HMS Spey (P234)

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For other ships with the same name, see HMS Spey.

HMS Spey sea trials - 3.jpg
HMS Spey during its sea trials in 2020
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Spey
OperatorRoyal Navy
Ordered8 December 2016
BuilderBAE Systems Naval Ships
Laid down21 April 2017 (1st steel cut)
Launched19 June 2019
Sponsored byLady Alison Johnstone
Christened3 October 2019
Commissioned18 June 2021
HomeportHMNB Portsmouth
IdentificationPennant number: P234
StatusForward deployed to the Indo-Pacific region[1]
BadgeHMS Spey badge.svg
General characteristics
Class and typeBatch 2 River-class patrol vessel
Displacement2,000 tonnes
Length90.5 m (296 ft 11 in)[2]
Beam13 m (42 ft 8 in)
Draught3.8 m (12 ft 6 in)
Speed25 kn (46 km/h)
Range5,500 nmi (10,200 km)
Endurance35 days
Boats & landing
craft carried		Two rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs)
Capacity70
Complement34
Armament
Aircraft carriedMerlin capable flight deck

HMS Spey is a Batch 2 River-class offshore patrol vessel of the Royal Navy. Named after the River Spey in Scotland, she is the eighth Royal Navy ship to be named Spey and is the fifth Batch 2 River-class vessel to commission and is forward deployed long-term to the Indo-Pacific region with her sister ship HMS Tamar.

Construction[]

On 6 November 2013 it was announced that the Royal Navy had signed an Agreement in Principle to build three new offshore patrol vessels, based on the River-class design, at a fixed price of £348 million including spares and support. In August 2014, BAE Systems signed the contract to build the ships on the Clyde in Scotland. The Ministry of Defence stated that the Batch 2 ships are capable of being used for constabulary duties such as "counter-terrorism, counter-piracy and anti-smuggling operations". According to BAE Systems, the vessels are designed to deploy globally, conducting anti-piracy, counter-terrorism and anti-smuggling tasks currently conducted by frigates and destroyers. A £287m order, for two further ships, Tamar and Spey, and support for all five Batch 2 ships, was announced on 8 December 2016.[3]

Batch 2 ships such as Spey include some 29 modifications and enhancements over the Amazonas-class corvette built by BAE Systems for the Brazilian Navy.[4] Tamar and Spey have further modifications such as carbon monoxide reducing catalytic converters .[5]

HMS Spey at the Scotstoun dock, on its naming day.

Spey was formally named on 3 October 2019.[6] She began contractor sea trials in September 2020,[7] and after they were completed, left the Clyde on 28 October for the delivery voyage to Portsmouth.[8]

Operational history[]

On 7 January 2021, HMS Spey was handed over to the Royal Navy in Portsmouth. In late spring 2021, Spey received ‘Dazzle’ camouflage in Falmouth in preparation for deploying to the Indo-Pacific region with sister ship Tamar.[9] HMS Spey was commissioned into the Royal Navy at her affiliated town, Invergordon on 18 June 2021.[10]

On 7 September 2021, Spey and sister Tamar departed Portsmouth to be forward deployed to the Indo-Pacific region for a minimum of five years.[1]

On January 21 2022, Spey was deployed to Tonga as relief aid due to the 2022 Hunga Tonga eruption and tsunami. The ship is currently en route to Tonga.[11]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Patrol ships bid farewell to Portsmouth as they begin Indo-Pacific deployment". Royal Navy.
  2. ^ "Work begins on third Royal Navy Patrol Vessel" (Press release). GOV.UK. 7 October 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  3. ^ de Larrinaga, Nicholas (9 December 2016). "UK orders two more River-class OPVs". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  4. ^ "Patrol Craft:Written question - 210211 - UK Parliament". United Kingdom Parliament. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  5. ^ "Costs, controversy and context. Update on the Royal Navy's new OPVs". Save the Royal Navy. 25 October 2018.
  6. ^ "Royal Navy's final patrol ship named" (Press release). Royal Navy. 3 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  7. ^ "British Navy HMS Spey River-class offshore patrol vessel debuts at sea". www.navyrecognition.com. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  8. ^ "British Navy HMS Spey Offshore Patrol Vessel joins Portsmouth Naval Base". Navy Recognition. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  9. ^ "White Ensign Raised as HMS Spey joins the Royal Navy". Royal Navy. 8 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  10. ^ Archus, Dorian. "The Royal Navy commissions 5th and final Batch II River Class OPV HMS Spey - Naval Post". Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  11. ^ "Global aid effort underway for Tonga's recovery". RNZ. 23 January 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2022.

External links[]

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