The decommissioned HMS Westminster is being towed to Turkey for dismantling, marking the third Type 23 frigate sent for recycling.
The Type 23 class HMS Westminster, which has been decommissioned by the Royal Navy, is being brought to Aliağa, İzmir for dismantling and recycling operations.
HMS Westminster (F237) departed from the Portsmouth Naval Base in England, towed by a tugboat, to be taken to the ship recycling facilities in Aliağa, İzmir.
The ship will not be incorporated into the inventory of the Turkish Navy and will not be used for military purposes. After HMS Banner, HMS Monmouth, and HMS Montrose, HMS Westminster will be the third Type 23 class frigate sent to Turkey for dismantling. Once it arrives in Aliağa, the hull of the ship will be dismantled.
The second ship, HMS Montrose, was decommissioned on April 17, 2023, after approximately 30 years of service. The frigate was sent from Portsmouth to Turkey to be dismantled on July 15, 2026.
Launched on February 4, 1992, HMS Westminster entered service in the Royal Navy on May 13, 1994, and served for nearly 30 years. Initially designed for anti-submarine warfare duties, the frigate was utilized in NATO patrols and Gulf operations throughout its service life. With a length of approximately 133 meters and a displacement of 4,900 tons, HMS Westminster could reach speeds of over 28 knots and had a range of 7,500 nautical miles. The frigate operated with a crew of about 185 and was equipped with Sea Ceptor air defense missiles, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, a 114 mm gun, Sting Ray lightweight torpedoes, and a Type 2087 towed sonar system. The ship could also deploy Merlin or Wildcat helicopters.
The first Type 23 frigate sent to Turkey for dismantling was HMS Monmouth. The ship, from which weapons and sensors were removed, was decommissioned on June 30, 2021. HMS Monmouth was reported to require a long and costly modernization to be able to serve again and set sail from Portsmouth to Aliağa on April 3, 2025.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
