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It’s a scene that gives you that sinking feeling – with every one of the Royal Navy ’s £1billion destroyers out of action and tied up in dock.

It brings a humiliating end to what the Ministry of Defence, in a blaze of publicity, said would be “the Year of the Navy ”.

The Type 45 destroyers – HMS Daring, Dauntless, Diamond, Dragon, Defender and Duncan – are all confined to port due to a combination of equipment failures, manpower shortages and maintenance schedules.

It’s a far cry from when then defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon proudly declared: “2017 is the start of a new era of maritime power, projecting Britain’s influence globally and delivering security at home.”

(Image: Daily Mirror)

The sickening sight of the six 8000-ton guided missile destroyers stuck in Portsmouth harbour comes after it emerged that the £3.1billion aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth has sprung a leak and needs repairs just a week after she was commissioned into the Navy.

All the boats were built, or part-built, on the Clyde and at Rosyth in Fife.

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Meanwhile, there are mounting fears that amphibious assault ships HMS Bulwark and HMS Albion will be scrapped in a looming defence review.

And the helicopter carrier HMS Ocean is due to be pulled out of service within months – with no replacement.

MPs have warned that the Navy are increasingly having to “cannibalise” their warships and submarines for spare parts.

(Image: Getty)

Former first sea lord Admiral Lord West said: “The strength of our Navy has been reduced to a size which is critical.

“We are now on a precipice. Defence is being screwed, effectively.

“It’s all very well calling it the Year of the Navy but there is insufficient money in the defence programme for the programme that is laid down.

“There has been hollowing out of defence. There are insufficient people to man various ships – it has an impact on our ability.” There is currently a 3.5 per cent staffing gap in the Navy, with manpower at just 29,280.

Stripping out the elite Commandos, there are only 22,400 sailors. Each Type 45 requires a crew of 190.

The Navy’s website says: “Destroyers are part of the backbone of the Royal Navy, committed around the world 365 days a year.”

Shadow defence secretary Nia Griffith said: “It is time for the Government to deliver action and to give our Royal Navy the support and resources they need.”