HMS Tamar (P233)
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.jpg) Tamar during a visit to London in September 2020 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMS Tamar |
| Ordered | 8 December 2016 |
| Builder | BAE Systems Naval Ships |
| Laid down | 8 December 2016 (1st steel cut) |
| Launched | 10 October 2018 |
| Sponsored by | Brigitte Peach |
| Christened | 21 March 2019 |
| Commissioned | 17 December 2020 |
| Home port | HMNB Portsmouth[1] (forward deployed to the Indo-Pacific region, with primary logistics hub at the British Defence Singapore Support Unit in Singapore)[2] |
| Identification | Pennant number: P233 |
| Status | In active service |
| Badge |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Batch 2 River-class patrol vessel |
| Displacement | 2,000 t (2,000 long tons) |
| Length | 90.5 m (296 ft 11 in)[3] |
| Beam | 13 m (42 ft 8 in) |
| Draught | 3.8 m (12 ft 6 in) |
| Speed | 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) |
| Range | 5,500 nmi (10,200 km; 6,300 mi) |
| Endurance | 35 days |
| Boats & landing craft carried | 2 × PAC24 Mk4 Sea Boats; Unmanned underwater vehicles may be embarked for mine countermeasures |
| Troops | up to 50 |
| Crew | 34-50[4][5][6][7] |
| Sensors & processing systems |
|
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | Merlin capable flight deck; small UAVs may be embarked[13] |
HMS Tamar is a Batch 2 River-class offshore patrol vessel of the Royal Navy. Named after the River Tamar in England, she is the fourth Batch 2 River-class vessel to be built[14] and is forward deployed long-term to the Indo-Pacific region with her sister ship HMS Spey.
On 6 November 2013 it was announced that the Royal Navy had signed an Agreement in Principle to build three new offshore patrol vessels, based on the River-class design, at a fixed price of £348 million including spares and support. In August 2014, BAE Systems signed the contract to build the ships on the Clyde. The Ministry of Defence stated that the Batch 2 ships are capable of being used for constabulary duties such as "counter-terrorism, counter-piracy and anti-smuggling operations". According to BAE Systems, the vessels are designed to deploy globally, conducting anti-piracy, counter-terrorism and anti-smuggling tasks currently conducted by frigates and destroyers. A £287m order, for two further ships, including Tamar, and support for all five Batch 2 ships, was announced on 8 December 2016.[15]
Tamar includes some 29 modifications and enhancements over the Amazonas-class corvette built by BAE Systems for the Brazilian Navy.[16]
Tamar was lowered into the water on 10 October 2018.[17] The vessel began operational sea trials in late 2019.[18][19] She was commissioned into service on 17 December 2020.
