Britain’s most modern warships have suffered more than 5,000 defects since launching, government records show.
The Type 45 destroyers, which cost £1 billion each, are due to undergo major refits, with holes cut in their sides to fit them with new engines as they keep breaking down.
And new Ministry of Defence figures have shed further light on the extent of the problems experienced by the Portsmouth-based ships.
Shadow defence secretary Emily Thornberry warned the ‘deeply troubling’ figures suggest the government has a ‘laissez-faire attitude’ to the safety of the navy’s fleet.
The MoD data shows HMS Daring recorded 967 operational defects between 2011 and 2015. From 2012 to 2015, HMS Dauntless sustained 895 defects, HMS Dragon 887, HMS Defender 844 and HMS Diamond 818.
HMS Duncan recorded 590 defects from 2013 to 2015, bringing the overall total for the six ships to 5,001.
Separate MoD figures also record maintenance and repair costs for the six ships of £51 million.
Labour’s Ms Thornberry said: ‘Our six destroyers are often referred to as the backbone of the Royal Navy.
‘We send them all around the world on dangerous operations, including in the Gulf, where half the fleet was deployed last year.
‘So it is deeply troubling that the ships are still experiencing hundreds of technical faults every year, including, in some cases, complete power cuts.
‘The MoD has been aware of these problems for years, but despite spending more than £50 million on maintenance and repair, ministers appear to be no closer to resolving the underlying issues.
‘The Government’s apparently laissez-faire attitude to the safety of the Navy’s fleet is simply unacceptable.’
