The Royal Navy is currently facing a significant operational challenge, as it effectively has only one super-carrier available for rapid deployment due to budget cuts and crew shortages.

With current personnel numbers at 28,000, the Royal Navy is experiencing a shortfall of 7,000 trained sailors, complicating the crew generation for both HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth.

HMS Queen Elizabeth, the flagship vessel, is being downgraded to a 'low readiness' status, requiring six months' notice for deployment, a stark contrast to its previous readiness of five to ten days.

Next year, HMS Queen Elizabeth is set for an extended maintenance period, which further limits its operational availability.

Meanwhile, HMS Prince of Wales is scheduled to deploy to the Far East in 2025, but will rely on foreign vessels for support due to a lack of escort vessels and fighter jets.

Discussions are ongoing between the Ministry of Defence and the Treasury regarding the potential scrapping of both aircraft carriers as part of a defense review led by former NATO secretary general Lord Robertson.

These developments come just seven years after the commissioning of HMS Queen Elizabeth, which cost £3.5 billion, highlighting a significant shift in defense strategy amid financial constraints.

The situation reflects an ongoing struggle to maintain an aging fleet that requires constant maintenance, exacerbated by budget limitations.

Experts have raised concerns over the implications of having a carrier that can only be deployed with six months' notice, questioning the effectiveness of such a strategy against potential threats from Russia and China.

Maritime experts argue that downgrading HMS Queen Elizabeth undermines the Navy's operational flexibility and readiness to respond to threats.

Critics, including Shadow Armed Forces Minister Mark Francois, have criticized the government for its handling of defense issues, attributing the situation to a lack of understanding and support from the Chancellor.

First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key is facing significant personnel shortages, resulting in the smallest number of warships since the era of Admiral Nelson.