UK Defence Forum

What would be good to see is a RB2 working with the Thai Navy RB2's

Dear the River B2 lovers. Yet another beautiful shots.

donald_of_tokyo wrote: ↑14 Apr 2023, 12:48 Dear the River B2 lovers. Yet another beautiful shots.

It demonstrates the versatility of the design perfectly, operating one minute in a hot climate, the next in extreme cold.

HMS Spey at tropical Solomon Islands.
from twitter.com/HMS_Spey/status/1647181722423812097

Solomon Island's political situation is relatively unstable. They also have some relation with China and tension with US. Regardless, affirming relation with UK is very important.

Also I hope the crews, in rotation, can enjoy typical tropical environment. "See the world with Navy" !!

donald_of_tokyo wrote: ↑15 Apr 2023, 12:59 Regardless, affirming relation with UK is very important.

Great to see and proof that presence in the region is important.

Is the lack of armament on the RB2s actually a positive when visiting sensitive ports such as this?

Great to see, wasn’t Spey refused permission to port last year in the Solomon Islands when sailing with the USCG?

Repulse wrote: ↑14 Apr 2023, 16:49

donald_of_tokyo wrote: ↑14 Apr 2023, 12:48 Dear the River B2 lovers. Yet another beautiful shots.

It demonstrates the versatility of the design perfectly, operating one minute in a hot climate, the next in extreme cold.

I would hope all of the RN's warships can do the same.

Repulse wrote: ↑15 Apr 2023, 13:49 Great to see, wasn’t Spey refused permission to port last year in the Solomon Islands when sailing with the USCG?

I thought that was Covid related but I might be wrong.

wargame_insomniac wrote: ↑15 Apr 2023, 17:02

Repulse wrote: ↑15 Apr 2023, 13:49 Great to see, wasn’t Spey refused permission to port last year in the Solomon Islands when sailing with the USCG?

I thought that was Covid related but I might be wrong.

https://amp.france24.com/en/live-news/2 ... ships-soon

(Forces News) 17th April 2023

HMS Mersey was welcomed back to the city that sits on her namesake river, a welcome break after a two-month deployment in the Baltic Sea.

The River-class offshore patrol vessel, one of the Royal Navy's most deployed ships, docked in Liverpool, on the River Mersey, after eight weeks at sea.

During her five-day stay in the city, the ship and her crew were honoured by Sefton Borough Council, which presented them with the honorary Freedom of the Borough of Sefton.

Looking good…

HMS Spey at work in New Caledonia.

5 RB2
2 pacific
1 Caribbean
1 Falklands
1 Mediterranean
Excellent utilisation. But god did that paint scheme make a difference.
Also any comments on a (personal) idea of Global Patrol Ships (OPV, light frigate, cruiser, sloop, cutter, what ever you want to call it) That does such roles as assigned, but with greater numbers, that can get upgraded for war? Than at home have a few of a common large hull to form MRSS/ LHD/ RFA ships/ T83 (look at japanese BMD destroyer and korean arsenal ships and chinese T55 I think we're gonna need the space). Also small ones boost fleet numbers, big ones boost fleet tonnage! Paper navy!

Not RN related but a useful addition in the Falklands to work alongside HMS Forth.

Why isn't she built in UK? National shipbuilding strategy has many many "holes".

"Why isn't she built in UK?". Of course, license building of Damen 5009 in UK will cost much much higher than buying one from Vietnam's Damen shipyard. But, this is what the National shipbuilding strategy means.

Scotish government ordered there ferry to turky, is the same thing.

Is it only RN, who shall follow the National shipbuilding strategy?

Nice name hope its in recognition of the late Queen.

bobp wrote: ↑02 May 2023, 13:04 Nice name hope its in recognition of the late Queen.

It was. Name voted by the children / schools of the island or something like that for what I remember.

donald_of_tokyo wrote: ↑02 May 2023, 11:56 Why isn't she built in UK? National shipbuilding strategy has many many "holes".

"Why isn't she built in UK?". Of course, license building of Damen 5009 in UK will cost much much higher than buying one from Vietnam's Damen shipyard. But, this is what the National shipbuilding strategy means.

Scottish government ordered there ferry to turky, is the same thing.

Is it only RN, who shall follow the National shipbuilding strategy?

Quite the Scotish government send there order for ferries to Turkey and then have the brass balls to complain about the lack of work in Scottish ship yards

Tempest414 wrote: ↑02 May 2023, 15:01 Quite the Scotish government send there order for ferries to Turkey and then have the brass balls to complain about the lack of work in Scottish ship yards

This means, there is no National Ship Building Strategy at work. It remains just as a propaganda, with no real actions. We, and RN, must NOT rely on it. Just do what RN can do, need to do, want to do.

Before everyone starts panicking about the NSBS, please note that the ship is owned by Seagull Maritime and leased to the FI Government, not HMG (yes, the BOT's own their own stuff & have been known to pay for them out of their own revenue). Presumably this is paid for out of the license fees for fishing permits in FI waters

Seagull Maritime, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Larus Dominicanus Ltd, has recently been awarded a 15-year contract to supply a crewed fisheries protection vessel (FPV) to the Falkland Islands Government to protect a resource that contributes 67% of that Government’s revenue. We have acquired an impressive, state-of-the-art, new-build vessel specifically for the task, which commences ן January 2023.

Caribbean wrote: ↑02 May 2023, 17:01 Before everyone starts panicking about the NSBS, please note that the ship is owned by Seagull Maritime and leased to the FI Government, not HMG (yes, the BOT's own their own stuff & have been known to pay for them out of their own revenue). Presumably this is paid for out of the license fees for fishing permits in FI waters

Seagull Maritime, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Larus Dominicanus Ltd, has recently been awarded a 15-year contract to supply a crewed fisheries protection vessel (FPV) to the Falkland Islands Government to protect a resource that contributes 67% of that Government’s revenue. We have acquired an impressive, state-of-the-art, new-build vessel specifically for the task, which commences ן January 2023.

I have no problem with the FI (FPV) but the Scottish government sending ferry contacts to Turkey and then complaining about Scottish ship yards having not enough work was a bit rich when they got 5 more than they were told they would have

Caribbean wrote: ↑02 May 2023, 17:01 Before everyone starts panicking about the NSBS,

Don’t panic!

Your point is well made but looking at the 30yr pipeline in the NSBS quite a few of the orders for the vessels listed have gone to foreign yards already.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... efresh.pdf

Caribbean wrote: ↑02 May 2023, 17:01 Before everyone starts panicking about the NSBS, please note that the ship is owned by Seagull Maritime and leased to the FI Government, not HMG (yes, the BOT's own their own stuff & have been known to pay for them out of their own revenue). Presumably this is paid for out of the license fees for fishing permits in FI waters

Seagull Maritime, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Larus Dominicanus Ltd, has recently been awarded a 15-year contract to supply a crewed fisheries protection vessel (FPV) to the Falkland Islands Government to protect a resource that contributes 67% of that Government’s revenue. We have acquired an impressive, state-of-the-art, new-build vessel specifically for the task, which commences ן January 2023.

This is exactly what I have been wanting when I have hoped for smaller OPV dedicated for Fishery Protection and general patrolling, both in UK and BIOT waters.

Admitedly I was thinking just a touch larger with a 30mm or 20mm main gun and a pair of 0.5" HMG, but I beleive that RN should be outgunning any pirates or smugglers!!

It is a shame that it could nt be built out of say Appledore. I would quite like to see 8-12 such FPV, for mix of UK waters and overseas.But I can understand the FI themselves going for a low cost option of lease.