HMS Sheffield
Defence
Written answers and statements, 4 February 2003
Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford, Liberal Democrat)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) original cost and (b) annual operating cost is of HMS Sheffield.
Mr Adam Ingram (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Ministry of Defence; East Kilbride, Labour)
The cost of HMS Sheffield's construction, including all weapon systems and equipment, was £159 million.
Her annual operating cost; including manpower, fuel and port visits, depreciation and cost of capital is assessed to be £35 million. This is an annual average figure based on direct costs charged for financial year 2001–02, which was the last full financial year prior to her decommissioning in November 2002. In addition, during 1992 HMS Sheffield underwent a planned docking period for routine repair work. While the exact cost of the period is no longer available, it is estimated that it would have cost some £5 million to £6 million, based on other similar work at the time. In 1996, HMS Sheffield underwent a major refit at a cost of about £15.9 million. This was her last major upkeep period.