Devonport ships to be taken out of service

TWO FRIGATES ARE BEING RETIRED, BUT 6 NEW SHIPS TO BE BUILT - GRANT SHAPPS

- DAVID HUGHES

THE Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has revealed that Devonport-based ship HMS Argyll - which is currently undergoing a huge overhaul and HMS Westminster are to be retired from service.

In August 2022 The Herald reported that Argyll - the oldest frigate in the fleet - had gone into dock at Devonport so that Babcock International Group could give her another five or six years of life.

Similarly, the Type 23 frigate HMS Westminster was last seen rusting and covered in scaffolding in Devonport just seven months ago, with a similar plan to undergo a £100m upgrade to keep her employed for another five years.

However, these refits have now been following an scuppered announcement by the minister.

Mr Shapps, speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, has said that new drone-carrying ships for the Royal Marines will draw on lessons learned from the Ukraine war and the Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea.