jedibeeftrix wrote:Carib doesn't seem like any kind of a priority, unless its because they want to free up RFA assets from having to be on standby for hurricane season due to perceived demand elsewhere....
To my inexpert eyes, the demand, the support facilities, and the focus all point to the Gulf...
Persian Gulf is likely, I agree. What kind of tasking she will take is very interesting. There are many demands there, not only for escort.
But, I'm also not surprised if it is Caribbean. A 36-crew River B2 replacing 100+ crew Tide/Wave in non-hurricane season will greatly relax the man-power pressure, although surely a small reduction in capability.
SW1 wrote:Gibraltar?
Interesting idea.
Tempest414 wrote:Like a modern AP-S I like your thinking could also use St Helena
But, I'm afraid St Helena has no usable port?
Tempest414 wrote:There was talk of Medway going to Caribbean some time ago but for that to work she will need a UAV . And if it is to be the Gulf then she will need to be up gunned in some form and for me that would mean 57mm and 2 x 30mm with LMM . She could paddle around the Indo- Pacific flying the flag until replaced by a Type 31 with little work but it is a little underwhelming for globe Britain
Heavy armaments for River B2 when deployed to Persian Gulf is a funny topic to discuss, but
- "as is", River B2 can do work there. Even USCG cutters were there, no problem for River B2. There are diversity of tasks, and very lightly armed OPV can easily find her place.
- even if up-gunning, replacing the aft-crane with a 20mm CIWS (e.g. STRN web) + adding LMM on its 30 mm turret is "the most", I suspect, because they are
very cheap, and can be easily reverted later (say, transferred to T31).