HMS Spey (P234)

HMS Spey is a Batch 2 River-class offshore patrol vessel currently under construction for the British Royal Navy. Named after the River Spey in Scotland, this is the eighth Royal Navy ship to be named Spey. She will be the fifth Batch 2 River-class vessel to commission, and probably the last.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Spey.
HMS Spey at the Scotstoun dock, on its naming day. (UK MoD, 2019)
History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Spey
Operator: Royal Navy
Ordered: 8 December 2016
Builder: BAE Systems Naval Ships
Laid down: 21 April 2017 (1st steel cut)
Launched: 19 June 2019
Sponsored by: Lady Alison Johnstone
Christened: 3 October 2019
Homeport: HMNB Portsmouth
Identification: Pennant number: P234
Status: Fitting Out
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

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.[2]

Batch 2 ships such as Spey include some 29 modifications and enhancements over the Amazonas-class corvette built by BAE Systems, and bought by the Brazilian Navy.[3] Tamar and Spey have further modifications such as carbon dioxide reducing catalytic converters.[4]

Spey was officially named on 3 October 2019.[5]

References
  1. "Work begins on third Royal Navy Patrol Vessel" (Press release). GOV.UK. 7 October 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  2. de Larrinaga, Nicholas (9 December 2016). "UK orders two more River-class OPVs". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  3. "Patrol Craft:Written question - 210211 - UK Parliament". United Kingdom Parliament. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  4. "Costs, controversy and context. Update on the Royal Navy's new OPVs". Save the Royal Navy. 25 October 2018.
  5. "Royal Navy's final patrol ship named" (Press release). Royal Navy. 3 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
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