Navy News
Direct from the front-line, the official newspaper of the Royal Navy, Navy News, brings you the latest news, features and award winning photos every month.
Ride on Tyne: Patrol ship thanks those behind her successful patrols
13 July 2026
THOSE behind the scenes of operations in home waters were shown what those on the front line deliver with their help when they joined patrol ship HMS Tyne for a day.
A mix of intelligence experts, headquarters staff, Coastguard personnel and civilians – all of whom interact with the three first generation River-class ships on a daily basis – were given a few hours’ insight into life aboard and the work of the Offshore Patrol Squadron courtesy of the lead ship in the class.
HMS Tyne, plus her younger sisters Mersey and Severn, is in near constant demand for monitoring duties given the succession of Russian warships, merchant vessels and ‘shadow fleet’ ship either passing through UK waters and environs – or loitering in them, such as the frigate Admiral Grigorovich which has been around the British Isles since April.
Personnel from Northwood, including the Permanent Joint Headquarters, the Joint Maritime and Security Centre on Portsdown Hill, the RN’s Operational Advantage Centre, which analyses the reports Tyne and others send back from front-line missions – and looks to make them even more effective in future – and others from across the RN/MOD enterprise joined the ship in Portsmouth Naval Base for a demonstration day in the Channel.
They left a few hours later appreciative of the burden placed on a small number of men and women, most of them in their 20s, and the demands on the hard-worked patrol flotilla.
“Whenever the Navy is involved around the UK, it’s going to be one of us – and Tyne has done its fair share for sure,” said Petty Officer (Logs(Supply Chain)) Kieran Glynn.
“I find the work we do in Tyne interesting because I live it daily. It can be a bit repetitive following the Russians and even though I tell my family what we do, I don’t think they realise just how busy it can be and just how many ships there are coming past the UK at any one time.”
With increasing Russian naval activity in the North Atlantic and North Sea, the three first-generation River class ships have frequently been pressed into service on escort duties: Tyne has been activated more than 20 times in the past 18 months, spent over 130 days directly on operations and 500 days at immediately notice to move.
The ship – like the rest of the Fleet – relies upon, and gathers data for, some of the agencies, organisations and staffs invited to sea to experience for a few hours what the few dozen crew go through 24/7/365.
“It makes me feel really proud – and secure – knowing that these guys are out there doing the business for us,” one intelligence analyst from Northwood said.
With a 1,700-tonne ship and crew of just three dozen, everyone on board has at least one, perhaps two or even three extra jobs – there’s no slack. The duty chef, for example, is also the duty first aider.
Lieutenant Commander Sam Fields says his men and women play a key role “in the grey zone” of the current strategic climate.
“Many of my sailors are in their early 20s – I’m now an ‘old man’ at 36 – and the responsibilities on their shoulders is greater than ever because the situation at sea is changing,” he said.
“They do an outstanding job every single day - perhaps not always fully understood by the public, but always appreciated by the defence community. In turn, we appreciate their support, so today was a chance to give something back. As you can see, everyone on board has thoroughly enjoyed it.”