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British Navy to Retire Part of Fleet
Almost half of the warships in the British Royal navy will be decommissioned in a cost-cutting move, The Telegraph reported on Friday. Thirteen of the fleet's 44 ships are already on limited-activity status. Another six vessels will soon be either sold or used as scrap metal. These “desperate measures,” as the newspaper called them, are intended to raise £250 million for the national budget.
The British Defense Ministry has stated that the British military presence may be cut back in one region, and The Telegraph reports that the Navy's historical homeport and headquarters in Portsmouth will be closed. Furthermore, two aircraft carriers that the Navy has been waiting for since 1998 will not be provided.
A newspaper source commented that The Netherlands would now have a stronger navy than Britain, and the British Navy would not be in a condition to win another conflict such as the Falklands War. A British Defense Ministry official cautioned, however, that no final decisions have been made yet. According to the British newspaper, the final decision will come in February.
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Photo: AP