Royal Navy formally commissions HMS Forth
The Royal Navy has formally commissioned the first of its next-generation OPVs, HMS Forth, the navy announced on 13 April.
HMS Forth is the first of five new OPVs designed for counter-piracy, anti-smuggling, fishery protection, border patrol, counter terrorism and maritime defence operations. The vessel is classified as a Batch 2 River-class OPV, and her sisters – Trent, Medway, Tamar and Spey - are a significant upgrade on the original vessels that were designed and built 15 years ago.
HMS Forth will enter service in 2018, while the remaining four ships are all expected to arrive in Portsmouth by 2020.
Built by BAE Systems, HMS Forth is designed for a total crew of around 58, but requires only 34 to go to sea. The new OPVs are faster than their predecessors at 24 knots, have an increased range of 5,500 nautical miles, a 30mm automatic cannon as their main armament, two mini-guns, four machine-guns and are equipped with two Pacific 24 sea boats.
Each ship has an extended flight deck to operate up to Merlin size helicopters. They can accommodate up to 50 embarked Royal Marines for boarding and supporting operations ashore if required.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Australian industry programme builds pipeline for Virginia-class sustainment]()
Australian industry programme builds pipeline for Virginia-class sustainment
Australian businesses can now bid to support Virginia-class submarine sustainment in Western Australia, as momentum around the Henderson Defence Precinct also builds.
-
![South Korea, Japan and Turkey vie for US shipbuilding access in future frigate contest]()
South Korea, Japan and Turkey vie for US shipbuilding access in future frigate contest
Washington’s search for a foreign-built frigate could hand South Korea, Japan and Turkey a larger prize than a double-hull order: a foothold inside the US shipbuilding industrial base.
-
![Russia’s uncrewed boat portfolio hints at future naval demand]()
Russia’s uncrewed boat portfolio hints at future naval demand
Ukrainian intelligence has catalogued more than 20 Russian uncrewed surface vessels, revealing a portfolio weighted towards mine warfare and logistics, with implications for Western naval investment.
-
![Ukraine’s new long-range 12m autonomous vessel can deploy other drones]()
Ukraine’s new long-range 12m autonomous vessel can deploy other drones
Ukraine’s UForce unveiled the MV11 uncrewed surface vessel, designed to launch and support other naval drones at sea, fuelling debate over the future of autonomous maritime task groups.
-
![German Navy’s Israeli missile test points to deepening defence-industrial ties]()
German Navy’s Israeli missile test points to deepening defence-industrial ties
The test-firing of an Israel Aerospace Industries LORA ballistic missile from a German vessel highlights the Bundeswehr’s focus on speed to capability as it trials Israel’s operationally proven technology.
