The United Kingdom has announced the decommissioning of 2 Type 23-class frigates and 1 Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessel…
The Type 23-class frigates removed from the inventory have been identified as HMS Richmond and HMS Iron Duke, while the Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessel is HMS Chiddingfold.
With the retirement of these 3 platforms, the Royal Navy now has 5 active Type 23-class frigates and 4 Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessels in its inventory.
The reason provided for decommissioning the platforms is the high cost of maintenance and logistical support, combined with steadily increasing costs over time.
The retired Type 23-class frigates will be replaced by the next-generation Type 26-class frigates, with the first ship of this class expected to join the Royal Navy inventory in the 2027-2028 timeframe…