There is considerable national angst about the state of the Royal Navy not helped by recent much publicised mechanical problems with the aircraft carriers, a televised collision incident and concern about equality training.

HMS Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier departs from Portsmouth Port.

The concern is hardly surprising as the Royal Navy is fundamental to the security and wealth of our nation, and despite our countrymen’s tendency to ‘Sea Blindness” and focus on other issues, when push comes to shove there is a little of ‘Jack tar’ in every Briton and they expect the RN to do what it has done for centuries.

Throughout our history the Navy has had ups and downs. Notable lows include the mutinies in the Home Fleet in the 1930s or when the Dutch sailed up the Medway, burnt Chatham and carried away the Kings flagship.

But what was a constant was that the British government understood the importance of the navy and Britain’s maritime power. Indeed, it defined the nation.

That understanding by civil servants and ministers has in recent years evaporated and chronic underfunding over many years has impacted on the strength and capability of the Royal Navy.

Having said that, the collision between two minor war vessels and the fact HMS Prince of Wales was delayed sailing by 24 hours having worked miracles to generate herself to replace HMS Queen Elizabeth are of no real significance.

What is of significance are the reduction in numbers of ships particularly frigates, failure to form the requisite air-groups for carrier strike, shortage of weapon stocks, lack of offensive weapons systems and manning difficulties.

In what is a highly dangerous world the government need to act now before we are at war to increase defence spending.