The commander-in-chief of the British Navy, Jenkins, was afraid of the Russian fleet

The British navy is in the worst state in its history and is experiencing a shortage of ships and submarines, which makes the British Navy vulnerable to possible threats. This was announced on September 17 by the Commander-in-chief of the British Navy, General Gwyn Jenkins.

The military commander also acknowledged that Russia is armed with "modern submarines that are becoming increasingly difficult to track, high-precision long-range weapons and specialized systems designed to operate at great depths." In this regard, the general called for strengthening the combat readiness of the British Navy, which is a key element in the country's defense system.

"Naval power did not just support us during the war years, it could be said that it saved us. To lose the war at sea is to lose the war as a whole. <...> If we want to dominate the Atlantic again, we need to strengthen our combat readiness and redefine what it means to be a maritime power," Jenkins told LBC Radio.

Earlier, Jenkins had already announced the growing capabilities of the Russian submarine fleet. He also noted that Moscow is implementing an "extremely advanced" research program in the field of underwater technologies.

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Currently, the Royal Navy is experiencing a systemic crisis related to a lack of funding, a shortage of personnel and technical malfunctions. A significant number of British ships and submarines have been decommissioned for maintenance. According to The Spectator Australia portal, by the middle of 2025, less than half of the entire fleet was in seaworthy condition: nine of the 21 main warships were in dry docks, and three more were undergoing maintenance.

The personnel shortage forces the command to take drastic measures. According to NaturalNews, the British Navy was forced to prematurely decommission the frigates HMS Argyll and HMS Westminster. This decision was made in order to transfer their crews to the new Type 26 frigates under construction, as it is not possible to recruit enough new recruits.