River Class

Safeguarding the seas

Two generations of River Class ships serve under the White Ensign. HMS Tyne, Severn and Mersey belong to the first, operating since the early 2000s. They have largely helped to protect fishing stocks, but also are frequently called on for general duties at home and abroad.

Since 2017, they’ve been joined by a new generation of River Class ships - larger, faster, more capable. HMS Forth is the UK’s permanent presence in the South Atlantic; HMS Medway is supporting British Overseas Territories in the North Atlantic and Caribbean; Trent and Tamar are available for tasking by the UK Government; and HMS Spey is completing trials and training.

All eight River Class vessels are based in and crewed from Portsmouth.

Remote fully automated mount

A single mounting carrying an Oerlikon 30mm gun, it was designed as a ship-protection system to defend Royal Navy frigates from various short-range missiles, rockets, grenades and explosives.

The gun is controlled from a remote operator console elsewhere on the ship.

Short-range anti-aircraft gun

A simple hand operated mounting carrying a single Oerlikon KAA200 automatic cannon. It can fire 1000 rounds a minute and has a range of 2000m.

Lt Jenkins, 25

Warfare officer

The job may be intense, but it’s incredibly rewarding. I also get to work on some of the most advanced warships on the planet.

Bridge Watch

Part of my job is ‘watching on the bridge’, acting as a helmsman. It means I’m actually in charge of steering the ship, a billion-pound Type 45 Destroyer.

Comms

When we’re on operation, the information I gather is crucial to the overall mission, so I’m sending key data to other vessels for their Commanding Officers to make decisions.

Downtime

We get time off every day, so if the operation allows it, I’ll spend time relaxing in the mess or going ashore with my crewmates.

PT

The job gets pretty physical, so keeping up a good level of fitness is really important. When time allows, I’ll hit the treadmill or rowing machine in the gym we have on board.

Radar

I work in the ops rooms a lot, using our Early Warning Radar system. I pass information to my Warfare Officer so they can make decisions about the mission.

Training

Training’s happening all the time, so I’m constantly honing my skills – whether in the classroom or on board a vessel.

Click on a location to explore our operations

Middle East

Kipion

Units of the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary have been on patrol in the Gulf since October 1980, after the Iran/Iraq conflict of that year, and more recently operations have extended further south with the increase in piracy off the Somalia coast.

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Bay of Biscay

Standing NATO Maritime Group 2

Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 is a multinational, integrated maritime force - made up of vessels from various allied nations, training and operating together as a single team - that is permanently available to NATO to perform a wide range of tasks, from participating in exercises to crisis response and real world operational missions.

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Middle East

Kipion MCMV

In support of wider British efforts in the region, minehunters are providing the capability to conduct route survey, sea-bed clearance, and mine clearance operations all over the Gulf. The operation provides a visible naval presence in a region where stability and good relations with local nations is vital. Much of the UK’s oil and gas, as well as other products, come from the Gulf region and as such these efforts are paramount to our economy.

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Arctic

Nato MCMV Force

The RN has always supplied an MCMV to one of the two NATO Mine Counter-Measures Squadrons. These are six-month deployments as part of the NATO Standing MCM Groups and will generally be around the coasts of Northern Europe or the Mediterranean depending upon the squadron in which the RN ship is working.

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North Sea

Standing Nato Maritime Group 1

Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 is a multinational, integrated maritime force - made up of vessels from various allied nations, training and operating together as a single team - that is permanently available to NATO to perform a wide range of tasks, from participating in exercises to crisis response and real world operational missions.

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United Kingdom

Fishery Protection

Protecting the British fishing industry and safeguarding the nation's fishing stocks.

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Gibraltar

Gibraltar Squadron

Conducting security patrols within British Gibraltar territorial waters, and providing protection to warships.

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Antarctic

Antarctic patrol

To provide a UK sovereign presence in the British Antarctic Territory, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and their surrounding maritime areas, to underpin their security and good governance; and meet the UK treaty obligations and exercise rights under the Antarctic Treaty System through inspections, hydrographic charting and support to scientific research.

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