This article has been developed from a presentation delivered at the 2018 Offshore Patrol Vessel Conference to an international defence audience. As the Batch 2 River Class OPVs come into service, it is timely to look back at the 15-year service of the Batch 1 River Class OPVs (RCOPV) to assess why they have been such a success, most specifically in terms of availability, so that this can be incorporated into the operating model for the new class of ships. The Fishery Protection Squadron The Fishery Protection Squadron (FPS) is the oldest Squadron in the Royal Navy and the ships of the Squadro…
