Overview

• HMS Bristol was towed out of Portsmouth Harbour on June 11, 2025, bound for an EU-approved ship recycling facility in Turkey.
• The Type 82 destroyer, commissioned in March 1973, was the only vessel of its class and served as an air defence and headquarters ship during the 1982 Falklands conflict.
• Members of the public and veterans gathered on Old Portsmouth’s Round Tower to salute the vessel as it embarked on its final journey.
• Following a 1987 boiler explosion, Bristol served as a harbour training ship at HMS Excellent until its decommissioning in October 2020 after nearly 48 years of service.
• Defence Equipment & Support’s Defence Recycling & Disposals Team removed reusable equipment and will oversee disposal to maximise value for defence in an environmentally compliant manner.