Britain to decommission 5 ships due to economic issues

23 November, 2024 Frigate HMS Northumberland (F238). Photo from open sources The British Ministry of Defense is withdrawing five ships from the fleet due to a lack of funds for their maintenance and repair.

This was announced during a speech by Secretary of State for Defense John Healey. According to the minister, the decommissioning of five ships to save budgetary funds is a rational step against the backdrop of a limited military budget, which is why some areas are underfunded. The list of ships to be decommissioned includes the frigate HMS Northumberland, two Albion amphibious assault ships (HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark), and two Royal Auxiliary tankers, RFA Wave Ruler and RFA Wave Knight.

HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark amphibious assault ships.

Photo credits: Royal Navy

The decommissioning of ships is primarily due to economic difficulties and a shortage of crews. Most of the ships currently have no crews, and some of them are to be scrapped due to a lack of timely repairs in the past. Secretary of State for Defense John Healey noted that such a step would save more than 500 million pounds, which would be used for more promising projects, including the construction of new surface ships.

It is worth noting that all five ships are currently in a non-combatant state, and their crews have been disbanded, so the return of these vessels to the Royal Navy is impossible. The frigate HMS Northumberland, a representative of the Type 23 project, was built in 1991-1992 and entered the fleet in 1994. It was decided to scrap it ahead of schedule due to serious damage, including the complete destruction of the keel due to corrosion.

RFA Wave Ruler and RFA Wave Knight.

Photo credits: United Kingdom Auxiliary Fleet

Repairing the ship would require significant financial costs that are not provided for in the budget, so HMS Northumberland is being prepared for disposal. The decommissioning of the two Albion amphibious assault ships is due to the lack of crews to ensure their operation and maintain their readiness for deployment. Currently, both vessels are in reserve, but in the absence of buyers, they are likely to be disposed of.

According to unofficial reports, the Brazilian Navy is considering the purchase of HMS Bulwark. However, the ship has been undergoing extensive repairs for more than three years, which may affect the completion of the deal. In turn, HMS Albion is in a much worse technical condition, making its sale unlikely.

A decision on its utilization is expected soon. As for the RFA Wave Ruler and RFA Wave Knight tankers of the Royal Auxiliary Fleet, their decommissioning is due solely to a shortage of crews. Both vessels will be put up for sale.

According to the Ministry of Defense, the tankers are in good technical condition due to proper maintenance over a short period of service.

Earlier, Militarnyi reported that the annual report on the armament and formation of the British Armed Forces as of March 1, 2023, had been published.