Interest confirmed in former Royal Navy minesweeper HMS Atherstone
Tied up in an unseen corner of Portsmouth Naval Base, the former UK RN mine countermeasure vessel HMS Atherstone is nearing its end, stripped for parts and machinery to maintain the diminishing Hunt class fleet.
Listed for sale by the UK’s Defence Equipment Sales Authority (DESA) in Q2 of this year, HMS Atherstone was decommissioned in 2017 along with another of its sister ships, HMS Quorn, after 30 years of service.
The latter vessel has since been sold to Lithuania, netting a tidy sum and avoiding the £750,000 ($1 million) cost to dispose of the vessel.
Devoid of machinery, the former HMS Atherstone is described as being sound for towing but no longer in running condition.
A DESA spokesperson confirmed that the authority had received expressions of interest for the vessel, the deadline
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Naval Warfare
-
![South Korea advances next-gen naval concepts for future force needs]()
South Korea advances next-gen naval concepts for future force needs
HHI and Hanwha Ocean outline highly autonomous and unmanned-enabled designs as the ROKN explores force structure for the 2030s and beyond.
-
![US representatives plan to invest $1.6 billion in US Coast Guard inventory in FY2026]()
US representatives plan to invest $1.6 billion in US Coast Guard inventory in FY2026
The FY26 Homeland Security Bill Markup of the House Committee on Appropriations included resources for the procurement of ships, aircraft and unmanned systems.
-
![US Navy seeks industry partners to address pressing research needs]()
US Navy seeks industry partners to address pressing research needs
The Office of Naval Research will host an Industry Engagement Day in August aiming at building new partnerships and advancing its science and technology initiatives in multiple areas.
-
![Raytheon awarded $1.2 billion in contracts for AN/SPY-6(V) radars for the US Navy]()
Raytheon awarded $1.2 billion in contracts for AN/SPY-6(V) radars for the US Navy
Under the most recent contract, the US Navy will receive four additional AN/SPY-6(V) radars, increasing the number of radars under contract to 42. The radars are considered key for expanding the navy’s capability for air defence.
-
![Royal Canadian Navy’s final Harry DeWolf-class vessel to be delivered this summer]()
Royal Canadian Navy’s final Harry DeWolf-class vessel to be delivered this summer
The sixth Canada’s Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship is currently at the final stages of construction within Irving Shipbuilding.
