HMS Tamar (P233)

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

History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Tamar
Ordered8 December 2016
BuilderBAE Systems Naval Ships
Laid down8 December 2016 (1st steel cut)
Launched10 October 2018
Sponsored byBrigitte Peach
Christened21 March 2019
Commissioned17 December 2020
HomeportHMS Terror, Singapore[citation needed]
IdentificationPennant number: P233
StatusForward deployed to the Indo-Pacific region
BadgeHMS Tamar badge.svg
General characteristics
Class and typeBatch 2 River-class patrol vessel
Displacement2,000 t (2,000 long tons)
Length90.5 m (296 ft 11 in)[1]
Beam13 m (42 ft 8 in)
Draught3.8 m (12 ft 6 in)
Speed25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range5,500 nmi (10,200 km; 6,300 mi)
Endurance35 days
Boats & landing
craft carried		2 ×
Capacity70
Complement34
Armament
Aircraft carriedMerlin capable flight deck

HMS Tamar is a Batch 2 River-class offshore patrol vessel of the Royal Navy. Named after the River Tamar in England, this is the seventh Royal Navy ship to be named Tamar. She is the fourth Batch 2 River-class vessel to be built[2] and is forward deployed long-term to the Indo-Pacific region with her sister ship HMS Spey

Construction[]

Tamar during a visit to London in September 2020

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, including Tamar, and support for all five Batch 2 ships, was announced on 8 December 2016.[3]

Tamar includes some 29 modifications and enhancements over the Amazonas-class corvette built by BAE Systems for the Brazilian Navy.[4]

Tamar was lowered into the water on 10 October 2018.[5] The vessel began operational sea trials in late 2019.[6][7] It was commissioned into service on 17 December 2020.

Operational history[]

HMS Tamar sailing past Canary Wharf
HMS Tamar passing Canary Wharf, London September 2020

In April 2021, Tamar became the first Royal Navy warship to be painted in dazzle camouflage since World War II, prior to Tamar's planned deployment with sister ship HMS Spey to the Asia-Pacific region.[8]

On 6 May 2021, Tamar was deployed to Jersey alongside HMS Severn.[9] This was part of a chain of events sparked by a new fishing licence scheme, introduced by the Jersey authorities post Brexit and is alleged by the French to be in contravention of an agreement between the UK and the EU nations and without consultation with the French authorities.[10]

In June 2021, Tamar, along with Northumberland and Tyne, was deployed off the Cornish coast to provide security for the 2021 G7 summit.[11]

On 7 September 2021, Tamar and sister Spey departed Portsmouth to be forward deployed to the Indo-Pacific region for a minimum of five years.[12]

In January 2022, HMS TAMAR conducted ECC operations off the East Coast of China.

References[]

  1. ^ "Work begins on third Royal Navy Patrol Vessel". GOV.UK. 7 October 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  2. ^ "HMS TAMAR RAISES HER FLAG ON HER OWN RIVER". Royal Navy. River Tamar. 4 June 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  3. ^ de Larrinaga, Nicholas (9 December 2016). "UK orders two more River-class OPVs". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly.
  4. ^ "Patrol Craft:Written question - 210211 - UK Parliament". Parliament.uk. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  5. ^ "HMS Tamar is launched as HMS Medway gears up for maiden voyage". Royal Navy. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  6. ^ "First RN personnel joins HMS Tamar". www.royalnavy.mod.uk. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  7. ^ "HMS Tamar welcomes first crew ahead of 2020 delivery". navalnews.com. 27 November 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ Drummond, Michael (27 April 2021). "Warship treated to Second World War paint job used to 'dazzle' submarines". Evening Standard. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  9. ^ "UK Royal Navy ships patrolling Jersey amid fishing row with France". BBC News. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  10. ^ Boffey, Daniel (6 May 2021). "France threatens to cut off power to Jersey in post-Brexit fishing row". Guardian . Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  11. ^ "Thousands of police, Navy frigate and helicopters deployed to guard world leaders at G7 summit". 10 June 2021.
  12. ^ "Patrol ships bid farewell to Portsmouth as they begin Indo-Pacific deployment".

External links[]

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