Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 4:28:58-4:29:11

When a River-class OPV replacement might appear

No replacement program was identified, but British governments have often ordered patrol vessels when yards need bridging work before the next major warship program.

British ShipbuildingNaval ProcurementOffshore Patrol VesselsRiver Class Offshore Patrol VesselsRoyal Navy
Watch at this timeFull video guide
Question

Are there plans to supplement or replace the River-class Batch 2 patrol vessels?

Short answer

No specific plan was identified, but OPVs are a familiar British way to bridge shipyard workload gaps when no larger order is ready.

Notes

No replacement plan was identified in January 2025. Offshore patrol vessels are an option British governments turn to when they want to keep shipyards working and have no other orders ready. A successor could therefore emerge from the need for work in the yards.