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| Base to lose part of naval fleet | Base to lose part of naval fleet |
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| More than half of the naval frigates based at Devonport, in Plymouth, are to be relocated, possibly to Portsmouth. | |
| Three of its Trafalgar class attack submarines will also be transferred to Faslane in Scotland, Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth said. | Three of its Trafalgar class attack submarines will also be transferred to Faslane in Scotland, Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth said. |
| The move is part of a shake-up in which Portsmouth will host the next generation of frigates. | The move is part of a shake-up in which Portsmouth will host the next generation of frigates. |
| The move raises fears for workers around Devonport which is estimated to support about 24,000 jobs. | The move raises fears for workers around Devonport which is estimated to support about 24,000 jobs. |
| DEVONPORT Four miles of waterfront650 acresRefuels and refits four Vanguard-class submarinesHome to: Four Type 22 and Seven Type 23 frigatesSeven Trafalgar class submarinesThree amphibious assault shipsFlag Officer Sea Training (FOST) base | DEVONPORT Four miles of waterfront650 acresRefuels and refits four Vanguard-class submarinesHome to: Four Type 22 and Seven Type 23 frigatesSeven Trafalgar class submarinesThree amphibious assault shipsFlag Officer Sea Training (FOST) base |
| The moves are the result of the The Maritime Change Programme, an MoD review to improve "efficiency and effectiveness" which started 22 months ago. | The moves are the result of the The Maritime Change Programme, an MoD review to improve "efficiency and effectiveness" which started 22 months ago. |
| Mr Ainsworth said that, subject to Ministry of Defence (MoD) investment decisions, Portsmouth will be home to the new class of frigates, known as the Future Surface Combatant (FSC). | Mr Ainsworth said that, subject to Ministry of Defence (MoD) investment decisions, Portsmouth will be home to the new class of frigates, known as the Future Surface Combatant (FSC). |
| They will be berthed alongside the new Type 45 destroyers currently being introduced to service as well as the new Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers currently on order. | They will be berthed alongside the new Type 45 destroyers currently being introduced to service as well as the new Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers currently on order. |
| Mr Ainsworth said the seven Type 23 frigates based at Devonport would stay there for at least five years and then they could move to Portsmouth and the four larger Type 22 frigates would remain in Plymouth. | |
| Three of the newer Trafalgar class submarines, which are currently maintained and fuelled at Devonport, will relocate to Faslane, while four will stay at Devonport. | Three of the newer Trafalgar class submarines, which are currently maintained and fuelled at Devonport, will relocate to Faslane, while four will stay at Devonport. |
| Devonport will be the main centre for surface ship refits with some work being carried out in Portsmouth, Mr Ainsworth said. | |
| The base and dockyards support 24,000 local jobs, it is claimed | The base and dockyards support 24,000 local jobs, it is claimed |
| Devonport will also remain the dedicated home for the amphibious fleet and survey vessels along with a force of Royal Marines' landing craft and personnel. | |
| Mr Ainsworth said: "We undertook this extensive review to ensure that we match the infrastructure in place at the naval bases to the needs of the Royal Navy of the future. | Mr Ainsworth said: "We undertook this extensive review to ensure that we match the infrastructure in place at the naval bases to the needs of the Royal Navy of the future. |
| "The changes we have announced will enable us to provide that support more efficiently by reducing overheads and excess infrastructure. | "The changes we have announced will enable us to provide that support more efficiently by reducing overheads and excess infrastructure. |
| "By locating our aircraft carriers, Type 45 Destroyers and the first and most complex war fighting variant of the planned next generation of frigates here in Portsmouth, the naval base will build on its strengths and the duplication of facilities elsewhere will be reduced. | "By locating our aircraft carriers, Type 45 Destroyers and the first and most complex war fighting variant of the planned next generation of frigates here in Portsmouth, the naval base will build on its strengths and the duplication of facilities elsewhere will be reduced. |
| "The strategic decisions we have taken pave the way for Portsmouth to become, in the longer term, the main operating base for these complex warships." | "The strategic decisions we have taken pave the way for Portsmouth to become, in the longer term, the main operating base for these complex warships." |
| On Tuesday, during a debate on Devonport's future, Mr Ainsworth promised MPs that the workforce of about 4,500 would stay "roughly" the same. | On Tuesday, during a debate on Devonport's future, Mr Ainsworth promised MPs that the workforce of about 4,500 would stay "roughly" the same. |
| But moving the frigates and submarines away from Devonport would "rip the heart" out of the area, Gary Street, Devon South West MP, said. | But moving the frigates and submarines away from Devonport would "rip the heart" out of the area, Gary Street, Devon South West MP, said. |
| A study carried out for BBC News by the University of Plymouth in 2008 estimated that the naval base and dockyard next door supported about 24,000 jobs in the area and contributed more than £850m to the local economy. | A study carried out for BBC News by the University of Plymouth in 2008 estimated that the naval base and dockyard next door supported about 24,000 jobs in the area and contributed more than £850m to the local economy. |
| The Royal Navy's links with Plymouth date back more than 300 years, making it one of Britain's oldest naval bases. | The Royal Navy's links with Plymouth date back more than 300 years, making it one of Britain's oldest naval bases. |
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| Devonport navy base and dockyard are one of the main pillars of the region's economy | Devonport navy base and dockyard are one of the main pillars of the region's economy |