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Adapted from two articles in The Times, 16 January 2004.

The head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Sir Alan West, spelled out what he considers are the four priorities in shaping the Navy's fleet in the face of budgetary constraints. These priorities are, in order of importance as he sees it:

  1. the two planned aircraft carriers, which need to be at least 55,000 tonnes to carry the required number of the new joint strike fighters;

  2. the fleet's 12 nuclear attack submarines;

  3. the amphibious force of assault ships for the Royal Marines; and

  4. replacement Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels.

The government wants to focus on high-tech intelligence gathering rather than older weapons platforms, which were designed for the Cold War. Sir Alan indicated that if anything had to go, it would be the older Type 42 destroyers. For the same reason, only a few of the new Type 45s appear likely to be built.

(It seems there is a school of thought within the Navy itself that feels that what needs to be enhanced are sea-based aircraft, submarines, mine clearance craft and amphibious assault ships. According to this view, the only escort ships needed these days are a few very heavily armoured destroyers.)

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