Royal Navy: Huge costs spent refitting HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark revealed as ships set to be decommissioned
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Large sums of money spent on two landing platforms which are due to be decommissioned have been revealed.
HMS Bulwark and HMS Albion - both Albion-class landing platform docks - have undergone various mechanical work while operating throughout the 2010s and into the early 2020s. Defence secretary John Healey announced last month that both ships, alongside the Type 23 frigate HMS Northumberland and other assets, would be cut from the fleet to generate extra government revenue.
Arguments were made that it would not be cost-efficient to renovate the ships and make them fully operational again. Shelving these capabilities, used for transporting Royal Marines and other operations, have previously been challenged in the House of Commons.
Mark Francois, Conservative MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, asked in a parliamentary written question how much the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has spent on refitting since HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark since 2010. Maria Eagle, minister for defence procurement, responded: “The total cost of refits to HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark since 2010 is £132.7 million. This excludes HMS Bulwark's 2022-2025 refit which was estimated to cost £72.1 million.”
The Labour MP for Liverpool Garston added that HMS Bulwark was “retired” before her recent refit was completed, with the costs associated with the project being under review. Mr Healey previously said in parliament that both Royal Navy ships were “mothballed” by previous ministers but were "superficially kept on the books” at a cost of £9m a year. He added that the total retired capabilities would save the MoD £150m over the next two years, and up to £500m over the next five years - with funds remaining in defence.
The government is undergoing a Strategic Defence Review, where they are analysing what the government is prioritising to maintain the nation’s security at home and abroad. Allocation of funding will also be looked over. Reviewers were quizzed about the cuts last week, with Lord Robertson of Port Ellen stating that they were told about the announcement and would have stepped in if they disagreed.