Royal Navy amphibious assault ships will not be scrapped ahead of time, minister says
Two Royal Navy amphibious assault ships will not be scrapped or mothballed ahead of schedule, a minister has said following weeks of speculation about their fate.
HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark were reportedly being eyed for early retirement in order to free up sailors for other vessels, amid a recruitment crisis in the armed forces.
But Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell assured MPs that both ships will remain in service until their planned out of service dates in the early 2030s.
Meanwhile, Defence said he was “working hard” to ensure the armed forces are not depleted, after being warned that military personnel are leaving faster than they can be replaced.
