UK Defence Forum

Great photo essay from Cornwalllive. see https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornw ... es-5901184

Impressively inclined side wall. Of course, the OPVs are not specifically designed with high level stealth requirements, but "how small" the radar signature is interesting to know....


Can see the 20ft (or 10ft?) ISO container located on the starboard waist. Interesting it is painted with the camouflage pattern.


Can see the close-up view of the "top cover" over the lowered mooring deck. Looks like easy to walk on top. Can Wildcat/Merlin use this area also for landing? May be not, but want to know.

Lord Jim wrote:Putting a couple of LMMs on one would also be nice, especially if any French Fishermen get feisty!

The French? Sailors lining up and shouting bang would have them running

donald_of_tokyo wrote:Can see the close-up view of the "top cover" over the lowered mooring deck. Looks like easy to walk on top. Can Wildcat/Merlin use this area also for landing? May be not, but want to know.

Donald-san, not sure where you mean.

Ron5 wrote:The French? Sailors lining up and shouting bang would have them running

Or throwing bars of soap at them.
Btw, garlic is not perfume.

Ron5 wrote:

donald_of_tokyo wrote:Can see the close-up view of the "top cover" over the lowered mooring deck. Looks like easy to walk on top. Can Wildcat/Merlin use this area also for landing? May be not, but want to know.

Donald-san, not sure where you mean.

Sorry. There is a man onboard HMS Tamar in this photo. To his left (of near his right foot), there shall be "a ~1 m deep deck" at the two corners of the flight deck, filled with mooring gears. In other words, the two "holes" opening above the "Tamar" name. In this photo, its is covered by the metal plate (with many holes).

donald_of_tokyo wrote:

Ron5 wrote:

donald_of_tokyo wrote:Can see the close-up view of the "top cover" over the lowered mooring deck. Looks like easy to walk on top. Can Wildcat/Merlin use this area also for landing? May be not, but want to know.

Donald-san, not sure where you mean.

Sorry. There is a man onboard HMS Tamar in this photo. To his left (of near his right foot), there shall be "a ~1 m deep deck" at the two corners of the flight deck, filled with mooring gears. In other words, the two "holes" opening above the "Tamar" name. In this photo, its is covered by the metal plate (with many holes).

Thanks. My guess is that's nothing more than a safety grid to stop poor matelots falling in and breaking their legs.

I wonder if we will see the same on the T26 & T31.

Isn't that part of the system to allow helicopters to land securely in bad weather, the Canadians call it "Bear Trap", I think. The helicopter has a probe that locks the helicopter to the grid during landing and before take off. Very useful with a small flight deck like on the B2s. Might be wrong as always though.

Lord Jim wrote:Isn't that part of the system to allow helicopters to land securely in bad weather, the Canadians call it "Bear Trap", I think. The helicopter has a probe that locks the helicopter to the grid during landing and before take off. Very useful with a small flight deck like on the B2s. Might be wrong as always though.

Sorry, I was not clear enough.

The "metal plates with holes" in the middle of the flightdeck is, the grid for the "harpoon" system, to hold the helicopter. (BearTrap is similar idea, but with different implementation). My question was on the edge of the flight deck, not in the middle.

Thanks.

Is there a clearer photo of what you are discussing?

(Navy Lookout) 24th September 2021

HMS Severn arrives in Portsmouth - currently hosting the Fleet Navigating Course. She was painted in the new "Western Approaches WWII" camouflage scheme during her recent maintenance period in Falmouth. Video: Portsmouth Proud

HMS Medway meets with HMS Spey and Tamar at Caribbean sea. Three River B2 in action together.

See "", and ""

HMS Tamar in Curacao in the Southern Caribbean. Beautiful shot.

PS now it is clear that the ISO container on the starboard waist is 20t long.

I need a holiday!

A Cruise with the Grey Funnel Line ?

HMS Trent bound for West Africa. Note she has an ISO container on her flight deck, not on waist. No plan to fully use her flight deck (although she can move it easily with her crane).

more important is she has a RM embarked force

River class needs a new designation. OPV doesn't do it any more.

How abour LRICOFPV?

"long-range inter-continental offshore fisheries protection vessel" ?!

Tempest414 wrote:more important is she has a RM embarked force

More important than a helicopter when chasing pirates?????

Well a helicopter might help locate any Pirates but that may be all with possible ROE, no using the .50cal to hose a suspected boat for example. Marines in a RHIB though can certainly upset any pirates as well as create a narrative that make Pirates stay well away form any area a River B2 might be in because of the RMs.

SKB wrote:River class needs a new designation. OPV doesn't do it any more.

How abour LRICOFPV?

"long-range inter-continental offshore fisheries protection vessel" ?!

Completely agree - but would rather go for Global Sloop

Ron5 wrote:

Tempest414 wrote:more important is she has a RM embarked force

More important than a helicopter when chasing pirates?????

if the B2's could embark a helicopter it might be a close run thing however they don't this being said the current UOR for a VL- UAV may go someway to giving the B2's a wider reach

Tempest414 wrote:

Ron5 wrote:

Tempest414 wrote:more important is she has a RM embarked force

More important than a helicopter when chasing pirates?????

if the B2's could embark a helicopter it might be a close run thing however they don't this being said the current UOR for a VL- UAV may go someway to giving the B2's a wider reach

Who said it had to be a manned helicopter?

Lord Jim wrote:Well a helicopter might help locate any Pirates but that may be all with possible ROE, no using the .50cal to hose a suspected boat for example. Marines in a RHIB though can certainly upset any pirates as well as create a narrative that make Pirates stay well away form any area a River B2 might be in because of the RMs.

A slack handful of guys in a rubber boat vs a helicopter?? You serious?

in the recent £17m bust by RFA wave knight, in the Caribbean, the helicopter found the boat and the RHIB-full of USCG law-enforcement did the apprehending (USCG presumably because it was in international waters - it would be RN in a BOT EEZ/ territorial waters , I believe). I think both helo and RHIB have their parts to play