Are our warships an ocean-going disgrace?

THE revelation that our £6 billion fleet of Type 45 destroyers can’t operate in warm water is the worst news for me and all those who have manned ships in the Royal Navy. As a marine engineer, I can’t comprehend why these new ships are spending most of their time in dock. Were they designed not to be able to operate past Land’s End to save money?

R. LONG, Hazlemere, Bucks. I HaVe been on cruises with my wife aboard liners that seem to have no difficulty operating anywhere in the world. surely it’s obvious that during its expected life of 30 years, a warship will have to operate in warm seas. as a taxpayer I am angry, but I doubt if anyone will get the chop. there was a great fanfare for the aircraft carrier HMs Queen elizabeth, but without escort ships she is going nowhere. Nelson must be spinning in his grave.

TED SHEPHERD, Windsor, Berks. THIS has public procurement written all over it. A billion pounds each for destroyers that don’t work? Billions spent on HS2 and not an inch of track laid? And £7 billion on Nimrod patrol and attack aircraft that didn’t work? Billions on rail electrification that doesn’t reach Oxford? Aircraft carriers without catapults for launching the right sort of planes? People need to be sacked and ministers’ heads roll. But instead they will get their OBEs, lucrative consultancy work and fat pensions.

SIMON CAMPBELL, Glasgow. ROLLs-ROYCe, which designed the engines, claims the MoD did not tell them the ships would be operating in warm waters. Did the builders and designers have to be told these ships had to float?

P. BENNISON, Whitley Bay, Northumberland. ON THE same day the Mail revealed our £6 billion fleet can’t operate in the Gulf due to the heat, there was a P&O advert for a cruise from the Gulf to India. Should the MoD be looking at an alternative supplier? STEPHEN TONG, Pudsey, W. Yorks.