The HMS 'Albion' and HMS 'Bulwark' will be decommisioned,, alongside the HMS 'Northumberland', as well as several other capabilities, the Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed in Parliament on Nov 20, 2024, as part of a broader push to modernise the UK Armed Forces. The decision comes as part of a series of measures to retire what the Government called outdated military equipment, saving £150 million over the next two years and up to £500 million over five years. The HMS 'Albion' and HMS 'Bulwark' had already been in extended readiness under previous governments, incurring significant maintenance costs without being actively deployed. Both ships were effectively retired by previous ministers but superficially kept on the books at a cost of £9 million a year. The HMS 'Northumberland' has been deemed uneconomical to repair due to structural damage. The decommissioning decisions were made in close consultation with service chiefs and align with the ongoing Strategic Defence Review (SDR).
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BRITISH WARSHIP F238
Sold/Decommissioned
The HMS 'Northumberland' will be decommissioned in cost-saving measures announced by Defence Secretary John Healey on Nov 20, 2024. The ageing Type 23 frigate was regarded as beyond economic repair, after structural damages were found, and will be decommissioned along with two Wave class tankers. The Army’s Watchkeeper drones, which cost around £5m each and have been in service for a decade but have been beset by problems and are effectively obsolete, will be grounded and the assault ships HMS 'Albion' and HMS 'Bulwark' will be decommissioned too. These decisions were set to save the MoD £150 million over the next two years and up to £500 million over five years.
