HMS Medway has set sail to take on the Atlantic Patrol Tasking (North) tasking, say the Royal Navy.

The vessel is being forward-deployed to Atlantic Patrol Tasking (North), a mission which focuses on providing reassurance to Commonwealth and British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean, disrupting the flow of smuggled narcotics and supporting humanitarian relief efforts.

HMS Medway is relieving RFA Mounts Bay, a ship designed for amphibious landing operations which has been on patrol for nearly three years.

“HMS Medway is the second of the new River class vessels to depart for this type of patrol task; her sister ship HMS Forth arrived in the Falkland Islands earlier this month to take up station there.

While the OPVs will remain on task, members of the ship’s company will spend 10 weeks on the ship and then four weeks off in rotation. Because the ship’s company is greater than the crew required to take her to sea, personnel can take leave, complete promotion courses and undertake training while ensuring the ship remains on station.”

HMS Medway’s Commanding Officer, Commander Ben Power, said in a news release:

“It has taken an extraordinary effort to get Medway ready to deploy. Since leaving Scotstoun in June last year we have conducted the fastest generation of a surface ship in recent memory – this has only been possible due to the commitment, loyalty, grit and hard work of my superb ship’s company. I am indebted to them and their families.”

By forward-deploying the newest patrol ships in the Fleet in this way, the Royal Navy say it will be able to retain its more complex and capable vessels for high-end tasks such as escort duties for capital ships and anti-submarine operations.

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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22 COMMENTS

  1. So she’s forward deployed presumably in the same place RFA Mounts Bay has been – does anyone know where the RN base their ships in the Caribbean?

    Reminds me of last year when Williamson proposed a purpose built RN base over there in Guyana or Montserrat for this precise mission – according to those I know in the know that is still on the cards

  2. I don’t really understand how she can fulfil those roles properly without a helicopter. Combating drug smuggling and piracy requires speed, usually supplied by the helo.

    These ships should be extended and a hangar added to carry wildcat.

    • Hi Rob. They can deploy a helicopter up to the size of a Merlin for short periods on the existing deck. Might be possible for it to commute from a shore facility in the immediate term. I should imagine a hangar conversion would be expensive and risk over capitalising on these vessels. Other options would be some kind of short term on deck cover and perhaps a drone similar to the one the Americans used in Iraq recently!!

    • As Paul P explained to me when I raised that limitation, they work in that role in conjunction with the US Coast Guard.

    • Drug smuggling patrols is an allied operation run by the US. There are patrol ships from the USCG, USN, RCN, Dutch navy and local Caribbean nations. Persistent air surveillance is provided by the US or Canada. The patrol ships are positioned to be able to intercept smugglers using RHIBs. Medway will in fact be the largest of the patrol ships and the only one capable of landing a helo until the USCG introduce their Offshore patrol class OPVs which will be able to carry a helo.

          • which honestly makes the river class redundant.

            If they have to operate within range of US assets, it seriously limits their ability to protect UK interests.

            having to rely on US assets to ensure our ships are able to do their activity around UK zones is fudging things beyond belief.

          • I think my problem with it is that we are sending a military spec ship in regards to armour etc to do a police role. A clipper at a fraction of the price with a police helicopter could do the role just as well. Especially as i wonder if there are any wildcats/Merlin’s in the region, considering the low numbers.

          • Why you think River B2 is military spec? I understand she is OPV spec. Not merchant vessel, but not escort standard, as well.

            I think it just fits the role, nicely.

  3. I believe all the Batch 2 Rivers are Merlin capable, they just don’t have a dedicated airframe on board. Of the Batch 1s, only HMS Clyde is/was helicopter capable.

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