'Dangerously weak' Royal Navy 'needs at least ten more frigates'

“Why should the people of Plymouth give a Rats A** how many frigates the Navy Needs, after all we do not get the work that is needed to be done on them it's all done in Portsmouth, the only work we get given down here, is to do with Nuclear and Toxic waste which the British Government wants to get rid of, if they have any type of waste that is hazardous to anyone it is put in Plymouth Personally I would like to take some of that waste and post it to no 10 and tell Mr. Cameron what I would like him to do with it”

“I mean, if the Navy was cut to the bone, terrorists/illegal immigrants/drug smugglers etc would have a clear run-in to any part of the Brit coastline they choose; they could for example be lowered in a small inflatable motorboat from a tramp steamer out in the channel at night and motor in to the shore at high speed and be climbing the Mayflower steps within an hour..”

“Over the years the role of the British military has been reduced and reduced. Is it worth considering that maybe, just maybe, the UK should disband the military in its current form? The country needs a well trained, well equipped and well paid defense force, land, sea and air but why do we still have to pay millions upon millions to support a war in a country that defeated us in the 1800's (Afghanistan) and support all the tin pot regimes around the world, that admittedly we created, but decades ago, they have had enough time to screw it up themselves by now I include Australia in this who, in their own words, whinge about (our) queen. If they don't want us then fine pass off. (sic).
And while we on the subject, shouldn't Scotland be included in this exemption, they want independence, then fine, but don't expect the UK tax payer to pay for your defense. (or social services, unemployment benefit, medical etc.)”

“God forbid we should let the EU anywhere near the Royal Navy. The way they "breed" neo-politicians and minor functionaries we would have more than enough Admirals, Vice-Admirals and Fleet Chiefs to sink the proverbial battleship (if we still had one!).”

“Without our naval blockade, Iran could send one of its 3 Kilo-class submarines to sit in Plymouth Sound watching us through its periscope, or smuggle suicide bombers ashore.
And if Iran ever gets nuclear bombs, the sub could deposit one on the seabed in the Sound with a time fuse, then hightail it out before it goes off, wiping out the city with the triple-whammy of blast, tsunami and radiation..”

“25 years in the Navy and watched it get smaller and smaller year on year. Fewer ships and more work. It alright until you loose say 7 in a conflict and have nothing left to replace them with, f course that couldn`t happen could it?
Yes we are still an island yet we have little left to protect it or our interests overseas. The next maritime crisis to arise will prove that all too late.”

“Graeme Demianyk : "...is home to a flotilla of 14 frigates and destroyers..."

I'm curious. What are the names of these Devonport based destroyers?”

“Martin. People like you are what is now so wrong with this country and what is bringing it to it's knees. You make me ashamed to be British. When you voice your ignorant, un-educated, ill-informed opinions you just confirm the fact you're a fool? Keep them to yourself, and let everyone else only think your are..... If you had your way, we'd be reduced to some sort of an in-shore fishory protection force, instead of the world's leading Navy. Be in no doubt Martin, we are still the best out there. Why do you think all the other Navies come to Plymouth to be trained at FOST? Thankfully Martin, you and your kind are still in the minority in this country.”

“Martin. People like you make me sick and ashamed to be British! You, and others like you, are what is wrong with this country, and what is bringing it to it's knees. The Royal Navy is STILL the best in the world, and we are still leading the way. Why do you think all types of foreign Navies come to Plymouth to take advantage of the training facilities at FOST? If you had your way, we'd be reduced to some sort of, in-shore fishery protection force, instead of the world's best Navy.
You should keep your un-educated, ill-informed opinions to yourself and let people just think you're an idiot, instead of voicing them and proving the fact.
Thankfully the vast majority of this countries people know the truth and the value of all our armed forces, and people like you are in the minority.”

“It's hardly surprising that a Vice-Admiral would take this view. I don't think we always need shiny new, state-of-the-art frigates etc. to carry out these tasks. It's a matter of balancing what we can afford to have with what we cannot afford to be without.”