[Source/Observer Network, Wang Shihua] According to a report on the UK Defense Journal website on April 4th, coinciding with the 200th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Brazil and the United Kingdom, the defense ministries of Brazil and the United Kingdom signed an intent protocol, under which Brazil will procure two Type 45 destroyers, HMS Albion (L14) and HMS Bulwark (L15), which were prematurely retired by the Royal Navy.

This announcement was made at the 15th Rio de Janeiro Military Police Defense Exhibition (LAAD) in Brazil, the largest and most important defense and security exhibition in Latin America, held from April 1st to 4th in Rio de Janeiro. However, the Royal Navy has not yet publicly commented on this transaction, and the Ministry of Defense has not confirmed the timeline or conditions for the possible transfer of the ships. Nevertheless, the UK Defense Journal stated that the signing of the intent protocol indicates that negotiations have entered the final stage.

According to official statements from the Brazilian Navy News Agency, these dock landing ships not only have strategic military purposes but also possess the ability to support domestic civilian disaster relief operations. Admiral Edgar Luis Siqueira Barbosa, Director-General of Material of the Brazilian Navy, said: "We have seen that naval vessels need to provide support for people in various disasters caused by climate change, such as the floods on Sebastian Island in 2023 and the floods in southern Grande Do Sul in 2024."

Two Type 45 landing ships side by side, UK Ministry of Defense

He added that Brazil has long valued British-built naval assets. He said: "There are several British ships that have been introduced into our navy fleet. They are high-quality ships, so we already have good experience in using British ships."

The Type 45 dock landing ships consist of two ships, HMS Albion (L14) and HMS Bulwark (L15). HMS Albion (L14) signed the contract on July 18, 1996, started construction on May 23, 1998, was launched on March 9, 2001, and commissioned on June 19, 2003. It served as the flagship of the Royal Navy fleet from December 2010 to October 2011. HMS Bulwark (L15) signed the contract on July 18, 1996, started construction on January 27, 2000, was launched on November 15, 2001, and commissioned on December 10, 2004. Between October 2011 and June 2015, it was the flagship of the Royal Navy.

In recent years, the UK's defense budget constraints have also been reflected in the use of Type 45 dock landing ships. In the 2010 Strategic Defense and Security Review report, it was proposed that one ship should be kept in "high readiness" while the other should be placed in "extended readiness" for storage to save costs. Even so, the total annual cost of operating both ships still amounts to £17.7 million to £38.6 million. It is reported that both ships are currently in a low state of readiness and do not even have plans to return to sea before their originally scheduled retirement dates in 2033 and 2034. In fact, both landing ships have been long-term stored at Devonport Naval Base, but they still require approximately £9 million per year for maintenance.

Recently, the UK Ministry of Defense began a "broader restructuring" of the navy and decided to retire the Type 45 dock landing ships, prioritizing the normal operation and development of the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, Type 31 frigates, and "Future Assault Craft" multi-purpose platforms to maintain and develop "distributed lethality," small amphibious platforms, and their integration with air and cyber capabilities. The UK Ministry of Defense stated that over the past decade, significant funds have been invested in maintaining and upgrading the Type 45 dock landing ships, with total expenditures exceeding £132 million.

Nevertheless, the sale of former Royal Navy flagships has raised questions about the future amphibious capabilities of the Royal Navy. Many people expressed concerns that after retiring the dock landing ships, the Royal Navy would lack the ability to deploy large armored vehicles. Conservative Party MP Mark Francois, who serves as the "Shadow Minister for Armed Forces," claimed that the idea of selling these two ships was conceived by "military illiterates." Given how much has been spent on refurbishments, selling them at a cheap price was also considered "financial illiteracy."

In contrast, the Brazilian Navy, which has long retained European second-hand large warships, urgently needs a newer second-hand vessel. The Brazilian Navy's current large warships are generally aging, including the Atlantic (A140) helicopter carrier, converted from the former Royal Navy Ocean-class helicopter carrier L12, and the G-40 NDM Bahia, converted from the French Four-Class dock landing ship Mistral. Among them, the former is over 40 years old, and the latter is over 30 years old.

This article is an exclusive contribution from Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7489366842763395636/

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