The Spanish BAM is only 4 metres longer and has a hangar. The French are also building or planning to build some OPVs which are shorter and feature a full hangar, but I can't remember their name now (EDIT: http://navyrecognition.com/index.php/wo ... tions.html )- I think they're planned to replace the Floreal-class, which are themselves only about 4 metres longer than the Batch 2 Rivers.SKB wrote:If it had a hangar, it'd be the size of a frigate. Besides, they're only meant to be offshore patrol vessels.
If the current Rivers are going to be retired and the Batch II replace them in only patrolling UK waters, then they're fine without a hangar.
If we keep the Batch I Rivers and the Batch II are going to be "globally deployable", as all of BAE & MOD press releases about them says they are, they could really use a hangar and embarked helicopter - especially if the plan is to have one hunting down drug smugglers in the Caribbean.