River Batch 2

The River-class Batch 2 offshore patrol vessels are a class of five ships built for the Royal Navy, designed for maritime security, counter-terrorism, and anti-piracy operations. They are larger and more capable than their Batch 1 predecessors, equipped with a 30mm cannon and a flight deck for a Merlin helicopter.

The River-class Batch 2 was ordered by the UK Ministry of Defence in 2014, primarily to sustain vital warship-building skills at BAE Systems' Clyde shipyards prior to the construction of the Type 26 frigates. Lead ship HMS Forth entered service in 2018, with all five vessels of the class commissioned by 2021. These patrol ships have been extensively forward-deployed globally, with notable long-term missions including HMS Forth in the South Atlantic and HMS Spey and Tamar in the Indo-Pacific. Today, the entire class remains in active service, serving as the backbone of the Royal Navy's persistent overseas maritime presence.