UK Transfers Retired HMS Monmouth Frigate to Turkey for Recycling as Royal Navy Modernizes Fleet

The United Kingdom has officially handed over one of its retired Duke-class frigates to Turkey, marking another step in the Royal Navy's effort to modernize its fleet while ensuring the ethical disposal of aging vessels. The warship in question, HMS Monmouth (F235), served for over three decades before being decommissioned and sold to a Turkish ship recycling firm.

Commissioned in 1993, HMS Monmouth was the sixth vessel of the Duke-class, also known as the Type 23 frigates. These ships were originally designed for anti-submarine warfare but were eventually upgraded to serve multi-role purposes. Over time, the aging Monmouth had surpassed its expected service life, making it increasingly expensive and impractical to refit or redeploy for modern naval duties.

The ship has now been sold to Leyal Gemi Söküm Sanayi ve Ticaret, a ship recycling company based in Izmir, Turkey. This move aligns with the UK's broader initiative to promote sustainable and responsible disposal of military assets. The Turkish firm was selected through a competitive bidding process among European recycling yards.

Richard Whalley, Head of Exports and Sales at UK Defence Equipment & Support — and a former lieutenant on HMS Monmouth — expressed personal sentiments about the transfer. While acknowledging the sadness of seeing a once-proud naval asset head for dismantling, he emphasized the importance of ethical recycling. “The sale of HMS Monmouth for recycling in Turkey will provide an ethical and responsible method of recovering metals and other valuable assets which provides a financial return for the Royal Navy,” Whalley said.

The Duke-class, introduced in the late 1980s, originally consisted of 16 frigates. With advancing naval technology and changing defense needs, these vessels are now being phased out. In their place, the UK is investing in next-generation platforms — specifically the Type 26 and Type 31 frigates.

The Type 26, also called the City-class frigate, is currently under construction by BAE Systems in Glasgow. These new warships are being designed with enhanced anti-submarine capabilities, improved support for carrier strike groups, and modern features suited to contemporary threats, including cyber and electronic warfare. The lead ship, HMS Glasgow, is already undergoing sea trials.

To complement the City-class, the Royal Navy is also building five Inspiration-class (Type 31) frigates. These vessels will fill the general-purpose roles once held by the Type 23s, such as maritime security, intelligence gathering, and support operations for allied forces. Together, the Type 26 and Type 31 frigates represent a future-proof fleet set to carry the Royal Navy through the 2030s and beyond.

The transfer of HMS Monmouth to Turkey is not just a farewell to a warship but also a reflection of the Royal Navy’s shift towards sustainability, modernization, and global partnerships. It’s a symbolic end of an era — and the beginning of a new chapter in British naval power.