CUTS FORCE HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH 'OUT OF ACTION'

Aircraft carrier would need six months to be battle ready

- Marco Giannangeli

BRITAIN will have just one lone aircraft carrier to deploy if we are attacked by a hostile power like Russia due to budget cuts and a shortage of sailors.

The Royal Navy currently has two carriers the slightly newer HMS Prince of Wales and the bigger HMS Queen Elizabeth - which can be readied for active service within a few days.

But the Sunday Express can reveal the status of the flagship vessel named after the late Queen is being downgraded, effectively leaving it sitting in a dock, from where it will require a full six months' notice to properly deploy. A leading naval expert last night said: "I hope Russia or China are gracious enough to give us the half a year we need." It comes just seven years after the £3.5billion super carrier entered service. It has been forced, senior sources say, by budget concerns, an ongoing struggle to find crew for both carriers and an ageing fleet of warships that needs constant maintenance. This has left First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key facing a perfect storm of personnel shortages across the Navy and Royal Marines, while overseeing the smallest number of warships since Nelson's day.

Last month it was revealed the MoD was in heated discussions with the Treasury about the possibility of scrapping both carriers as part of a defence review being led by former Nato secretary general Lord Robertson.

We can reveal the decision has now been taken to focus capacity on the newer carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, which is due to sail to the Far East next year. Each carrier costs £96million a year to operate.