HMS Spey joins Royal Navy fleet

I think it’s more likely Xi Jinping renounce his role as President and join the Mormons in Utah than invite a RN vessel into HK, bearing in mind all the problems there in the past two years which China holds us responsible for inciting. Not to mention the obvious ongoing irritation of dishing out millions of British passport to HK residents

It would certainly be great to see the white ensign flying in Victoria Harbour again! Although I doubt she’ll be alongside at Stonecutters these days, Kennedy Town is more likely, that’s where the USN Arleigh Burkes put in for their runs ashore. Although years ago I remember seeing an AB moored up at the Kai Tak cruise terminal, poor sods. K-Town is much more convenient, only a couple of stops on the MTR to Wanchai!!

In the immediate term, I can’t see any visits from foreign navies due to covid, and even when entry requirements are relaxed a lot will depend on the political situation. I think the US had a couple of goodwill visits cancelled in 2019/2020 before the covid restrictions kicked in. But, a visit to coincide with Remembrance Sunday commemorations would be appropriate, esp if she could anchor in front of Statue Square for the 11 o’clock service.

Despite all the questions over their construction and so on, the River Class are good for this kind of work because with their size and armament it shouldn’t come across as a massive willy waving exercise (like sailing a carrier through the SCS), but more a genuine gesture of friendship and diplomacy etc. so perhaps less likely to be denied a visit. Realistically, if they are parked out at K-Town for a couple days I doubt anybody would know they were there! (Except maybe a few girls in Wanchai and the docs at the local GUM clinic, but that goes without saying…)

At least one be needed in the UK for training of relief crews for forwarded vessels aboard. And another spare to relieve forwarded vessels for maintenance etc.
Is that the case?

Interesting Story. I’m sure most here (me included) think that the OPVs are under-armed. The weapons fit they have is fine for the expected threats to their OPV role in the Med. and the North and South Atlantic. But the Middle East and Far East are a different kettle of fish. Surely it wouldn’t kill the navy budget to up gun them a wee bit. They paid enough for the Batch 2 boats.

Perhaps the judgement is that the OPV could call up air support from a Wildcat if needed. Looking at a map of the area the Straits of Malaca look to stretch roughly 100-200 miles NNW from Singapore. Recently RAF Typhoons also visited Rimba airbase in Brunei. Don’t know if we have any formal agreemenf with the Sultan but that might also be another basing possibility. The ability of a River 2 to launch and recover a UAV and refuel and re-arm a Wildcat does create a good policing package. Be interesting to see if we set up a small flight of Wildcats in Singapore. Or maybe just agree a joint working with the Singapore navy who have half a dozen Formidable class frigates. Lots of options.

I imagined at least some of the batch 2’s were going to remain in The UK to bolster the older OPV’s now we are post Brexit.

However Medway and Forth won’t be back home from their deployments for a long time, it seems pretty likely Trent will operate out of Gibraltar in The Med and off The West African Coast and there are fairly strong rumours that either Tamar or Spey or both will be heading to Singapore.

Perhaps only 1 will head east to retain 4 vessels UK waters, but we shall see.

Yes, but a radar controlled stabilised naval cannon has a whole different level of accuracy to some anti aircraft guns bolted to trawler moonlighting as a gunboat.

Stir in potential difference in ammunition…..whole different ball game.