Retired Royal Navy ship HMS Richmond to be towed to Portsmouth amid uncertain future - when, times
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The Type 23 frigate was on one of the Royal Navy’s largest modern deployments before being decommissioned
A retired Royal Navy warship that served alongside the force’s flagship is being towed into Portsmouth.
Decommissioned Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond can be seen being towed towards HMNB Portsmouth tomorrow morning (October 15). According to the King’s Harbour Master shipping movements, she’ll be passing The Round Tower in Old Portsmouth at roughly 9am.
Under the tow of tug En Avant 10, Bountiful and Indulgent, the Duke-class frigate will be brought to the Fountain Lake Jetty. Unconfirmed reports online suggest that she’ll be scrapped, but this has yet to be confirmed by the Royal Navy. Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless will be passing the Hot Walls before HMS Richmond’s visit at 8am.
HMS Richmond was officially retired in July alongside her sister ship HMS Iron Duke, and the Hunt-class minehunter HMS Chiddingfold. The trio served for more than a century combined. Earlier in the year, a Royal Navy sailors held a parade in the Yorkshire market town of Richmond to mark the end of the ship’s storied career.
Speaking about all three retirements, Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Steve Moorhouse said: “HMS Richmond, HMS Iron Duke and HMS Chiddingfold have each played a key role in safeguarding the UK’s security and interests worldwide.
“As they are retired from service, their legacy continues through the next generation of warships and advanced autonomous systems. This marks a significant step in the Royal Navy’s evolution towards a Hybrid Navy, combining cutting-edge technology with proven capability to meet future maritime challenges. We honour their service and look forward to the advantage the future fleet will provide.”
HMS Richmond’s last deployment was alongside the UK Carrier Strike Group in 2025, headed up by HMS Prince of Wales. She was deployed to the Indo-Pacific for eight months under Operation Highmast.
The warship conducted various military drills and diplomatic engagements in Australia, India, South Korea, and elsewhere. One of her most prominent exercises was conducted in the Taiwan Strait, where the ship’s company were subject to “constructive kill” drills by China and her forces. The Royal Navy is pushing to replace
In the Ministry of Defence’s Annual Report and Accounts 2025-26, it was revealed that removing HMS Richmond from service cost the government £45.847m in constructive losses. After originally being launched in 1993, she was given various upgrade packages in the 2020s to extend her life. She was the first the first Type 23 frigates to have her diesel generators replaced with modern MTU M53B units, alongside other modifications.
The Royal Navy have been approached for comment regarding the ship’s future.