The Royal Navy’s new Offshore Patrol vessel has been named the HMS Spey in a ceremony on the Clyde.
The River Class Offshore Patrol ship was named HMS Spey at a ceremony on the Clyde by Lady Alison Johnstone. The ship is part of £635million contract with BAE Systems for anti-terrorism and anti-smuggling ships.
The ship includes a 30m cannon and the naming ceremony featured a bottle of Speyside Distillery Whisky being smashed on the hull. The vessel was constructed at Govan yard and was fitted with systems at the Scotstoun site ahead of sea trials.
Chief Executive for Defence, Equipment, and Support Sir Simon Bollom said: “Today marks an important step toward the MOD’s vision to establish a common shared architecture across all Royal Navy warships.”
“HMS Spey is the fifth and final ship in the OPV programme and will play a vital role defending the UK’s interests.”
“It is great to see HMS Spey join her sister ships and I would like to thank the team at DE&S, our industry partners and the Royal Navy for working together to ensure this important milestone was achieved. Everyone can rightly be proud of what we have accomplished. The delivery of the OPV programme is fulfilling a key commitment of the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 and is part of the Government’s £178 billion plan to provide the UK’s armed forces with the best possible equipment.”
All the Batch 2 OPVs, HMS FORTH, HMS MEDWAY, HMS TRENT, HMS TAMAR and HMS SPEY, are set to be delivered to the Royal Navy by the end of 2021. Construction of the OPVs for the Royal Navy, alongside the Type 26 anti-submarine frigate programme, has meant the Glasgow shipyards’ order books are full until the early 2030s.
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