Humiliation for Starmer as UK warship HMS Iron Duke taken out of service | Politics | News | EUROtoday

The Royal Navy has been left with solely 5 lively frigates after one other warship was withdrawn, it has emerged. It is believed HMS Iron Duke is unlikely to set sail once more, heaping additional stress on the stretched Senior Service.

HMS Iron Duke has reportedly been stripped of her weapons and sensors.

The Type 23 frigate has not been to sea since October and has been successfully withdrawn from lively service, in keeping with specialist web site Navy Lookout.

It comes lower than three years after the warship accomplished a five-year life extension programme, costing £103 million.

The Navy’s Duke-class Type 23 frigates have an finish of service date in 2035 however are regularly being retired.

There has been no formal decommissioning announcement concerning HMS Iron Duke.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) mentioned any resolution will likely be introduced “in the usual way”.

Retiring HMS Iron Duke would depart the Navy with simply 5 frigates, with HMS Richmond’s decommissioning this yr confirmed.

The Type 23s are primarily used to watch potential Russian exercise in waters across the UK, with Iron Duke recurrently used to shadow Russian warships within the English Channel.

They are to get replaced by 13 Type 26 and Type 32 frigates within the coming years.

However, it stays to be seen as to when they are going to be prepared for frontline duties.

HMS Iron Duke — widespread for its identify — is the Navy’s fifth Type 23 after being commissioned in 1993.

The Duke-class had been supposed to have a 18-year service life, which means the ships are actually working far past their preliminary designed lifespan.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson mentioned: “The Royal Navy keeps planned out-of-service dates under continual review as part of routine force planning, balancing operational requirements and affordability.

“Any decommissioning decisions will be announced in the usual way.

“Through the Strategic Defence Review, we are building a new hybrid navy – investing in world-class submarines and cutting-edge warships, transforming our aircraft carriers, and introducing autonomous vessels to patrol the North Atlantic and beyond.”