The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that all remaining crew members from HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark have been reassigned following the decommissioning of the Royal Navy’s two amphibious assault ships.
Maria Eagle, Minister of State for Defence, stated:
“All of the remaining crew from HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark have been reassigned: either to other platforms, to training courses, or into other positions supporting the Royal Navy’s highest priority outputs.”
A small number of personnel have been retained to manage onboard systems and safety until the final disposal of the ships.
The decommissioning of HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark comes as the UK transitions to the Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS) programme, eventually, which will replace the Royal Navy’s current amphibious fleet. The MRSS is intended to ensure the continuity of amphibious capabilities including global deployments and support for the Royal Marines.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the MRSS programme remains on track, with the first vessel expected to enter service by 2033. These ships will eventually replace the Bay-class landing ships (RFA Lyme Bay, Mounts Bay, and Cardigan Bay) and RFA Argus, which currently provide amphibious, medical, and aviation support.
HMS Albion and Bulwark had been held at lower readiness for years, with Bulwark last at sea in 2017 and Albion in 2023. Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Defence Luke Pollard previously clarified that their decommissioning would not impact the Royal Marines’ operational capabilities, as the ships were no longer part of the Royal Navy’s active fleet.
The date 2029..the minister can confirm that the UK has decommissioned the final ship, aircraft and fighting vehicle ,but will still be a leading member of NATO etc 😀 😆
Are you laughing at your own “joke”?
I suspect he is laughing because it has the uncomfortable ring of truth.
By then the civvie servants in MOD will have more personnel than the army, RN and RAF combined!!
I wonder how many crew are needed for these ships in extended readiness, I would imagine it’s not that many ? I may be wrong but I would imaging it would be in the low tens.
It, does amaze me how much the RN is willing to sacrifice on the alter of the carriers, I may be wrong but keeping two of the. Fully crewed all the time was not I understand it in the plan..it must be taking 2000+ personal at present.
Because having 1 in reserve results in this mess where 1 vessel rots for 7 years and the other is hugely overworked, shortening the life span of both.
I want to know where our defense budget goes. Every penny. As tax payers we have a right to know this but trying to get the information is like pulling teeth. What we get vs what we spend just doesn’t add up.
I don’t trust any part of the government. I’ve known for decades that mass migration to the UK has a detrimental effect on the UK as a whole and the economy. We have been told it doesn’t. Now the figures have FINALLY been released and guess what? They cost more than what they put in. Around only 16% work.
I don’t buy the ‘we can’t recruit enough people’ bollox either. I know several people who have tried to join both the army and navy and been knocked back for pathetic little things. They don’t want to tske people on because then they can’t use it as an excuse to make cuts and blame it on manning issues. This country is an utter farce and corrupt, deeply corrupt to its core.
I have enough of hearing about migration without you ranting on about on a Naval site that is to discuss amphibious assault ships. Keep on topic.
Trouble is, whether its NHS, immigration or any other government policy it ultimate has an impact on Defence. Defence spend is a political choice and the decision that are made in defence are compromises because of other political decisions on other things. In the end 9m to keep these ships wasn’t available because of other political choices.
And there is the real reason we got rid of them.
What a pathetic statement and full of typical MoD BS. There is no continuity for the RMs as the Bays are not amphibious assault ships (with one already laid up) and there is going to be a decade gap before the first new vessel enters service if it is ever ordered.
The Yanks and others must look at us and shake their heads in bewilderment.
The Americans and most other western nations are facing very similar problems.
But I don’t see the US and France completely abandoning certain types of Ops. There is also the obvious challenges that present itself because we are an island nation.
What issues are they ? Lack of Money? Lack of priority? Reduction in the economy and manufacturing capabilities & skills due to farming it all out to China? All of the above?
I too can’t see that the loss in overall capability is justified merely in order to keep both carriers.
The trouble is when one is sold the other capabilities may still not be reintroduced.
We had a term in the Rocks for payday. “Golden eagle shits day”. This eagle spouts it everyday.
Can we not retask their crews to one or two of the Type 23 Frigates? Argyll and Westminster were in serviceable condition when they were chosen for decommissioning due to crew shortages/budget.
There are no crew to retask. Albions crew was full redrafted in September and currently there is only 25 Rn personal drafted to Bulwark( This includes Lpd support and FTRS)
Argyll and Westminster were taken out of service because they were basically Sh**ged out and beyound the point where it makes any sense to pour more money into them to keep them servicable -the Crew issue is another problem altogether.
As a member of 42 Commando RM, based at RNAS Sembawang in Singapore, I had the privilege to be transported around the waters of the Far East on HMS Bulwark RO8 in the early 1960s. We proved our worth when we were the first to turn up in Kuwait when Iraq was threatening to invade (Operation Vantage) and as a deterrent to further insurrections in the area.
Consecutive governments have cut the armed forces to the bone, yet continue to maintain the show case regiments that wear fluffy hats and spend a lot of their time polishing their kit.
If this signals the end for the Royal Marines, then all hell will result. I’m eighty three but still able to muster a yomp.
Aye
Can I just add that I find impact on one’s ability to easily follow a comments thread and its replies since this sites ‘improvements’ extremely frustrating and detrimental to the site as a whole.
Can this ‘upgrade feature’ be addressed?
I’m with you on this, I also don’t get a mail if someone responds to my comment, which thinking about it is a good thing sometimes 🙂
Agree with you there.
I would add another annoyance to the pile, which is the limit on how many consecutive replies can be made in a thread.
That and the loss of response notifications makes it much more difficult to have the extended conversations that used to be my favourite bit of UKDJ.
Please change back, team?
We’ve mentioned this before.
No comment history.
No edit function.
No flag function.
It is what it is, and I hope George can get it back to what it was.
Sad day….
As others have said, a political choice.
Money is found to house migrants in hotels, is it 6 billion now? But not to provide just TWO LPD to the Royal Marines.
I despise our political class.
I totally understand your sentiment. But people are indifferent enough to elect them aren’t they.
There seems little question that Britain’s Conservative Party failed the country when it comes to defence policy between 2010 and 2024. No strategy was ever formulated other than one of muddling through.
But then in 2024, the situation for defence was made worse with the election of Labour.
It is a sad commentary on society when all that can be coughed up as choice are varying degrees of completely mediocre politicians. In a democracy who is ultimately to blame for that? Unfortunately, it is the society itself.