Royal Navy Frigate docks ahead of parade

[andy]

Frigate docks ahead of parade

The frigate has been on anti-drugs duties in the Carribean
Army escort helicopters heralded the arrival of HMS Grafton at Ipswich docks on Monday.

The Royal Navy frigate will spend the next five days celebrating its links with the town and the 4 Army Air Corps based at nearby Wattisham in Suffolk.

Both the regiment and ship have been granted the Freedom of Entry to the borough - allowing them to march through on ceremonial occasions - and will take part in a parade through Ipswich on Friday.

During the last four months, HMS Grafton has been the backdrop for a new Carlton Television drama called Making Waves in which it plays the fictitious HMS Suffolk.

Previously it sailed the seas of the Caribbean, intercepting movements of illegal drugs.

The ship visits Ipswich every few years.

The regiment is due to deploy to Iraq later this month

[andy]

Navy matters are not my strong point but I recently seen on the news Tony Blair putting through new legislation to tackle drug,people smuggling, and organised crime.

He paid a visit to a new frigate which was being built to combat this threat. As far as I was aware it wasnt a proper war fighting frigate but designed to enforce the above role.

I think this is something that the Irish Naval Service should be concentrating more on. Does anyone know the specification details of the new Royal Navy frigates of this type? Would something like this suit our needs?

[Stoker]

H.M.S. Grafton.

H.M.S. Grafton is a Type 23 frigate she was in Dublin in 1999 and is very much a fighting ship. As a Type 23 costs more than our entire fleet,I do not think we will be adding one to our shopping list.

[Victor]

The Island class PVs are being replaced by something of a similar nature.

[Goldie fish]

Originally posted by Victor
The Island class PVs are being replaced by something of a similar nature.

What a useful informative post!

[Victor]

Originally posted by Goldie fish
What a useful informative post!

In the context of this quote, what is the problem?

Originally posted by andy
He paid a visit to a new frigate which was being built to combat this threat. As far as I was aware it wasnt a proper war fighting frigate but designed to enforce the above role.

[sba]

Well, I think Goldie is making the point that this site is supposed to be for IRISH defence force information, and this section in particular aimed at the NS. NOT the RN

If this is the not the case, then perhaps people are interested in the fact that Major General Pastor O Awitta M.G.H., has recently been appointed OC of the Kenyan Navy?

Let's focus a small bit

[Victor]

Originally posted by sba
Well, I think Goldie is making the point that this site is supposed to be for IRISH defence force information, and this section in particular aimed at the NS. NOT the RN

So why wasn't the whole thread binned?

[Goldie fish]

OK..Let me explain......in simple english.

The first message was about the visit of a Royal naval frigate to Ipswitch. The second was about how FRIGATES were being redesigned to tackle smuggling etc.
The following one suddenly jumped to how one FISHERIES PROTECTION VESSEL was being replaced with "something similar". Where did a frigate become a PV in one step?

Victor,I must warn you again about telling me how to do my job. I know you are an internet celebrity but I moderate this section how i see fit,with the support (usually) of the administrators,and i have got on fine all along without your assistance up to now.

[andy]

I was watching the Channel 4 news but couldnt get hold of the correct article.

However as far as I could make out the Royal Navy had new frigate's coming on service designed to tackle People smuggling,Drug smuggling type mission.

Does anyone know the specifications of these new frigates coming into service,

[Victor]

I suspect it was a Tyne (P281) class PV, as the British currently have no frigate class under construction. At 1,677 tonnes they could be mistaken for frigates, especially by the media. http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/static/pages/3742.html

http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/static/pages/6009.html#q6

The Royal Navy's Fishery Protection Squadron (FPS) undertakes fishery protection duties on a repayment basis on behalf of the Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The FPS also plays a policing role within UK waters and is tasked in anti-pollution, Search and Rescue, Customs & Excise, Coastguard and Maritime Counter Terrorism duties.

This description would appear to be consitent with "tackle drug,people smuggling, and organised crime."

[Goldie fish]

The British media as a rule are better educated when it comes to Military Terminology.They rarely make the mistake of calling a Patrol vessel a frigate..however the line between Frigate and Destroyer is not as clear. There is elsewhere in ths section a thread dedicated to the River class PV.
The RN is currently designing a new generation of Surface Combatants,and the type 45 destroyer is at an advanced stage,the first due to enter service in 2007. They will be capable of embarking a force of up to 60 Commandos or troops.
Type 45



www.type45.com

[Goldie fish]

That ITV1 show "Making Waves" featuring HMS Grafton(as the fictional HMS Suffolk) should be from all reports a naval version of "Soldier Soldier" that was popular for many years on ITV.
The Cast include Actor Alex Forbes(Former Eastenders Baddie Trevor Morgan) as the ships new Captain,and Lee Boardman(corrie baddie Jez Quigley) as a member of the crew.

Keep an eye out..