Britain’s submarine fleet is facing serious problems, according to Western observers cited by The Telegraph. The publication reports that not a single nuclear-powered attack submarine of the Royal Navy is currently on combat patrol at sea. All five operational boats are either tied up at their berths or undergoing repairs.

The situation sharply limits Britain’s ability to monitor strategically important maritime routes in the North Atlantic and the Arctic, the newspaper says.

According to the article, HMS Audacious is only now leaving dry dock in Devonport. HMS Anson recently completed a shortened voyage to Australia and is also berthed. HMS Astute is undergoing a lengthy repair and modernization process, while HMS Ambush and HMS Artful have not gone to sea for several years.

The Telegraph describes the crisis as the result of years of decline that cannot be reversed quickly. Among the steps needed, the authors list faster repairs of existing submarines, upgrades to infrastructure at the Faslane and Devonport bases, and further development of the AUKUS program.

Particular concern centers on the loss of control over areas through which Russian submarines could enter the North Atlantic. These include the Bear Gap between Spitsbergen and northern Norway, as well as the Faroe-Iceland line.

The publication stresses that nuclear-powered submarines remain one of the key tools for surveillance, deterrence and tracking the submarines of a potential adversary. If British crews spend too long away from these waters, they lose hard-earned operational experience.

Personnel readiness is another problem. Crews left on shore for extended periods gradually lose professional skills, forcing more training to be carried out aboard allied submarines. At the same time, the shortage of combat-ready boats is damaging morale among British sailors, increasing pressure on active crews and weakening the Royal Navy’s standing with its partners.

The article also notes that nuclear-powered attack submarines are needed for more than anti-submarine warfare. They are used to protect underwater infrastructure, launch Tomahawk cruise missile strikes, escort carrier strike groups, counter surface forces, and conduct intelligence and special operations.

According to the observers’ assessment, Britain’s plan to restore its submarine fleet has already been launched, but it is moving extremely slowly despite allocated funding. The Telegraph concludes that without higher defense spending and faster modernization, the United Kingdom will struggle to regain the former capabilities of its submarine fleet.