters for the first time since 1982 but more as it seemed to show just how bad things were getting for the once-mighty Royal Navy that its first-line fleet could not apparently cover both commitments at once.

The Times – Carriers versus tanks: Royal Navy joins battle for resources

The commitment to spend £20 billion on a replacement for Britain’s Trident nuclear submarines risks damaging the Royal Navy as it faces possible cutbacks in its manpower and fleet.

Defense Technology International – Carrier Hot Air

Irrespective of the continuing churn of rumor surrounding their long-term security in the equipment program, the UK Defense Ministry continues to spend significantly on its next-generation aircraft carrier program.

The Times – MoD mulls outsourcing options for Merchant Navy

Up to 20 companies have told the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of their interest in participating in the part-privatisation of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) — the Merchant Navy.

The Times – Navy facing struggle for survival as Treasury cuts spending, report warns

The Royal Navy is facing a struggle for survival against a Treasury intent on cutting back on defence spending, a report warns today.

BBC – UK ‘sorry’ for shooting at ‘Spanish flag’ buoy

The UK has apologised to Spain after the Royal Navy used a buoy with the Spanish colours for target practice.

Defense Technology International – Astute Move

The first of the Royal Navy’s Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarines has finally made it to its home base only four year behind the original in-service date. The navy now intends accept HMS Astute into service in 2010.

The Times – Royal Navy failed to open fire as pirates seized Britons

The Royal Navy failed to open fire as Somali pirates seized two British hostages and, instead, watched helplessly as the couple were taken prisoner.

Defense Technology International – Boomer Bust

While hardly an auspicious start, a couple of months delay in concluding the concept phase for the UK’s future deterrent program is – in the UK Defense Ministry scheme of things – almost on time.

Defense Technology International – Timing Is Everything

HMS Invincible will be retired in 2010, Ark Royal in 2014, and Illustrious in 2016 – HMS Queen Elizabeth will enter service at the end of 2015, with the Prince of Wales to follow in 2018. At least that’s the current timetable according to Quentin Davies, the British minister for defense equipment and support

BBC – Cost cuts blamed for Nimrod crash

An independent review into a fatal 2006 Nimrod crash, which killed 14 service personnel, has accused the MoD of sacrificing safety to cut costs.

The Times – Navy surrenders one new aircraft carrier in budget battle

The Royal Navy has agreed to sacrifice one of its two new aircraft carriers to save about £8.2 billion from the defence budget.

BBC – UK navy forces to return to Iraq

British naval personnel are to return to Iraq to train local forces.

Defense Technology International – Almost The Last, Defender

HMS Defender – launched October 21 on the River Clyde in Scotland – would originally not even have marked the half-way point in the Type 45 destroyer program. Today the ship is the last but one of the class being bought by the Royal Navy.

Defense Technology International – Naval Ratings

In an example of how the British military is being forced to take capability “holidays” resulting from the operational pressures of Afghanistan, the British Army has just carried out Apache Deck training with HMS Ocean for the first time since 2005.

Economist – Nuclear Deterrent: Subtraction

Britain’s nuclear-submarine fleet may shrink.