Work on HMS Spey begins
Work has begun on the the future HMS Spey at BAE Systems' Govan shipyard on the Clyde in Scotland, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 21 April.
Spey is one of two Batch 2 River class Offshore Patrol Vessels being built under a £287 million agreement signed between the MoD and BAE Systems in December 2016. The vessel is due to be delivered to the Royal Navy in 2019 and enter service by 2021.
The vessel will be 90 metres long and displace around 2,000 tonnes, and will carry a 30mm cannon and have a flight deck capable of receiving a Merlin helicopter. It will have a maximum speed of 24 knots and will be able to sail 5,500 nautical miles before having to resupply.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Are Australia’s SSN ambitions ‘sub-optimal’? (Opinion)]()
Are Australia’s SSN ambitions ‘sub-optimal’? (Opinion)
Some describe Australia's SSN plans as marking the country's coming of age, but there are still too many questions whether it will work out the way planners imagine.
-
![South Korea approves naval minesweeper programme]()
South Korea approves naval minesweeper programme
A new class of minesweeper has been approved for the ROK Navy, while another Daegu-class frigate has been commissioned.
-
![Netherlands donating two minehunters to Ukraine]()
Netherlands donating two minehunters to Ukraine
The Netherlands will also supply Kyiv with drone detection radars and M3 bridge and ferrying systems to enable rapid river crossing.
-
![Thales teams up for Australian naval sustainment]()
Thales teams up for Australian naval sustainment
Thales Australia will partner with USN contractor Orbis Sibro on fleet sustainment operations for the Royal Australian Navy in Sydney.
-
![TMKS seeks to leverage Wismar shipyard for F127 bid]()
TMKS seeks to leverage Wismar shipyard for F127 bid
German shipbuilder TKMS plans to leverage its new Wismar shipyard for its proposal for the F127 anti-air warfare frigates for the German Navy, using the proven MEKO family design.
-
![Australia’s pathway to AUKUS submarines is attended by risk]()
Australia’s pathway to AUKUS submarines is attended by risk
Australia's journey towards obtaining nuclear-powered attack submarines is fraught with financial, technical and political risk.
