HMS Forth (P222)

History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Forth
Operator: Royal Navy
Ordered: August 2014
Builder: BAE Systems Naval Ships
Laid down: 10 October 2014 (Steel cut)
Launched: 20 August 2016
Sponsored by: Rachel Johnstone-Burt
Christened: 9 March 2017
Commissioned: 13 April 2018[1]
Homeport: HMNB Portsmouth
Identification:
Status: In active service
General characteristics
Class and type: Batch 2 River-class patrol vessel
Displacement: 2,000 tonnes
Length: 90.5 m (296 ft 11 in)[2]
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
Troops: 50 Royal Marines
Complement: 34 minimum
Crew: 60 on rotation
Armament:
Aircraft carried: Merlin capable flight deck

HMS Forth is a Batch 2 River-class offshore patrol vessel in active service with the Royal Navy. Named after the River Forth, she is the first Batch 2 River-class vessel to be built. She was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 13 April 2018, following a commissioning ceremony at her homeport HMNB Portsmouth.

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.[3]

Steel was cut on Forth on 10 October 2014 at BAE Systems Govan shipyard in Glasgow.[2] She was launched in September 2016,[4] 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.[5] 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.[6]

On 31 August 2017, Forth, sailed for contractor sea trials.[7] It was reported in October 2017 that Forth had been earmarked to replace half-sister HMS Clyde as the Falkland Islands Guardship.[8]

It was announced on 25 January 2018 that Forth had been accepted by the Ministry of Defence, from the BAE Systems shipbuilders, and would shortly sail to HM Naval Base Portsmouth for commissioning.[9] She arrived in Portsmouth for the first time on 26 February 2018.[10]

Forth was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 13 April 2018, following a ceremony at HMNB Portsmouth.

however because of major defects on the build, she has remained alongside in HMNB Portsmouth, where it is expected she will go into dry dock before being able to be deployed, this has led to the reactivation of HMS Tyne, which came into HMNB Portsmouth flying the paying off Pennant in April 2018, as of August 2018, she is still along side in Portsmouth. With the crew of HMS Tyne moving back onto her from being on Forth.

Affiliations

References

  1. ↑ "Portsmouth to welcome a new warship into service today". The News (Portsmouth). 13 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  2. 1 2 "First steel cut on new patrol ships". GOV.UK. 2014-10-10. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  3. ↑ "Patrol Craft:Written question - 210211 - UK Parliament". Parliament.uk. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  4. ↑ "Royal Navy's new offshore patrol vessel lowered into the water". Royal Navy. 2017-03-31. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  5. ↑ "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.
  6. ↑ "Mine hunting crews go fishing to help new-generation patrol ships enter service". Royal Navy. 2017-03-31. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  7. ↑ "The Forth is with us - Navy's new patrol ship makes her debut at sea". Royal Navy. 2017-08-31. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
  8. ↑ "Make way for Medway as second new patrol ship is named". Royal Navy. 2017-10-20. Retrieved 2017-10-30.
  9. ↑ "New navy warship accepted by Defence Minister". Gov.UK. 2018-01-25. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
  10. ↑ "HMS Forth welcomed to her home port of Portsmouth". Royal Navy. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2018.

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