River Class (OPV) (RN)

[S M H]

Not buying that. Its a waste of highly trained (expensive) military personnel

Having done boarding inspections from military and civil agency vessels the military boarding request was always complied with. The additional advantage that military vessels had was the universal understanding of S.N. backed up by few rounds across the bow for the hard of hearing or belligerent. I have had to follow a vessels at a discreet distance several times when civilian crewed until the navy turned up. The fishery squadron duties may be tasked to civil crewed agencies for political ideological reasons as per Scotland. However funding the navy to do it. Along with other duties is in fact a better solution as it shows presence in our waters while providing a development ladder for command training for the navy . The Fishery squadron benefits all if managed correctly. If anything the batch 1 rivers should be retained for R.N. R. manning to augment the Fishery squadron with the return of control of our fishing grounds responsibility from Europe.

[Caribbean]

Would a mixture of RFA and RNR crews work, do you think?

[ArmChairCivvy]

The fishery squadron duties may be tasked to civil crewed agencies for political ideological reasons as per Scotland. However funding the navy to do it. Along with other duties is in fact a better solution as it shows presence in our waters while providing a development ladder for command training for the navy . The Fishery squadron benefits all if managed correctly.

Fully agree.

The ships were initially taken "onboard" with a lease deal (saving cash within the defence budget that has a yearly focus) and DEFRA paid the running costs (not sure if crew counted as such).
- buying the River 1s outright points to the intention of selling them, but who says that it would have to be a foreign buyer

[Repulse]

HMS Medway is out of the construction shed. Can't find a picture to link but plenty on Twitter.

[SKB]

[ArmChairCivvy]

I can see they have brought the Seaslug back; there is a launcher (aft)

[dmereifield]

I can see they have brought the Seaslug back; there is a launcher (aft)

And replaced the 30mm with a rather large mortar...

[SKB]

HMS Medway (P223) on 15th August 2017
(River Clyde Photography)

[donald_of_tokyo]

Beautiful photo!

See the "center of gravity mark" around the funnel. (It was not shown in the case of HMS Forth). It is right at the forward end of the main engine room. This means, if River B3 with extended hull is to come in future, inserting 5-10m hull here = right before the engine room will be the easiest solution.

Since the center of the hull is generating majority of buoyancy, if with 10m extension here, both bow and stern can be extended, and/or adding more sure-structure is possible.

[SKB]

See the "center of gravity mark" around the funnel. (It was not shown in the case of HMS Forth).

Look again ^

[SKB]

HMS Medway P223.jpg

A little bigger.

[donald_of_tokyo]

Look again ^

Oh, thanks !

In what I checked, it was not shown...
https://ukdjstatic-b4d.kxcdn.com/wp-con ... sforth.jpg
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p_NU3HXOcYs/ ... 8%2BPM.JPG

[Repulse]

HMS Mersey in Falmouth at the moment. I wonder how much it would cost to upgrade the original 3 B1s to be the same specification as HMS Clyde? Having the B1s able to lillipad ASW Merlins in UK EEZ would allow others for global duties.

[Ron5]

Used to think they were ugly little ships but they're growing on me. Congrats RN.

P.S. Amazing level of completion. Not like the old days.

[Caribbean]

Is it me, or does that COG marker appear to be higher on Medway than on Forth?

[Repulse]

Is it me, or does that COG marker appear to be higher on Medway than on Forth?

Agree, it does look higher on Medway. Perhaps it's the VLS they snuck in

[Repulse]

HMS Mersey in Falmouth at the moment

Got it wrong It is HMS Tyne, apparently undergoing refit. Wonder if it's life will be spare for time as the GiGS?

[SKB]

HMS Medway on 20th August

[hovematlot]

HMS Forth commencing sea trials

[2HeadsBetter]

Beaten to it but better late than never:

[RichardIC]

And she's on Marine Traffic... and she's already made 24.6 knots!!!!

[Rambo]

Looking at those pics i can just visualize some Harpoon deck mounted aft of the funnel and replace the pea shooter with a Phalanx up front.

[LordJim]

Great now lets order another 5 with a Bofors 57mm up front

[andrew98]

Great now lets order another 5 with a Bofors 57mm up front

Ffs no! Do not introduce yet another type of weapon system.
Either 5" or 30mm (maybe with LMM launcher) or just 20mm phalanx. But no different gun.

[ArmChairCivvy]

Either 5" or 30mm (maybe with LMM launcher) or just 20mm phalanx. But no different gun.

Recycling some 4.5" - in open mounts; a nice budgetary option