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.
RFA Olna, an Ol-class fast fleet tanker, played a vital role during The Falklands War as part of the task force with HMS Bristol. She’s pictured alongside MV Norland, HMS Intrepid and Fort Austen, in Bomb Alley. She was sold to the Eckhardt Organisation for scrap in February 2001.The ship was towed away from Portsmouth and headed to the Alang Ship Breaking Yard in India.

25. RFA Olna

RFA Olna, an Ol-class fast fleet tanker, played a vital role during The Falklands War as part of the task force with HMS Bristol. She’s pictured alongside MV Norland, HMS Intrepid and Fort Austen, in Bomb Alley. She was sold to the Eckhardt Organisation for scrap in February 2001.The ship was towed away from Portsmouth and headed to the Alang Ship Breaking Yard in India. | The News Portsmouth archive

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HMS Bicester, a Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessel, was sold to the Greek Navy in 2001 and was renamed Europa.

26. HMS Bicester

HMS Bicester, a Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessel, was sold to the Greek Navy in 2001 and was renamed Europa. | Royal Navy

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HMS Orkney, an Island-class patrol vessel, was sold to Trinidad and Tobago in October 2000 and used as a coastguard vessel, She was then scrapped in 2016.

27. HMS Orkney

HMS Orkney, an Island-class patrol vessel, was sold to Trinidad and Tobago in October 2000 and used as a coastguard vessel, She was then scrapped in 2016. | Royal Navy

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HMS Coventry, a Type 22 frigate, was best known for being the lead ship of the 1st Frigate Squadron. After being decommissioned in 2002, she was sold to Romania a year later and renamed Regele Ferdinand.

28. HMS Coventry

HMS Coventry, a Type 22 frigate, was best known for being the lead ship of the 1st Frigate Squadron. After being decommissioned in 2002, she was sold to Romania a year later and renamed Regele Ferdinand. | Royal Navy

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