The UK plans to sell two Royal Navy warships, and Brazil has already set its sights on them
The British government is considering the sale of two outdated Royal Navy warships, HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, to finance defence modernisation.
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This was announced by Defence Procurement Minister Maria Eagle during a legislative inquiry. Both ships will be decommissioned in 2023 due to a lack of crew to maintain them.
Commissioned in 2003, the Albion-class amphibious assault ships are designed to transport troops and cargo. HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark have a displacement of 19,560 tonnes, can carry up to 400 troops, tanks, armoured personnel carriers and helicopters, have a top speed of 18 knots and a range of 8,000 nautical miles. HMS Bulwark is additionally equipped with 30mm DS30M Mk2 guns and machine guns for defence.
Disposal of these ships is costly, so their sale to other countries is being considered, which would allow the UK to save around €9 million a year on maintenance. Potential buyers include Brazil, which is seeking to modernise its navy. As the largest country in South America, Brazil has a vast coastline and significant maritime resources, which underscores the need to strengthen its naval forces.
And if sold, these ships will provide the Brazilian Navy with the ability to deploy troops quickly.
The UK Ministry of Defence has not yet made a final decision on the disposal or sale of HMS Albion, HMS Bulwark, RFA Wave Knight and RFA Wave Ruler, noting that all options are being evaluated to achieve the best value for money.
Source: SA Defensa
