Navy For Sale In U.K.

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32214, 5 February 1970, Page 6

Navy For Sale In U.K.

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) ' LONDON, j Britain has a 40iship navy for sale. Destroyers, frigates and submarines are among Jthe ships at anchor in four naval bases waiting; for buyers at a fraction! of their original £.3om cost. I They are operational but | they have been axed in the i defence cutback or have become out-moded in the new I age of naval technology. I Friendly overseas governments have been notified that I the fighting ships with supply and support vessels are for {sale but the Defence Department is keeping the asking [prices secret. [ Representatives of some of the Governments and naval men have been inspecting the ships at the Portsmouth, Plymouth, Chatham and Rosyth bases. They have a wide choice of five destroyers, which cost about film sterling, six frigates, worth about £9m originally, four submarines, 12 minesweepers, six fast patrol boats, a helicopter support ship, and a number of depot, I survey and accommodation ships. I Their ages range from 10 j to 25 years. 1 A Royal Navy spokesman

[said: “Several sales possibil-i j ities are under consideration | ! but nothing has yet been finanlised. Some Latin-American ; governments are interested."! ■ The spokesman did not [ [ identify the governments or the type of ships they I might buy. Last year Peru bought two i surplus British destroyers. ! The ' best sales prospects I would appear to be two Dar- [ ing class destroyers about 15 years old and three frigates | in the 12 or 13-year old class. The other destroyers and fri- [ gates are about 25 years old. Some foreign interest is also expected in the fast patrol boats, three of which are about 10 years old, can do about 50 knots and are armed with torpedos and 3.3 in guns. They cost nearly £250.000 each to build. Many of the warships have ■ had their armaments and ■ sophisticated equipment removed and put in storeage. ; i But a buyer could have them put back. All the ships of the redundant fleet that fail to find overseas buyers—and that means most of them—will i make their final voyage to the scrap yard.