The UK defense ministry has announced a new homeporting plan for the Royal Navy’s thirteen Type 23 frigates.
After the relocation is complete, all eight anti-submarine warfare frigates will be calling Plymouth their home, while the remaining five general-purpose variants will be based in Portsmouth.
The defense ministry said the base port changes would take place during unmanned maintenance and upkeep periods over a period of five years, starting with the move of HMS Richmond from Portsmouth to Plymouth in 2018.
Rear Admiral Chris Gardner, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Ships), said, “This move will bring benefits to the whole fleet of Type 23 frigates, bringing ships of the same purpose together in one place.
“I want to reassure all our sailors that we will be managing the base moves as efficiently as possible, minimising the disruption to our people and their families.
“The base port changes have been planned to occur during unmanned upkeep periods over a period of five years, to ensure a smooth transition of our people and maximise the benefits to our operational readiness.”
The re-basing of ships will see Devonport become the focus for surface anti-submarine warfare support.
It will also bring the Royal Navy another step closer to delivering a carrier strike task group, with both Portsmouth and Devonport playing key roles in the delivery of this capability.
From 2023, the Type 23 frigates that will be based at each naval base will be:
Her Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth
HMS Argyll, HMS Lancaster, HMS Iron Duke, HMS Monmouth, HMS Montrose.
(Previously: HMS Lancaster, HMS Iron Duke, HMS Westminster, HMS Richmond, HMS Kent, HMS St Albans.)
Her Majesty’s Naval Base Devonport
HMS Westminster, HMS Northumberland, HMS Richmond, HMS Somerset, HMS Sutherland, HMS Kent, HMS Portland, HMS St Albans.
(Previously: HMS Northumberland, HMS Somerset, HMS Sutherland, HMS Portland, HMS Argyll, HMS Monmouth, HMS Montrose.)