Grant Shapps

A decision to rename HMS Agincourt, an Astute-class attack submarine, to HMS Achilles has been branded "woke nonsense" by former defence secretary Grant Shapps. Pictured is fellow Astute-class submarine HMS Anson.

"Woke nonsense": Renaming HMS Agincourt to HMS Achilles slammed

The Conservative manifesto says it will raise defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by cutting civil service spending. Picture: James Manning/PA Wire

Tory manifesto promises more defence spending - how

Rishi Sunak has called a general election for July 4.

Breaking news as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirms general election

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps(Credit: Getty Images)

Shortage of planes to take part in D-Day mass parachute drop

Type 23 frigate HMS Westminster (foreground) with the Russian frigate Boiky as it escorts four Russian vessels through the English Channel. Type 23 frigates HMS Argyll and HMS Westminster will be retired as Defence Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed that up to six multi-role support ships (MRSS) are set to be built. Picture: Ministry of Defence/Crown copyright/PA Wire

HMS Westminster and HMS Argyll to be retired as new ships announced

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said the new ships will have multiple roles and be used in different circumstances. The move follows drone attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen on British ships, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. (Credit: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

New Royal Marines support ships to be built amid high global tensions

The investigation into what caused the crash involving HMS Bangor (pictured) and HMS Chiddingfold remains ongoing. Picture: MoD.

Investigation into shocking crash involving two ships remains ongoing

HMS Prince of Wales is currently undergoing a maintenance period following her deployment on Exercise Steadfast Defender. The Royal Navy has issued an update on her current status. Picture: Chris Moorhouse (260324-14)

Update issued on HMS Prince of Wales as she sits in harbour

HMS Chiddingfold is back on patrol in the Middle East alongside Saudi Arabian forces following a crash in January involving HMS Bangor. Picture: Tom Cotterill

HMS Chiddingfold back in action after shocking HMS Bangor crash

Sea Viper missile being launched from HMS Diamond to shoot down a missile fired by the Iranian-backed Houthis from Yemen, the first time a Royal Navy warship has intercepted a missile in combat since 1991.

HMS Diamond downs a missile in 'illegal' Gulf of Aden attack

Prime minister Rishi Sunak records a statement inside 10 Downing Street, London, after Iran launched an unprecedented attack on Israel that saw RAF jets deployed to shoot down drones from Tehran. Picture: Benjamin Cremel /PA Wire

RAF jets shoot down Iranian missiles in unprecedented Israel attack

HMS Lancaster seized £33m worth of crystal meth, heroin and hasish on two separate busts in the Middle East. Pictured is the boarding team closing in on one of the vessels. Picture: Royal Navy

Heroic HMS Lancaster seizes £33m of drugs in the Middle East

What DragonFire could look like when fired from a Royal Navy warship. Repeated drone attacks from Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Picture: Royal Navy

Destructive laser weapon to be installed on Royal Navy warship

Handout photo issued by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of Chernihiv alongside Cherkasy arriving at No 2 Basin His Majesty's Naval Base Portsmouth. The two former Royal Navy minehunter ships which have been handed over to the Ukrainian navy have arrived in Portsmouth as the crews undergo training to prepare them for future missions in the Black Sea. The two Sandown-class warships, HMS Grimsby and HMS Shoreham, were decommissioned from the Royal Navy to be transferred to the Ukrainian military where they now operate under the names Chernihiv and Cherkasy.

Former Navy ships which were given to Ukraine arrive in Portsmouth

HMS Prince of Wales will soon be deployed to Japan amid worldwide tensions. The MoD with a UK Carrier Strike Group will be carrying out various exercises. Picture: Chris Moorhouse (260324-07)

HMS Prince of Wales to be deployed to Japan amid a "volatile world"

An unnamed Royal Navy ship has been deployed to Gaza to support with an aid project amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Pictured is HMS Richmond, a frigate which recently returned to the UK from operations in the Red Sea. Picture: Royal Navy.

Why UK have not named Royal Navy ship deployed to Gaza in aid effort

An unnamed Royal Navy ship will be deployed to help get more aid into Gaza, the UK has announced.

Freddie Webb

Royal Navy warship HMS Trent seized drugs with a street value of £16.7 million in two separate blows to drug runners in the Caribbean. Picture credit: Royal Navy / SWNS

Royal Navy: 200kg of cocaine and drugs worth £16.7 million seized

L to R: Former defence secretary Ben Wallace, former armed forces minister James Heappey and Lord West, former First Sea Lord. The Council on Geostrategy has launched a campaign to call on the UK government to increase defence spending amid ongoing conflict in the Red Sea, Russia-Ukraine and Gaza. Picture: Ian Forsyth/Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images/Sarah Standing.

Campaign launched urging government to increase defence spending

The new Wider Service Medal (WSM), which has been announced by Defence Secretary Grant Shapps. The Wider Service Medal (WSM) will be granted to personnel "fulfilling crucial operational roles" but whose lives are not necessarily at great risk. Picture: Ministry of Defence/PA Wire

Brand new Wider Service Medal launched by MoD

Armed forces minister James Heappey, Conservative, said he will be standing down at the next general election. He was previously tipped to succeed former defence secretary Ben Wallace. (Photo by Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images)

"Painful decision": Armed forces minister to stand down

HMS Diamond will be returning to the Red Sea after operating there in December and January. The Royal Navy destroyer was attacked by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels on three separate occasions. Picture: Andrew Matthews/PA

HMS Diamond to return to Red Sea amid relentless Houthi attacks

HMS Diamond firing its Sea Viper missile to engage and shot down a drone over the Red Sea. The Royal Navy warship has shot down a suspected attack drone in the Red Sea, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has said. Picture: MoD/Crown copyright/PA Wire.

MoD reveals when Type 45 destroyers will get missile upgrades

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt leaves 11 Downing Street, London, with his ministerial box before delivering his Budget in the Houses of Parliament. Picture date: Wednesday March 6, 2024. Picture: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

No extra funds for armed forces as Jeremy Hunt outlines budget

Defence secretary Grant Shapps was quizzed about the MoD plans. Picture: HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images.

Military personnel to take legal action over housing costs

The Red Arrows flypast during the D-Day 75th anniversary celebrations in Southsea Common. Picture: MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images.

D-Day 80 Anniversary commemoration event coming to Portsmouth

Defence secretary Grant Shapps said the Trident systems remains one of the most reliable in the world. Picture: Maja Smiejkowska/PA Wire

Shapps dismisses severity of MoD trident missile text failure

A still image taken from video of the missile firing from HMS Vigilant, which fired an unarmed Trident II (D5) ballistic missile. Picture: Lockheed Martin/PA Wire

Crucial trident missile test aboard nuclear submarine fails

A trident missile test aboard a nuclear-powered submarine has failed due to an "anomaly".

Freddie Webb

HMS Prince of Wales leaving Portsmouth for a huge Nato mission in the North Sea. Residents crowded round Old Portsmouth to watch her leave. Picture: Sam Stephenson.

Crew aboard HMS Prince of Wales praised as warship leaves Portsmouth

The GMB has written to Defence Secretary Grant Shapps saying that losing the ability to make steel from scratch will “significantly impact” the security of the country’s essential defence supply chains. Maja Smiejkowska/PA Wire

Applications to join Royal Navy reach eight year high - Grant Shapps

Tests of laser weapons will no longer be carried out on a Type 23 frigate. This follows tests of the Dragonfire laser weapon system. Picture: GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT/AFP via Getty Images.

Laser weapon will not be tested on warship after plans scrapped

HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth are both currently in Portsmouth. Pictured is HMS Prince of Wales heading for her USA deployment. Picture: Ben Mitchell/PA

Both aircraft carriers remain in Portsmouth amid worldwide tensions

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps speaks during a general debate on defence and international affairs in the House of Commons, London. Photo: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire

Royal Navy is 'critically short of ships and sailors' - claim

HMS Bangor sailing into Umm Al Houl naval base.

Huge repair bill after HMS Chiddingfold and Bangor crash, reports say

HMS Diamond, a Portsmouth-based type 45 destroyer, has been deployed to the Red Sea since early December and has shot down a suspected attack drone belonging to Houthi rebels. Picture: LPhot Henry Parks.

Deadly missiles used to destroy Houthi drones to be upgraded

Grant Shapps said the crash involving HMS Chiddingfold and HMS Bangor in Bahrain does not show "incompetence". Picture: Tom Cotterill - Dan Kitwood/Getty Images.

Grant Shapps dismisses "incompetence" claims after HMS Bangor crash

A revolutionary new laser weapon, Dragonfire, could be used on future Royal Navy ships to shoot down drones and other aircraft. Picture: MoD.

Revolutionary laser weapon destroys drones in landmark test

Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

Shapps meets HMS Diamond crew and vows action against Houthi rebels

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he plans to meet the government's GDP target for defence spending amid Red Sea attacks and Royal Navy ships reportedly being mothballed. Picture: Andrii Nesterenko/Getty Images.

Rishi Sunak urged to ramp up defence spending amid Red Sea attacks

Defence secretary and Conservative politician Grant Shapps says international security stands at a "crossroads" during ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and between Russia and Ukraine. Thousands of UK troops are expected to be deployed to a Nato training operation. Picture: Carl Court/Getty Images.

Huge numbers of troops to be sent on largest Nato op since Cold War

The Royal Navy air defence destroyer HMS Diamond has destroyed "multiple attack drones" deployed by Iranian-backed Houthis in the Red Sea, according to Defence Secretary Grant Shapps. The amount of money it cost for the missiles to be fired as been revealed.

Humongous money spent to fire missiles in Red Sea revealed

HMS Diamond. Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images.

HMS Diamond shoots down a barrage of drones and missiles fired in the Red Sea

A former Royal Navy commander is calling for Portsmouth-based carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth to be deployed to the Red Sea. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have been targeting merchant ships in the region amid the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. Photo by Matt Clark

Ex Royal Navy commander calls for HMS Queen Elizabeth deployment to Red Sea

Defence secretary Grant Shapps said the UK “won’t hesitate to take further action to deter threats to freedom of navigation in the Red Sea” as Iranian-backed Houthi rebels continue their attacks on merchant vessels. Picture: Victoria Jones/PA

UK ‘considering air strikes’ against Houthi rebels

HMS Diamond has been deployed in the Red Sea for the past few weeks.

HMS Diamond joins allies to deter attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea

HMS Diamond firing it's Sea Viper missile to engage and shot down a drone over the Red Sea. The Royal Navy warship has shot down a suspected attack drone in the Red Sea, the Defence Secretary has said. Picture: MoD/Crown copyright/PA Wire.

In Pictures: HMS Diamond fires missile at attack drone

HMS Diamond, a Portsmouth-based type 45 destroyer, has shot down a drone overnight in the Red Sea. Defence secretary Grant Shapps believes it was deployed by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. LPhot Henry Parks.

HMS Diamond shoots down suspected attack drone

British prime minister Rishi Sunak has vowed to protect trade routes after a British ship was one of three commercial vessels attacked by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. HMS Diamond has been deployed. During the attacks on Sunday, the American guide-missile destroyer USS Carney shot down three drones during the assault. Picture: Sean Gallup/Getty Images.

PM vows to protect trade after Red Sea missile attack

Portsmouth-based Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond has been deployed to the Red Sea after the British ship Unity Explorer was hit by a missile. The US Military said Iranian-backed Houthi rebels are responsible.

HMS Diamond deployed after barbaric missile attack

HMS Severn will be among the ships taking part in the taskforce. Picture: Simon Czapp/Solent News & Photo Agency

Navy ships to patrol in northern Europe in effort to protect undersea pipelines

HMS Hermes returning to a frenzied Portsmouth Harbour in 1982, post-Falklands war.

UK rejects new Argentinian president’s calls for Falkland handover talks

Dame Caroline Dinenage, Conservative MP for Gosport, speaking about accommodation for armed forces personnel in the House of Commons today (November 20). Picture: ParliamentTV - House of Commons.

MP says forces "deserve better" with some living in "rat-infested" accommodation

Grant Shapps delivering a speech on stage during the opening day of the annual Conservative Party Conference in Manchester on October 1, 2023. Picture: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images.

Powerful "hunter-killer" attack submarines to be built

D-Day 75th anniversary celebrations. Picture: Mandel NGAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images.

MP calls on government to choose Portsmouth as D-Day 80th anniversary hosts

L to R: HMS Pembroke and HMS Blyth.

Minehunters sold to Romania in bid to protect country from Russian threat

The Red Arrows and defence secretary Grant Shapps. Picture: Habibur Rahman - DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images.

Grant Shapps furious after Red Arrows show cancelled in Gibraltar

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