HMS Tyne escorted Russian ship Perekop through the English Channel on Christmas Day.
The Perekop is a Smolnyy class training ship.
HMS Tyne is one of the three Batch 1 River class patrol ships originally built to safeguard the fishing stocks. According to the Royal Navy, she is one of the busiest vessels in the Fleet, spending nine out of ten days at sea protecting fisheries and carrying out patrols.
Earlier in the year, HMS Tyne monitored a Russian frigate as it passed through the English Channel, while last year, HMS Mersey returned from a 48,000-mile deployment where she played a key part in a £12 million drugs bust off the coast of Nicaragua.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:
“I am grateful for the efforts of the crew of HMS Tyne, who have sailed on Christmas Eve, helping to safeguard our seas. This is yet another clear example of the tireless efforts of our armed forces, as they continue their tireless efforts to defend our country and our interests across the world.”
Interestingly, the vessel had been decommisioned last year, with Tyne’s decommissioning ceremony taking place in Portsmouth on the 24th of May 2018.
However, this was short lived as Tyne was recommissioned on the 25th of July 2018 due to construction issues delaying the entry of HMS Forth into service. Further, on the 22nd of November 2018, then Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, announced that three Batch 1 River Class ships (including HMS Tyne) would be retained in service and ‘forward operated’ from their affiliated ports in an effort to boost numbers.
According to the vessels Twitter account, the ship is back in Portsmouth now but remains ready to sail at very short notice.
These must be pretty cordial affairs as both sides know that nothing is going to happen as it would be pure madness.
HMS Tiny. Let’s hope relations remain cordial for many years to come.
Considering her crew were away for Christmas with their families I would have thought you’d have more respect…
What I meant was that compared with a fully equipped frigate she is pretty defenceless & the RN is way too small given our dependance on maritime trade. We’ve cut escort numbers recklessly.That’s why we’re deploying these instead of matching their FFG with one of our own. Utmost respect for the vessel deployed for appropiate tasks, though they could be better armed. No disrespect to the crew intended.
The MoD press release made it sound like the launch of Thunderbird 2………
Pointless exercise really carried out for political reasons.
It was a Hight of folly to start decommissioning old OPV’s without all the replacement OPV’s to enter into service at the time.
The ‘Height of Folly’! At least the MOD does something really-well then! 🙂
The batch 1 Rivers should be replaced by smaller and cheaper vessels for fisheries protection etc. to serve in home waters. The RN will still have 1 more OPV’s then previously!
Yes. Something like RR 70 SKADI OPV at just under 1000 tonnes: good size flight deck and davits in a sensible position.
A few ‘somethings’ that are smallish and fast would be useful such as Sigma 7310 or 6610. And perhaps even a clutch of Fassmer SAR 46 for the Irish Sea , North Sea, and Channel…….
Ideal vessel for the task! cannot the RN be credited with doing something half right, at least?
What happened to Xmas cheer? Glass half full – HNY!
Lets hope the Tyne doesn’t have resort to using her huge 20 mm main gun.