UK to sell HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark to Brazil Raising Concerns Over Amphibious Capability.

According to information published by Daily Mail on January 26, 2025, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is reportedly preparing to sell two of its amphibious assault ships, HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, to Brazil for a sum that undervalues their prior maintenance and refit costs. This move, part of a broader cost-cutting strategy, raises questions about the Royal Navy’s future amphibious capabilities and the strategic implications of offloading key assets at a time of increasing global instability.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

Royal Navy's Albion-class amphibious transport dock HMS Albion. (Picture source: UK MoD)

HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark are the UK’s sole remaining dedicated amphibious warfare ships, capable of deploying Royal Marines, vehicles, and equipment in contested environments. These vessels, commissioned in the early 2000s, are designed for expeditionary operations, humanitarian assistance, and power projection. Their potential sale reduces the Royal Navy’s ability to conduct independent amphibious operations, shifting reliance onto allied forces or alternative, less capable platforms.

The decision aligns with the MoD’s ongoing modernization efforts, which prioritize emerging technologies, multi-role platforms, and cost-efficiency. However, the absence of a direct replacement for these vessels could leave the UK with a gap in its ability to conduct large-scale amphibious landings without significant support from allied navies, particularly the United States and NATO partners.

Over the past 14 years, the UK has invested heavily in maintaining and upgrading both ships, with reported expenditures exceeding £132 million, plus additional planned refits estimated at £72 million for HMS Bulwark before its premature decommissioning. The reported £20 million sale price raises concerns about the financial rationale behind the decision, given that their combined replacement cost would be several times higher.

While the ships are nearing the later stages of their service life, their hulls and core systems remain operationally viable, particularly with further upgrades. Brazil’s potential acquisition suggests that these vessels still hold significant operational value, raising the question of why the UK considers them surplus while another navy sees them as a strategic asset.

The decision to retire these ships follows a broader Royal Navy restructuring aimed at prioritizing multi-role platforms, including the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, Type 31 frigates, and Future Commando Force concepts. These initiatives focus on distributed lethality, smaller amphibious platforms, and integration with air and cyber capabilities. However, these concepts have yet to fully replace the strategic utility of dedicated amphibious assault ships.

The Royal Marines’ ability to conduct major amphibious operations traditionally relied on these platforms for deploying armored vehicles, logistics, and troops ashore in contested environments. Without them, future operations may be constrained to littoral strike roles utilizing smaller support ships and aviation assets, limiting the scale and flexibility of UK expeditionary warfare.

For Brazil, acquiring HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark would significantly enhance its amphibious and power projection capabilities. The Brazilian Navy currently operates an aging fleet, including the amphibious transport dock Bahia (ex-French Siroco). The addition of two Albion-class vessels would provide Brazil with greater capacity for humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and military operations in the South Atlantic, particularly concerning territorial security and regional partnerships.

This transfer would also reinforce Brazil’s defense ties with the UK, following previous acquisitions such as the aircraft carrier São Paulo (ex-French Foch) and other Royal Navy vessels. It positions Brazil as a leading naval power in South America, capable of deploying forces at a strategic distance.