Royal Navy warship HMS Iron Duke quietly ‘withdrawn’ to leave Britain with just five active frigates
The Royal Navy’s active frigate fleet has reportedly shrunk to just five ships following the effective decommissioning of HMS Iron Duke despite no official decommissioning announcement.
The Type 23 warship has had its weapons and sensors removed and has not been operating at sea since last October, according to specialist news site Navy Lookout.
The development comes as the Ministry of Defense (MoD) progresses plans to replace Type 23 frigates, including HMS Iron Duke, with a new generation of warships. Eight anti-submarine warfare Type 26 frigates are expected to join the fleet before 2030, to be joined by five general-purpose Type 31 frigates.
The modernization aims to create a “hybrid” force that integrates crewed ships with unmanned aerial vehicles and other advanced technologies, a vision outlined by First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins.
The decision to effectively decommission HMS Iron Duke follows the government’s confirmation last November that a planned conversion project for the ship had been cancelled.
Defense minister Luke Pollard said at the time: “Given the remaining service life of the platform, the time required to complete the conversion and competing operational priorities, the benefits of continuing did not justify the additional cost or extended downtime.”
Responding to questions about the warship’s withdrawal, a Ministry of Defense spokesman said on Monday: “The Royal Navy keeps planned decommissioning dates under ongoing review as part of the balance between routine force planning, operational requirements and affordability. Any decommissioning decisions will be announced in the usual way.”
The spokesman added: “Through the Strategic Defense Review, we are building a new hybrid Navy by investing in world-class submarines and cutting-edge warships, transforming our aircraft carriers, and delivering autonomous ships to patrol the North Atlantic and beyond.”
