Originally Posted by
Davef68
I wonder if that means they are just working with fewer operating boats, or are refits taking a lot longer? One reason given for the lack of operational Astutes was lack of availability of the boat lift at Faslane as it's always occupied by a V class.
My understanding is there is one boat,
Victorious, in the process of a LIFEX refit at Guz (she arrived in June 2023, and moved in to Number 9 Dock in the following February -
Vanguard's took 3 1/2 years), another boat went into the Faslane lift in January, which leaves two; I suspect the problem lies in the fact the whole class was originally supposed to be out of service in 2024 - that coupled with never correcting the first Wilson government's error in cancelling
Ramillies to give the flexibility and additional redundancy of a fifth boat
. We would be in an even bigger mess if the Major government hadn't finally taken the decision to order
Vengeance.