HMS Forth (P222)

HMS ''Forth'' is a Batch 2 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. In January 2020 she replaced as the Falkland Islands patrol ship.

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 similar to the larger derivative built at a fixed price of £348 million, including spares and support. In August 2014, BAE Systems signed a contract to build the ships on the River Clyde. The ships, which were designated Batch 2 of the River class, were to be globally-deployable and capable of carrying out constabulary tasks, such as counter-terrorism, counter-piracy and anti-smuggling. As the first ship of the new batch, ''Forth'' included some 29 modifications and enhancements over the baseline ''Amazonas'' design.

Steel was first cut for ''Forth'' on 10 October 2014 at BAE Systems' Govan shipyard in Glasgow. She was launched in September 2016, being floated off 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. She was christened at a ceremony at Scotstoun on 9 March 2017. In late March 2017, it was announced that the crew of Batch 1 vessel would be transferred to ''Forth'' to bring her into service.

On 31 August 2017, ''Forth'' sailed for contractor sea trials. It was reported in October 2017 that ''Forth'' had been earmarked to replace as the Falkland Islands guardship.

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

Operational history

Commissioning and early faults

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

Soon after her commissioning, some faults were identified with her electrical system and sheared bolts were also discovered with heads that had been glued back on. In June 2018, it was announced that ''Forth'' would be entering dry dock for major rectification work which was likely to take more than three months. The Royal Navy reactivated to cover planned patrols by ''Forth'' with BAE Systems covering the additional costs. In October, Anderson Smith, BAE Systems Commercial Director – Naval Ships, admitted that "minor defects" had been found but announced that they had since been fixed.

In June 2019, ''Forth'' underwent operational sea training in British waters in preparation for her first operational deployment. She later sailed from Liverpool to escort a Russian Navy patrol ship which was transiting through the UK's area of interest. She then made her inaugural fishery protection patrol and her first visit to an overseas port, which was to Gibraltar before again escorting the same Russian ship through the English Channel.

Falkland Islands

On 13 January 2020, ''Forth'' arrived at the East Cove Military Port in the Falkland Islands on her first operational deployment, taking over from her older half-sister ''Clyde'' as the permanently-stationed guardship. Prior to her arrival, she exercised with Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4 interceptors to trial how the platforms could operate together. As part of her deployment, ''Forth'' was on standby to assist the island's authorities in anything from ceremonial events to emergencies. Her support also extended to the nearby South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands. On 21 April 2021, ''Forth'' traveled to the island of Tristan da Cunha and delivered enough of the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for the island's entire population to be completely vaccinated.

In February/March 2023, ''Forth'' sailed to Gibraltar for refit and was replaced in the South Atlantic by . As part of this refit she has been painted in a new camouflage like her sister ships and . She completed her refit and departed Gibraltar to return to the South Atlantic in September 2023.

Affiliations

* City of Stirling
* TS ''Forth'', Grangemouth
* Worshipful Company of Builders Merchants
* The Governor of Edinburgh Castle
* London Scottish Regimental Trust
* Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry
* Deanston Distillery
* Lord Lieutenant of Stirling and Falkirk

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Forth
River-class patrol vessels
Ships built on the River Clyde
2016 ships
Ships of the Fishery Protection Squadron of the United Kingdom