We have had to wave goodbye to dozens of Royal Navy ships this century, that were either sold or scrapped. HMS Illustrious, a Portsmouth-based Invincible-class aircraft carrier that performed various duties in the aftermath of the Falklands War, was scrapped in 2016 despite the government in 2012 stating that she would be preserved.placeholder image
We have had to wave goodbye to dozens of Royal Navy ships this century, that were either sold or scrapped. HMS Illustrious, a Portsmouth-based Invincible-class aircraft carrier that performed various duties in the aftermath of the Falklands War, was scrapped in 2016 despite the government in 2012 stating that she would be preserved. | Royal Navy

38 Royal Navy ships we shed a tear and waved goodbye to in the 21st century after being sold or scrapped

Freddie Webb
By Freddie Webb

Defence Reporter

Published 9th Jul 2025, 15:39 BST

It can be an emotional moment for many when a Royal Navy ship moves on to pastures new.

Each vessel that flies the White Ensign has great affinity with those who served on them and the general public. Many Royal Navy ships bare the name of cities across the country, while also being affiliated to great naval bases such as Portsmouth.

The Royal Navy is looking to modernise its fleet and introduce new capabilities to replace the ones that are going out. Armed forces minister Luke Pollard previously stressed this in a Defence Select Committee meeting yesterday, stressing that there will be transition period for the force.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) often sells ships to other countries if they are functional, with many requiring restoration before being handed over. This is often to mitigate ongoing costs incurred to the taxpayer, especially if a vessel is not able to be used operationally. Closer diplomatic ties through such sales are also considered.

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Many vessels are considered no longer seaworthy, and will be auctioned off to scrapyards across the globe - particularly those in Turkey that can take on a high proportion of ships. Here is a list of every Royal Navy ship that has been recycled or sold since the year 2000.

Vessels that have been decommissioned and do not currently have their future mapped out for them, such as HMS Montrose, HMS Enterprise, and others, have not been included.

Three vessels have no associated picture, so they are listed below:

  • HMS Bridport: A Sandown-class minehunter, now known as EML Ugandi, which was decommissioned in 2005 and part of a deal to sell three minehunters to Estona.
  • RFA Olwen: She was handed over for disposal on September 19, 2000. She was scrapped at the Alang Ship Breaking Yard in India.
  • HMS Kellington: The Ton-class minesweeper was decommissioned in 1993 and was turned into a training ship for the sea cadets. She was closed in 2005 for safety reasons, before being broken up in situ by Able UK in County Durham.
HMS Lindisfarne, an Island-class offshore patrol vessel, was sold to Bangladesh in 2004 and renamed BNS Turag. She took part in various military exercises and humanitarian operations, with her crew rescuing nine fishermen after Swadhin-3 sank near Mongla port in 2018.

17. HMS Lindisfarne

HMS Lindisfarne, an Island-class offshore patrol vessel, was sold to Bangladesh in 2004 and renamed BNS Turag. She took part in various military exercises and humanitarian operations, with her crew rescuing nine fishermen after Swadhin-3 sank near Mongla port in 2018. | Royal Navy

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HMS Gloucester, a Type 42 frigate, was decommissioned in June 2011 and sold for scrap. She travelled more than 750,000 miles and was 29-years-old.

18. HMS Gloucester

HMS Gloucester, a Type 42 frigate, was decommissioned in June 2011 and sold for scrap. She travelled more than 750,000 miles and was 29-years-old. | Royal Navy

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HMS Sandown, a Sandown-class minehunter which is now known as EML Admiral Cowan, was sold to Estonia after being decommissioned in 2006. She was handed over to the Baltic nation in April 2007.

19. HMS Sandown

HMS Sandown, a Sandown-class minehunter which is now known as EML Admiral Cowan, was sold to Estonia after being decommissioned in 2006. She was handed over to the Baltic nation in April 2007. | LA (PHOT) Luis Holden.

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HMS Inverness, a Sandown-class minehunter, was sold to the Estonian Navy in 2007 after being decommissioned in 2005. Now known as EML Sakala, she was part of the overarching Exercise Argonaut 2001 maritime task group in The Gulf.

20. HMS Inverness

HMS Inverness, a Sandown-class minehunter, was sold to the Estonian Navy in 2007 after being decommissioned in 2005. Now known as EML Sakala, she was part of the overarching Exercise Argonaut 2001 maritime task group in The Gulf. | PO(Phot) Tony Leather

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