The Royal Navy’s newest offshore patrol vessel, HMS Tamar, has entered service by raising the White Ensign from her deck for the first time.
Conducting the ceremony on her namesake river, the Batch 2 River-class OPV bears two red lions either side of her superstructure, representing her close affiliations with both Devon and Cornwall.
Over the past few weeks the ship has been operating around Plymouth Sound and the South West sea training areas, carrying out her acceptance trials and a series of firsts for the ship and her crew. These has included the first helicopter landing – a Wildcat from Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, her first gunnery exercises, as well as boat drills and emergency exercises, that has put the crew through their paces.
HMS Tamar also has the distinction for being the ‘Greenest Ship in the Royal Navy’ – fitted with ‘catalytic converters’ which reduce nitrogen-based emissions from her engine exhausts by up to 95 per cent.
“It’s an incredibly proud moment for the ship. We’ve generated really quickly, we’ve done all our training and now we are at the point where we can join the fleet, and start to get ready for our first deployment later this year,” Lieutenant Commander Michael Hutchinson, commanding officer of HMS Tamar said.
The OPVs displace 2,000 tons, have a 6,000 mile range and a flight deck capable of carrying a Merlin helicopter.
Five refined River-class OPVs were ordered in 2014 to supplement the Batch I vessels. The final unit, HMS Spey, is in fitting-out on the Clyde and will also be based in Portsmouth.
