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Royal Navy to buy three Norwegian support vessels for £90m to bolster northern defences
The Royal Navy will spend £90 million on three Norwegian offshore support vessels as it faces the retirement of older ships and a shortage of vessels. The purchase is intended to strengthen support for anti-submarine warfare on Nato’s northern flank, amid warnings of increased Russian activity and strategic competition in the Arctic.
Eight crewed warships are due to retire by 2031, including three mine-hunting support vessels, while the first Norwegian ship is not expected for five years. The deal includes an option for three more vessels; the Navy’s frigate and destroyer fleet has fallen to 11, with many ships unavailable for service. MPs have also raised concerns about submarine shortages and maintenance delays, including a seven-month patrol by HMS Vengeance, whose missions are designed to last three months.
In short
- The Navy will buy three Norwegian vessels for £90 million.
- The first ship is not expected for five years.
- The purchase comes amid fleet and submarine shortages.
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The case for
Buying the vessels could fill an urgent support gap as older ships retire and the Navy faces shortages, while strengthening anti-submarine operations on Nato’s northern flank. Supporters could argue that adapting proven offshore vessels is a practical way to bolster readiness and respond to increased Russian activity and competition in the Arctic.
The case against
Critics could argue that a £90 million purchase will not address the wider shortage of warships, submarines and available crews, or the maintenance delays affecting the fleet. With the first vessel not expected for five years and older ships due to retire sooner, the deal may offer too little support too late, while diverting funds from other defence needs.
Explained simply
Offshore support vessels are ships built for work at sea, such as carrying people and equipment or helping other vessels. The Royal Navy can use them to support anti-submarine operations, which involve searching for and tracking submarines.
The Navy works with Nato, a group of countries that co-operate on defence. Its northern flank includes waters around the North Atlantic and Arctic, where submarines and other naval activity are a concern. Norway is a Nato member and sits close to these waters.
The Navy is replacing some older ships while facing limits on how many warships are available for service. The new vessels are not expected to arrive for several years, so the purchase forms part of longer-term planning for the fleet.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Royal Navy is so short of ships we’re buying them from Norway… for £90million”.