.jpg) Tamar during a visit to London in September 2020 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMSTamar |
| 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 |
| Homeport | HMNB Portsmouth[1] (forward deployed to the Indo-Pacific region, with primary logistics hub at theBritish Defence Singapore Support Unit in Singapore)[2] |
| Identification | Pennant number: P233 |
| Status | In active service |
| Badge |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Batch 2River-classpatrol vessel |
| Displacement | 2,000 t (2,000long 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 | 25knots (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] |
HMSTamar is a Batch 2River-classoffshore patrol vessel of theRoyal Navy. Named after theRiver 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 shipHMS Spey.
On 6 November 2013 it was announced that the Royal Navy had signed an Agreement in Principle to build three newoffshore patrol vessels, based on theRiver-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 theClyde. TheMinistry 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 byfrigates anddestroyers. A £287m order, for two further ships, includingTamar, and support for all five Batch 2 ships, was announced on 8 December 2016.[15]
Tamar includes some 29 modifications and enhancements over theAmazonas-classcorvette built by BAE Systems for theBrazilian Navy.[16]
Tamar was lowered into the water on 10 October 2018.[17] The vessel began operationalsea trials in late 2019.[18][19] She wascommissioned into service on 17 December 2020.
In April 2021,Tamar became the first Royal Navy warship to be painted indazzle camouflage sinceWorld War II, prior toTamar's planned deployment withHMS Spey to theAsia-Pacific region.[20] On 6 May,Tamar was deployed toJersey alongsideSevern.[21] This was part of a chain of events sparked by a new fishing licence scheme, introduced by the Jersey authorities postBrexit and is alleged by the French to be in contravention ofan agreement between the UK and the EU nations and without consultation with the French authorities.[22] In June,Tamar, along withNorthumberland andTyne, was deployed off the Cornish coast to provide security for the2021 G7 summit.[23] On 7 September,Tamar andSpey departed Portsmouth to be forward deployed to the Indo-Pacific region for a minimum of five years.[24]
In January 2022,Tamar conducted ECC operations off the East Coast of China.
In February/March 2023,Tamar operated in waters of theBritish Indian Ocean Territory conducting fisheries protection and other missions.[25] Later in March,Tamar joined theFrench Navy's helicopter assault shipDixmude and frigateLa Fayette for exercises offSri Lanka.[26]
In September 2023, HMSTamar was operating in Australian waters and in the South Pacific conducting seabed warfare exercises. For these exercises,Tamar embarked divers and autonomous underwater vehicles to conduct mine countermeasures operations and monitor critical infrastructure. The exercises highlighted the ‘plug and play’ modular design of the vessels dependent on their specific mission.[27]
In early 2024,Tamar was deployed to thePitcairn Islands for sovereignty protection and other duties.[28][29]
HMSTamar went to the aid ofHMNZS Manawanui when she ran aground off the south coast ofUpolu island,Samoa, on 5 October 2024.[30][31]Tamar travelled 650 miles at full speed, taking 23 hours to reach the area, on her arrival HMNZSManawanui had sunk and HMSTamar worked to protect the wreck site and recover material.[32]Tamar was subsequently able to recover the navigation record book of HMNZSManawanui.[33]
 Royal Navy | |
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 Royal Thai Navy | |
 Royal Bahraini Naval Force |
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 Brazilian NavyAmazonas class | |
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| Amphibious warfare ships |
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| Mine counter measures vessels |
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| Patrol vessels |
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| Survey vessels |
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| Miscellaneous |
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