UK Defence Forum

Repulse wrote: ↑12 Jul 2022, 18:46

donald_of_tokyo wrote: ↑12 Jul 2022, 16:34 Does it just mean, RN can happily disband them?

They have been rebranded as part of the Overseas Patrol Squadron:

https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... l-squadron

Rebranding took place more than a year before the end of contract.

As 2020q4, end of the contract, was right before de activating HMS Echo, RN had a good chance to save her. In place, RN decided to keep all three OPVs even when their amount of tasks was SIGNIFICANTLY reduced.

Why not disband/sell 2 OPVs, which were primarily used for fishery and keep HMS Echo and a single OPV as a training ship?

Looks like the task reduction on Echo was larger?

donald_of_tokyo wrote: ↑13 Jul 2022, 23:09

Repulse wrote: ↑12 Jul 2022, 18:46

donald_of_tokyo wrote: ↑12 Jul 2022, 16:34 Does it just mean, RN can happily disband them?

They have been rebranded as part of the Overseas Patrol Squadron:

https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... l-squadron

Rebranding took place more than a year before the end of contract.

As 2020q4, end of the contract, was right before de activating HMS Echo, RN had a good chance to save her. In place, RN decided to keep all three OPVs even when their amount of tasks was SIGNIFICANTLY reduced.

Why not disband/sell 2 OPVs, which were primarily used for fishery and keep HMS Echo and a single OPV as a training ship?

Looks like the task reduction on Echo was larger?

You are right in that the rebranding took place a while ago, but the writing was on the wall.

The workload of the OPVs has changed, but not sure if it’s less. Security and surveillance of UK waters is still a key role, and with potential Brexit related incidents, the illegal migrant crisis, training, and increasing need to escort Russian vessels with a decreasing number of frigates will keep them more than busy.

Echo should have been kept also until the new capabilities are proven - it should not be about robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Repulse wrote: ↑14 Jul 2022, 07:26...The workload of the OPVs has changed, but not sure if it’s less. Security and surveillance of UK waters is still a key role, and with potential Brexit related incidents, the illegal migrant crisis, training, and increasing need to escort Russian vessels with a decreasing number of frigates will keep them more than busy.

Echo should have been kept also until the new capabilities are proven - it should not be about robbing Peter to pay Paul.

I understand your point. But, in man power, RN is in "robbing Peter to pay Paul" situation for a decade. Actually, 2 CVFs has "robbed" a lot of crew from fleet-wide. Even so, with RN new initiative for "more person at sea", we know escort availability has increased these 1-2 years, not decreased (ref: written answer).

Note I am not comparing to 5-10 years ago.

Even so, the need for "security and surveillance of UK waters" has increased more, which resulted in keeping 3 OPVs and "forced to" disband HMS Echo "in place". RN did a difficult choice, which clearly means, needs for "security and surveillance of UK waters" is judged as more demanding than "hydrographic survey".

Interesting fact, I think.

Not really if it can't be seen to promote HMG it can go as far as they are care so the B1's have and are seen to be stopping rubber boats and standing up to the French fishermen so they can stay plus they keep up the number of Warships

So HMS Tyne has gone into dry dock will be interesting to see if she comes out in the paint job as Severn

HMS Tamar in Pacific Partnership 2022.

Note, PSS Kedam is a 40m-class patrol craft donated from Japan. (typical design of modern Japan Coast Guards patrol craft).

From twitter.com/HMSTrent/status/1551481724386811904

HMS Trent's stern machine gun is now 12.7mm, not 7.62 mm?

donald_of_tokyo wrote: ↑25 Jul 2022, 15:22 HMS Trent's stern machine gun is now 12.7mm, not 7.62 mm?

To be able to clear the Malaya Straits?

All it needs now, is a Gun Shield!

A modern-day equivalent of the gunboat on the Yangze River
- a good film, btw

What is this "escape" zone?

On the big quarter deck of HMS Severn.

donald_of_tokyo wrote: ↑27 Jul 2022, 15:40 What is this "escape" zone?

On the big quarter deck of HMS Severn.

From my visit to Seven some years back there is a large space under the working deck which only has one door in and out it was used as a gym these hatches are from this space the zone is marked so nothing is put on top of the hatches

Very good demonstration of River B2 OPV's value, deployed, at sea, in visiting so many places. No escort can do the same.

donald_of_tokyo wrote: ↑31 Jul 2022, 02:26 Very good demonstration of River B2 OPV's value, deployed, at sea, in visiting so many places. No escort can do the same.

To reinforce that point, also from Twitter:

"#TeamTAMAR is the first @RoyalNavy warship to visit the Republic of Palau in nearly 100 years. The last ship was the Acacia class mine-sweeping sloop, HMS BLUEBELL, who came alongside 6-10th May 1925."



This is especially relevant given the Chinese attempts to gain influence in the southern Pacific e.g. the talks to establish a PLAN naval base in Vanuatu.

Is this the first photo of River B2's CIC?

from mobile.twitter.com/hms_tamar/status/1554257584676372480

The newstern gun on Trent should be suploment

The stern gun on Trent. Should be ogmented by two port and starboard as per the Amerzons that would at least give them a better chance should they get into a situation. Then replacing the 30mm gun long term ewith the BAE 40mm would turn them into a respectable global O P V.







V

HMS Spey, trains with Australian Armidale-class patrol boat.

from twitter.com/hqjoc/status/1555010723876593666

Beautiful shot. But, she looks like a bit too tall to enjoy the shed shelter... Of course, shed is not mandatory for dry-docking period, but anyway interesting structure.

Beautiful. HMNZS Wellington and HMS Spey.

https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... -in-darwin

Nice pic of Spey, training with the RAN.

from twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/1559440728220086272

HMS Spey in Fuji, with JS Kirisame on her back.

Want to see the beauty of the worlds nature? Here you are, HMS Forth, guard-ship of the isolated southern island...

[EDIT] source twitter.com/HMS_Forth/status/1561343630215888897

from twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/1562031102352580608

HMS Tamar. Looks like her dazzle camouflage is effective in this condition?

As an aside, my holiday reading has included The Shadow War by Jim Sciutto - a very good book and whilst written in 2019 it’s still amazing how the war has hotted up with Russia and China since then.

The relevance is that I think the River Class is a perfect class to act on behalf of HMG in the region, where sub conflict actions are taking place on a daily basis from illegal fishing to seizure of EEZ by building artificial islands.