The HMS Bristol is the only Type 82 ship still in existence and saw nearly 48 years of active service.
Having been decommissioned in October 2020, she is now enroute to Türkiye for recycling at an EU-approved yard.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said: “She was the first taste of life in the Senior Service for many current and former sailors and will be fondly remembered for her resolute presence when arriving in Portsmouth by land or sea.”
Veterans and members of the public gathered to give a “respectful farewell” to the ship as it was towed out of the harbour earlier today.
Construction on the HMS Bristol began in 1967 and she was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 31 March 1973.
She fought in the 1982 Falklands War and then used as a training ship for the Dartmouth Training Squadron from 1987.
Since 2011, she has lived adjacent to Navy Command Headquarters on Whale Island, Portsmouth.
During this time, she provided accommodation for multiple youth organisations including the Sea Cadets, Combined Cadet Forces and the Sea Scouts.
Disposing of retired vessels
The ship was sold by experts from the DRDT, on the behalf of the Royal Navy.
The DRDT forms part of the Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) team – the procurement arm of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) – which specialises in the responsible disposal of vehicles, vessels and equipment no longer needed by UK Armed Forces.
DE&S aims to work with the Royal Navy to ensure all tenders are ethical, sustainable and meet regulations.
It is the policy of the DE&S to remove reusable equipment to be used elsewhere before ships are sent for recycling.
HMS Bristol is the second decommissioned ship to be towed for recycling this calendar year, with HMS Monmouth having departed in April.
Alistair Hughes, head of the Defence Recycling & Disposals Team (DRDT), said: “Recycling of ships at the end of their hull life is routine business for the Royal Navy and our aim is to achieve maximum value for money for Defence in an environmentally compliant manner – HMS Bristol is a fitting example of this after her many dedicated years of service.”
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