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
More from Naval Warfare
-
![BAE Systems to collaborate with Umoe Mandal on Type 26 frigate and Littoral Strike Craft]()
BAE Systems to collaborate with Umoe Mandal on Type 26 frigate and Littoral Strike Craft
The agreement is intended to boost opportunities for both UK and Norwegian naval shipbuilding.
-
![How the Force Design 2028 will impact US Coast Guard acquisitions]()
How the Force Design 2028 will impact US Coast Guard acquisitions
The FD 2028 strategy intends to reduce the bureaucracy in procurement processes while speeding up the field of assets.
-
![Thin-line towed arrays on uncrewed vessels deliver more cost-effective sonar, says SEA]()
Thin-line towed arrays on uncrewed vessels deliver more cost-effective sonar, says SEA
Miniaturisation of technology opens up radical sensing technologies to smaller navies under submarine threat, according to SEA sonar expert.
-
![£30 million UK-New Zealand deal sends new uncrewed vehicles to Ukraine]()
£30 million UK-New Zealand deal sends new uncrewed vehicles to Ukraine
Sam Vye, the CEO of SYOS Aerospace, which supplied the vehicles, explained the rapid development and deployment of assets in the uncrewed world.
-
![HII delivers first two Lionfish SUUVs to US Navy]()
HII delivers first two Lionfish SUUVs to US Navy
The SUUVs could be part of a programme that scales to 200 vehicles.
-
![HALO programme decommissioned by US Navy in favour of LRASM upgrades]()
HALO programme decommissioned by US Navy in favour of LRASM upgrades
The programme was due to be at full operational capability in the US Navy by 2031, but has been pulled over cost and timeline concerns.
