HMS Bulwark is to be sold to the Brazilian Navy, the Ministry of Defence has officially confirmed, formally closing more than two decades of Royal Navy service for an amphibious assault ship whose disposal had been expected for some time.
The department published the confirmation on Friday, framing it around the transition to a new fleet of amphibious transport ships being developed with the Netherlands under a £2.4 billion partnership signed in July.
Lord Coaker, Minister of State for Defence, said: “HMS Bulwark served this country and our allies with distinction for over two decades, and I’m pleased that she will continue her story in Brazilian service, with a nation that has long stood alongside us as a defence partner.”
He said: “This partnership with the Netherlands marks a real step forward for our Armed Forces, giving our personnel the modern, interoperable capability they need to operate alongside our allies for decades to come. It’s also a vote of confidence in British shipbuilding, backing the skills and shipyards that will keep our industrial base strong and our nation secure.”
Bulwark was commissioned in 2005 and based at HMNB Devonport. She served as Fleet Flagship between 2011 and 2015, supported the evacuation of civilians from Lebanon in 2006, and provided maritime security for the sailing regatta at the London 2012 Olympics. Her sister ship HMS Albion remains alongside at Devonport pending disposal.
The decision to retire both ships was announced in November 2024 as part of a package of early withdrawals intended to free money for other priorities, and interest from Brazil has been reported since. Friday’s announcement puts the government’s name to what had until now been expectation.
Under the arrangement with the Netherlands, each nation will operate four of the new vessels. The ships are to be 160 metres long and displace 15,000 tonnes, capable of carrying troops, vehicles and equipment including drones, and are to be built in British shipyards working alongside Dutch industry in a programme the department says will sustain hundreds of skilled jobs.
Their flight decks are being designed around current and future long-range drones and autonomous systems, which the department presents as part of the wider move towards a hybrid fleet, with £1.5 billion confirmed for the amphibious programme in the Defence Investment Plan.
Brazil already operates the former HMS Ocean, sold in 2018 and now serving as the Atlântico, so Bulwark would join a fleet with existing familiarity with British amphibious practice and equipment. The Brazilian Navy has been rebuilding its amphibious and expeditionary capacity around that ship.
The Royal Marines have meanwhile been reorganising around the Commando Force concept, which emphasises smaller teams operating from a wider range of platforms rather than the large-scale landing the Albion class was designed to deliver, and the new ships are being specified with that in mind.
Ah, another ship that this government stated wouldn’t put to sea again.
I wonder how many years she’ll continue putting to sea with Brazil?
Quietly forgotten by most, but not all, at what they said, what they then say, and the spin, lies, and half truths they regurgitate on a regular basis.
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So true DM. The British policy of writing off military assets before a direct replacement is available is simply crass and there is no other way of describing the policy. On a day that Russia openly talks of a war between them and the UK, which is all but real, apart from a formal declaration, the government carries on as if we live in pre-Ukraine war times.
This same government reassures the people of British towns that manufacture drones, need not worry about their safety after Russia declares all such sites as legitimate targets! Am I missing something here?
You’re not missing anything.
They’re all words, I won’t vote for any of them until they’re not and the forces start to expand, but with welfare and vote chasing being the number one priority nothing will change until we’re caught with our pants down.
By then, the recriminations, excuses, and “lessons learned” will no doubt be in full flow amongst the grandstanding.
It’s just been reported that Healey’s first budget is ignoring the promise of 3 per cent on defence by 2030. Apparently there will be an anouncement of a “pathway” towards it in the 2027 spending review! More lies and deception ? I think so .🤔🙃
Can kicking, it’ll carry on as 3% is unaffordable without cutting waste and welfare, which they will not do as it wins votes.
Of course it will. I am constantly amazed as to how many people believe this crap. Our forces are closer to extinction than salvation.
The RN sold down the river by the weak liberal governments we have had these past years. She will soldier on for some years yet and Brazil will have an Amphib force way better than the UK. We are truly becoming a 3rd world state in every way possible. Drones? not going to work either and will cost as much as a regular manned warship to operate. Sad times ahead for once the master of the world seas.
Nothing new about any of this news.
Time to move ahead and look to the future. That future by the way is very exciting, even revolutionary.