First new navy patrol ship heads to city

HMS Forth, the first of five state-of-the-art navy vessels, will be based in the city.

She is designed for counter-piracy, anti-smuggling, fishery protection, border patrol, counter terrorism and other maritime defence duties.

Commanding officer, Commander Bob Laverty, said: ‘This is a really exciting time for the Royal Navy with Forth set to follow the flagship aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth into service as part of the extensive shipbuilding programme which is making us future ready in our ability to continue to keep peace and protect our interests and those of other nations at sea in the years to come.’

HMS Forth will have a crew of just under 58 but only needs 34 to go to sea.

Forth, which left BAE Systems in Glasgow, can spend 320 days a year on operations. Forth will enter service this year, while the remaining four ships – Trent, Medway, Tamar and Spey – are all expected by 2020.