Type 23 Frigate Base Shake-Up To Begin In 2018

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has announced that the Royal Navy is to shuffle the home bases of its Type 23 frigates.

The move will see Portsmouth Naval Base host one less frigate, with Devonport gaining the extra ship in moves which will take place over five years from 2018.

The shake-up will mean that Devonport will be home to the Navy's eight anti-submarine warfare frigates, while the five general purpose frigates will be based in Portsmouth.

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."

At present, Portsmouth is home to six frigates - Lancaster, Iron Duke, Westminster, Richmond, Kent and St Albans.

However, by 2023 it will be the base for five - Argyll, Lancaster, Iron Duke, Monmouth and Montrose.

Devonport is currently home to Northumberland, Somerset, Sutherland, Portland, Argyll, Monmouth and Montrose and under the changes it will in the future be home to Westminster, Northumberland, Richmond, Somerset, Sutherland, Kent, Portland and St Albans.

A Navy spokesman said:

"The moves will see some frigates switching from one naval base to another, and will bring benefits to force generation, operational readiness, training and logistics as well as more stability for ships' crews and their families.

"The base port changes will 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.

"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."