HMS Ark Royal

Because Britain is an island, it has always been vital that she had an efficient Navy.

In the days of the Empire, the arrival of a British warship was often enough to bring a rapid end to any troubles.

A mixture of the climate and our Anglo saxon Celtic forebears moulded Britain into a leading naval power throughout the World.

In total, 5 ships of the British Royal Navy have been named Ark Royal.

The present Ark Royal is an aircraft carrier. And as a direct resul of the financial mess in which Britain now finds itself floundering, the decision was made to retire very suddenly the Ark Royal.

At the same time, the contracts for 2 other aircraft Carriers are going ahead, because to cancel them would cost more than the construction costs, although it seem likely that only 1 carrier will go into service. In addition, the Harrier Jump Jet, a triumph of British Engineering, is also to be withdrawn.

Britain will have an Aircaft Carrier, but no aircraft on board.

I am not a military person, but to me, this seems absurd. The world is going mad. Or else there is a plot somewhere to bring about the demise of Britain.

So, HMS Ark Royal is on her final voyage. For the next few days she is berthed a few miles from here on Loch Long, near Arrochar, a few miles form Britain's Nuclear Submarine Base.

Here, she is being stripped of her weapons before she heads back South to be tied up for the last time.

We drove there today to see her. From a distance she does not seem that big. The aircraft deck seems very small. But then with the hovering abilities and its VETOL systems, no long deck is needed for the Harrier Jet.

There were many people there today to look at Ark Royal. I can say now that I saw her with my own eyes. She does look impressive. The crew were busy aboard her. The tannoy was regularly calling out orders and information. In the loch beside her, a couple of security launched watched vigilantly.

Maybe we should be more positive. Maybe we no longer need a large Navy to protect us. Maybe that threat is gone, replaced by more subtle threats, threats which cold endanger us much more seriously. And I don't just mean terrorist bombs. I am thinking more of the dangers to the world today through computer viruses.

So much today is controlled by computers. The banking system. The Power system. Air Traffic Control. Hospitals. The National Grid.

An Aircraft Carrier cannot protects us from the lone bomber or the internet hijacker.

It's a new world, with new threats and dangers. perhap we need a re-think on how to achieve our National Security.

Photos are of Ark Royal at Loch Long today.

In a couple of days she will be gone. When will we see her likes again