Four decommissioned Royal Navy Type 22 frigates en route to the scrap yard

Monday, July 29th 2013 - 21:53 UTC

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The four vessels are currently moored in Portsmouth Harbour

Four decommissioned Royal Navy frigates are destined for the scrap-yard. Type 22s HMS Cumberland, HMS Campbeltown, HMS Chatham and HMS Cornwall are currently moored in Portsmouth Harbour. The Ministry of Defence expects to receive just under £3m from the sales agreed earlier this month.

HMS Cornwall has been sold to Swansea Drydocks while the other three have been bought by Turkish firm Leyal. The two companies will recycle as many parts of the former Devonport-based ships as possible.

Aircraft carriers Ark Royal and Invincible have also been sold to the Leyal yard in recent years.

The four frigates were put up for sale in January with a preference for at least one of them to go to a UK ship recycler to determine the capacity of the UK's industry in the field.

A MoD spokesman said: “We believe this deal represents value for money and a number of tenders were received both nationally and internationally.

”Certain aspects of the ships' equipment will be recycled for use on other vessels and we have tried to be as economical with the disposal as possible.”

Penny Mordaunt, Conservative MP for Portsmouth North, had hoped one of the frigates could have been sunk and turned into a diving attraction but bids in that field were rejected. The ships are expected to leave Portsmouth in the autumn.

Categories: Politics, International.

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Anglotino
I always find it amazing that many old naval ships are sunk so as to start life as a new public benefit. I remember watching the scuttling of the HMAS Canberra back in 2009 and was amazed the time and effort that put into the operation.

So much better than just scrapping it. This way it lives on.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Canberra_(FFG_02)
Jul 29th, 2013 - 11:00 pm 0
Conor J
Shame these vessels had to go, the 22s were always popular ships. Still they were rapidly approaching the 40 year old mark and they will of course be replaced by the Type 26, can't wait to see them in the water.
Jul 30th, 2013 - 07:30 am 0
Islander1
Just waiting for old Marcos to come on with the usual claptrap- Marcos have you managed to get that old rustbucket the right way up yet in your priciple naval base? - At least UK sells off and dipsoses of outdated ships no longer required!
Jul 30th, 2013 - 08:51 am 0

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