Is Navy ready for conflict?

Repairs on such ships as Devonport-based helicopter carrier HMS Ocean would severely impede the Royal Navy's ability to lead the charge as military action against Iraq looms, said Michael Critchley, editor of Warship World magazine.

The claims will send alarm bells ringing after the Liskeard-based commentator branded the situation as 'highly embarrassing.' He claims that repairs and refits have severely depleted the Navy's arsenal of aircraft carriers. This is not an ideal scenario that's for sure,' said Mr Critchley.

'It is embarrassing that such a large number of ships are unavailable in a time of potential crisis. Two out of the three main ships are not in action which must question whether the Royal Navy is ready for conflict.'

Mr Critchley claims that HMS Ocean is being repaired at Portsmouth and sister ships Illustrious and Invincible are both out of action after undergoing re-fits.

And HMS Fearless, which is used to transport Royal Marines, has returned from exercises early in March and has been docked at Portsmouth since.

But the 37-year-old ship would not be considered for military action and is likely to be either scrapped or sold to a foreign navy.

And the ship poised as a replacement will not be available for action until late next year.

He says that The Ark Royal, currently in the Mediterranean, is the only ship ready to take part in a war effort.

The news comes as speculation mounts over possible conflict in the Gulf.

Clear warning signs the West is gearing up for war were thrown into sharp focus after Tony Blair published the eagerly-anticipated 'dossier' of information.

But Mr Critchley is not so adamant that war is on the horizon He said: 'I was on a ship last weekend and didn't get an impression war was around the corner.

'To mount another conflict like the Gulf War takes months to reposition equipment.

'I certainly don't think war is inevitable.

'I think there is a lot of sabre rattling but that doesn't mean that war is automatically going to ensue.

'It is extremely early days at the moment.

'The bottom line is that everybody gets about ten per cent of the information that the intelligent services provide and I just don't know what is happening.'

A Royal Navy spokesman at Devonport said: 'At the moment we have received no formal tasking, so any talk of the Royal Navy and whether they are in a state of readiness is speculation at the moment.

'Naturally we always look at out commitment worldwide and our job is to make sure that the ships we have got are ready if and when required.

'The ships, which are currently in maintenance, are part of a well-planned maintenance programme.

'We will be ready if required and it will not compromise our ability to do our key military role.'

Commodore Richard Leaman, director of navy communications, hit out Mr Critchley's comments branding them 'scurrilous nonsense'.

He said: 'Mr Critchley does not know what he is talking about.

'The Royal Navy will be ready to meet any conflict the Government calls it upon to conduct as and when the time arises.'

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