HMS Forth (P222)
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name: | HMS Forth |
| Operator: | Royal Navy |
| Ordered: | August 2014 |
| Builder: | BAE Systems Naval Ships |
| Launched: | 20 August 2016 |
| Sponsored by: | Rachel Johnstone-Burt |
| Christened: | 9 March 2017 |
| Homeport: | HMNB Portsmouth |
| Identification: | Pennant number: P222 |
| Status: | Under Construction |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Batch 2 River-class patrol vessel |
| Displacement: | 2,000 tonnes |
| Length: | 90.5 m (296 ft 11 in)[1] |
| Beam: | 13 m (42 ft 8 in) |
| Draught: | 3.8 m (12 ft 6 in) |
| Speed: | 24 kn (44 km/h) |
| Range: | 5,500 nmi (10,200 km) |
| Endurance: | 35 days |
| Boats & landing craft carried: | Two rigid inflatable boats |
| Capacity: | 70 |
| Complement: | 34 |
| Armament: |
|
| Aircraft carried: | Merlin capable flight deck |
HMS Forth is a Batch 2 River-class offshore patrol vessel currently under construction for the British Royal Navy. Named after the River Forth, she is the first Batch 2 River Class to be built.
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.
Forth includes some 29 modifications and enhancements over the Amazonas-class corvette built by BAE Systems for the Brazilian Navy.[2]
Steel was cut on Forth on 10 October 2014 at BAE Systems Govan shipyard in Glasgow.[1] She was launched in September 2016,[3] being floated off from a semi-submersible barge in the Clyde rather than receiving a traditional dynamic launch. After launch she was moved down the Clyde for fitting out at BAE Systems Scotstoun shipyard.
Forth was christened at a ceremony at Scotstoun on 9 March 2017.[4] In late March 2017, it was announced that the crew of Batch 1 vessel HMS Tyne, would be transferred to Forth to bring her into service.[5]
Affiliations
- Stirling
- TS Forth, Grangemouth
References
- 1 2 "First steel cut on new patrol ships". GOV.UK. 2014-10-10. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
- ↑ "Patrol Craft:Written question - 210211 - UK Parliament". Parliament.uk. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
- ↑ "Royal Navy’s new offshore patrol vessel lowered into the water". Royal Navy. 2017-03-31. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
- ↑ "The Forth is with us - the first of five new patrol ships is named on the Clyde". Royalnavy.mod.uk. 2017-03-31. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
- ↑ "Mine hunting crews go fishing to help new-generation patrol ships enter service". Royal Navy. 2017-03-31. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
