HMS Spey and HMS Tamar leave HMNB Portsmouth to be forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific Region
Navy

In pictures: HMS Spey and HMS Tamar leaving Portsmouth

HMS Spey and HMS Tamar leave HMNB Portsmouth to be forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific Region

Royal Navy Offshore Patrol Vessels HMS Spey and HMS Tamar set sail from Portsmouth on Tuesday to begin their deployment to the Indo-Pacific region.

Acting as the eyes and ears of the Royal Navy, they will be deployed from the east of Africa to the west coast of the USA during the next five years.

No permanent home has been assigned to the pair - instead they will use Pacific bases and ports which best meet their needs and mission.

Both ships, with their historic dazzle camouflage paint scheme, will now head to Falmouth, Cornwall, before leaving the UK later this week.

HMS Spey and HMS Tamar leave HMNB Portsmouth to be forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific Region
HMS Spey and HMS Tamar have both departed from HMNB Portsmouth to be forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific region (Picture: MOD).
Families watch HMS TAMAR as she leaves HMNB Portsmouth and passes the Round Tower to be forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific Region
Whilst on the deployment, the ships' patrol area will stretch across both the Indian and Pacific oceans (Picture: MOD).
HMS Spey leaving HMNB Portsmouth to be deployed in the Indo-Pacific Region
No permanent home has been assigned to the pair - instead they will use Pacific bases and ports which best meet their needs and mission (Picture: MOD).
HMS TAMAR leaving HMNB Portsmouth to be forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific Region
The ships will arrive in the Pacific following the maiden deployment of HMS Queen Elizabeth and the Carrier Strike Group in the region (Picture: MOD).
HMS Spey prior to leaving HMNB Portsmouth to be forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific Region
Each ship is crewed by 46 sailors, with half of the crew trading places with shipmates from the UK every few weeks (Picture: MOD).
Families watch HMS Spey and HMS Tamar leave HMNB Portsmouth to be forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific Region
Families gathered to watch and wave the ships and their crew off (Picture: MOD).
HMS TAMAR prior to leaving HMNB Portsmouth to be forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific Region
The ships will work with Britain's allies to deal with drug-running, smuggling, terrorism and other illegal activities (Picture: MOD).
HMS SPEY and HMS TAMAR together prior to leaving HMNB Portsmouth to be forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific Region
Both ships will now head to Falmouth, Cornwall, before leaving the UK later this week (Picture: MOD)..
HMS Spey and HMS Tamar leave HMNB Portsmouth to be forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific Region
Families watch HMS TAMAR as she leaves HMNB Portsmouth and passes the Round Tower to be forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific Region
HMS Spey leaving HMNB Portsmouth to be deployed in the Indo-Pacific Region
HMS TAMAR leaving HMNB Portsmouth to be forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific Region
HMS Spey prior to leaving HMNB Portsmouth to be forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific Region
Families watch HMS Spey and HMS Tamar leave HMNB Portsmouth to be forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific Region
HMS TAMAR prior to leaving HMNB Portsmouth to be forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific Region
HMS SPEY and HMS TAMAR together prior to leaving HMNB Portsmouth to be forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific Region

Cover image: The two ships, with their dazzle camouflage paint scheme, leave Portsmouth (Picture: MOD).

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