Has Trident replaced the Royal Yacht?

It used to be the case that whenever the Sea Lords were asked to find some savings in the Naval budget the first saving to be offered, year after year was the Royal Yacht. This of course was a cute strategy as it was always met with an hurummphhh and cries of “What would Her Majesty think?”

Today we learn that Gordon Brown will say to the UN that Britain is willing to cut the number of Trident nuclear armed submarines from 4 to 3 as an act of controlling nuclear weapons. But truly: what is the point of such an offer?

To provide a nuclear deterrent, especially in ageing boats (they are boats not ships) is challenging and has always required some at sea, some in training, some in refit.  Total needed = 4. To reduce that number removes the credibility of the deterrent.

It’s more likely however that we are wrapping this offer in the nuclear debate really to save money. Despite all the hurummpphing, and whatever Her Majesty said, we decommissioned the Royal Yacht a few years ago and now need to save money with far bigger ticket items.  It’s a shame we can’t tell the truth about it though.