CAMERA PRESS • MOD • EPA The Royal Navy is struggling to recruit crew for its Trident nuclear submarines

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The fleet is already having difficulty attracting engineers. Last year, those leaving the Navy were being offered incentives of up to £25,000 to stay. However, serving submariners say the problem is being made worse by a lack of young recruits from the so-called Facebook generation, who do not want to be cut off from social media for up to 90 days at a time. Royal Navy top brass set up Project Faraday to persuade serving sailors to retrain as engineers, but it is still struggling to fill the gaps.

At the heart of the problem is the fact that young people do not see a life on submarines as an attractive option. This was highlighted in a survey for the Royal Navy by research firm PA Consulting. Officially the Navy has 2,900 qualified submariners, but more than 800 of these are officers. Many more have been “beached” – put on land – due to medical conditions, promotion courses or shore jobs.

GETTY Officially the Navy has 2,900 qualified submariners, but more than 800 of these are officers

10 facts about Trident nuclear weapons Wed, July 20, 2016 As MPs vote to renew the UK's Trident weapons system, we look at the facts about the nuclear weapon. Play slideshow PA 1 of 10 The UK's Vanguard fleet of four submarines carrying Trident nuclear missiles are due to become obsolete by the end of 2020

The shortage has been worsened by the need to find crews for Britain’s new aircraft carriers.

We’re all being asked to do extra tours - there’s a lot of frustration Senior Officer

The fleet needs more than 2,000 personnel to keep its submarines at sea, but senior sources say the recruitment situation is nearing “critical”, with crew on the Vanguard-class boats often having to sail three times a year. Last night a senior officer on the Faraday project said: “We have never seen such a situation as we are facing.

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GETTY The so-called Facebook generation does not see a life on submarines as an attractive option