SDSR gives Royal Navy OPV boost
The UK will purchase a further two offshore patrol vessels for the Royal Navy (RN), it has been announced as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) on 23 November.
Three Batch 2 River-class OPVs (pictured above) are currently under construction for the Royal Navy by BAE Systems, while three Batch 1 vessels are in service, in addition to the Batch 1 South Atlantic patrol vessel HMS Clyde. The first of the Batch 2 vessels will enter service with the RN in 2017, and feature a redesigned flight deck to operate Merlin helicopters, and increased storage
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