Former Royal Navy Destroyers Being Sold for Scrap

HMS Manchester

The U.K. Ministry of Defense is inviting interested parties to bid on two former Royal Navy destroyers being sold for scrap.

The vessels, HMS Manchester and HMS Liverpool, are former type 42 Destroyers once considered the workhorses of Royal Navy fleet and the mainstay of the Navy’s defense against air attack. The Type 42’s were involved in global operations, carrying out patrol and boarding operations, enforcing United Nations embargoes and providing humanitarian aid.

The sale of the two destroyers was revealed Friday by the U.K. Disposal Services Authority (DSA) in an invitation for expressions of interest in tendering for the ships for recycling.

Both vessels currently are moored at Portsmouth and will be sold from there.

The HMS Manchester was built in 1978 at Vickers Ship Building Barrow in Furness and commissioned in 1982. Meanwhile, the Liverpool, also built in 1978, was constructed at Cammell Laird and commissioned in 1982.

The Manchester and Liverpool ceased operations in April 2011 and May 2012, respectively.

Both vessels are considered sound for towing but not in running condition, the invitation said.

The Royal Navy’s last Type 42, the HMS Edinburg, was decommissioned in June 2013.

Interested parties can find the invitation for tender HERE.

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