HMS Trent sets sail for her third Caribbean deployment - Navy Lookout

NavyLookout · 2026-05-07T13:47:37+00:00

Royal Navy OPV, HMS Trent, sailed from Devonport at the weekend and is on her way to the Caribbean for her third deployment in the region.

For the initial part of her career, HMS Trent was based in the Mediterranean, operating from Gibraltar. She first arrived in the Caribbean in December 2023 and was on task until October 2024. Subsequently, she arrived in Malta for an inexplicably extended maintenance period lasting 7 months, during which she received the new dazzle paint scheme and flight deck lighting system.

After more than 4 years away from the UK, she returned home in June 2025 and was involved in escorting Russian warships in UK waters. She eventually returned to the Caribbean for a second time in October 2025 and was involved in post-hurricane relief operations in Jamaica during November 2025. She returned to Portsmouth in January 2026 and was alongside in maintenance until March. After completing the Fleet Operational Standards Training period, she is now crossing the Atlantic again.

Trent will represent the RN at the New Orleans Sail 250 event (May 28-June 1), an international tall ship festival to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States. The ship will berth on the Mississippi River waterfront alongside naval vessels from Sweden, the Netherlands, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, and Uruguay, with the ship open to visitors throughout. It marks the RN’s first visit to New Orleans since 2012, when HMS Montrose took part in War of 1812 commemorations.

Once rejoining the Atlantic Patrol (North) tasking, the ship will work alongside the US Coast Guard to intercept drug traffickers in the region. Trent built a formidable record in 2024, seizing illegal cargo worth £750m and becoming the first RN warship to hunt down a narco-submarine. With hurricane season running from June to November, the ship will carry a team of humanitarian disaster response specialists, including engineers and drone operators, ready to support Caribbean island communities in the event of a major storm. She will also conduct routine visits to British Overseas Territories throughout the region, maintaining relationships with local authorities and assessing community needs ahead of the hurricane season.

Although not fully armed surface combatants, these patrol vessels deliver excellent value for money when forward deployed on lower-profile or soft-power projection missions. However, with the RN surface fleet so threadbare and increasing Russian activity in waters close to the UK, it is perhaps surprising that Trent was not kept at home. The Batch II OPVs are all overseas (apart from HMS Forth, currently in refit on Teesside). HMS Tamar and Spey have been in the Indo-Pacific since 2021, and HMS Medway is the assigned Falklands Islands patrol vessel. These ships are also ‘retention positive’. Drafts to the batch II OPVs are very popular, providing a predictable length assignment that offers the opportunity to see exotic and unusual places beyond the more commonly visited places in Europe.

HMS Trent arrives to support Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa

HMS Trent proves her worth in UK waters while preparing for Caribbean deployment

HMS Trent tests new helicopter landing system ahead of Caribbean deployment

The first year – Royal Navy OPVs deployed in the Pacific

We need more of these OPV

Think a vessel With more Ability in order… Perhaps between … B2 and Arrowhead 120..? 3400t ?

The BAE Avenger class?

Or, the BAE Leander type?

Don’t think it even needs to be that much more. B2 with marinised Rapid Sentry in place of 30mm, 2x30mm on the shoulder mountings similar to Amazonas. Peregrine UAV else extended range Puma.

We now live in a world where great power conflict is more likely than the constabulary-type role these ships were designed for. In addition, any future warship needs defence against low-cost drones and missiles that can be deployed by non-state actors.

We also want to keep the positives of relative simplicity and low running costs that make the RN’s OPVs attractive. If the RN is to replace the Batch 1 OPVs then I suggest their replacement have a modest capability enhancement of a small hangar able to carry RWUAS (to look over the horizon), plus a 40mm gun and some kind of close-in weapon system to give these ships basic protection against airborne threats.

I was thinking Could we use Suitable Commercial Vessels on lease (Armed) for Caribbean and South Pacific Use , Temporary! Until We Have a Replacement for Batch1 (2028!)..

Much cheaper to pay RFA properly and use the hulls that RFA has paid for already.

That also regenerates Grey Funnel Line support.

Perhaps we Could Double Up With A Training Vessel Role, Disaster Relief….??

Three more wouldn’t go amiss if they could be built in yards not completing the Type 31 or 26 orders, fitted out correctly, at a sensible price. LINK

Slightly in jest but could we make it four so to replace the HMS Clyde?

I thought there was a crewing issue impacting Argyle and Iron Duke?

Iron Duke has been withdrawn and is currently being stripped. There are now only five type 23s

Pointless. Waste of bunkers. Waste of personnel.

you took the exact words out of my mouth

Never understood when we had the ships why if supporting the Commonwealth in the Caribbean was so important why an RFA wasn’t stuffed with Royal Engineers, REME, and RAMC to offer real help. Nice jolly I suppose for an escort. But bugger all real help. Sending a River sans helicopter even less.

Picking up on all of your very valid points about the usefulness of certain types of equipment and personel in this region….

These UK “military missions” in the Caribbeen region of British Overseas Territories (BOT), and nearby, now comprise three basic type of “ops”

Some training and administration of local security forces, mainly by the army.

Some humanitarian aid and disaster reilef (HADR), often seasonal, mainly by the Navy (all as above)

And the “totally separate” British Army training centre in nearby Belize

British Overseas Territories – Wikipedia

Is not time for a bit more modern and more joined up thinking here?

You are quite right that the most useful personel are medics, engineers and (sometimes) reme; and the most useful type of equipment is definitely the helicoptor and over-the-beach vessels (all sizes)

Also worth nothing that, when the RN changed from using their traditional frigate over to an RFA Bay class, that was warmly welcomed – by all concerned -as a huge improvement in “usefulness”

So, instead of basing “a RN flag waving ship” in the region

Would it not be best for the UK to be supplying “the friendly natives” with small helicoptors and small ships and LCU’s etc

and several LCU’s (at 30m long) would be far more useful around these islands than one Sir (at 125m/140m): the LCU have the range and the seakeeping….and can get onto many more smaller island beaches

whilst also continuing to train and assit their own local security forces to develop their own “capabilities”

Furthermore, lets ensure there are a few long and strong runways capable of taking Voyagers, C17 and A400M – because any one of those would bring in much faster HADR – max flight time 8 hours from the UK – in case of a really big emergency

The issues in this are drug ruuning, still some piracy and what might be best decribed as “gangs ” destabailsiing the local givernment (ref neraby Haiti as being prize example of ” a very nasty business”

So lets be honest here: whilst the RN has had a “west indies” or “caribbeen guardship” in this region for hundreds of years – is it not time to move on and get some joined up thinking between our own armed forces as to what is really needed in the 21st centrury?

A small “joint” permenant UK military training prescence on each of the islands?

This might be an ideal “permenant rotating op” – probably mostly for the RMC /Bootnecks:

– small teams (max 100) with small base and an on-site mix of boats (ORC), helicoptors, LCU’s etc – and with a few intergated engineers and logistics etc – always working closely with the locals and constantly training them up.

Putting more but smaller craft in would be great way to still show the flag, and still give a UK permeant prescence on UK soil

– and an ideal posting for a year or two!

I could understand how the Caribbean’s busyness would be good for an ops room team. And intercepting drugs etc, And even just sending a ship somewhere for a jolly.

But handful of young matelots and young officers to help recovery from storm damage? Limited help.

REME? They would be a great help. Power lines to plug back in. Generators and vehicles to repair. Etc. Etc,

We’re Missing ARGUS Big time…! A Good Allrounder…!

They float, are crewed, and no sign of the first Type 31 entering service before 2027. A lot more could be achieved with these, apart from just fisheries protection at a relatively low cost, saving wear and tear on more expensive hulls.

“Fitting a Naval Strike Missile (NSM) system to a ship typically costs over $15–20 million per ship for the full upgrade, including the missiles, launchers, and system integration. For a full fleet upgrade, such as the UK Royal Navy’s plan to fit 11 vessels, the budget was around £200 million (roughly $250 million).”

Bofors 40 Mk4 naval gun system

The exact per-unit cost of the Bofors 40 Mk4 naval gun system is not publicly disclosed, but it is a relatively lightweight, cost-effective weapon system designed for modern naval defence. The system, produced by BAE Systems, is currently in service with numerous navies for its high rate of fire and versatile 3P ammunition.

For a full fleet upgrade, such as the UK Royal Navy’s plan to fit 11 vessels, the budget was around £200 million (roughly $250 million).”

System Versatility: The 40mm Mk4 is designed to combat surface, airborne, and land targets, with a fire rate of 300 rounds per minute.

Operational Scope: The 40mm Mark IV has a significant effective range, being roughly four times that of a 20mm gun and three times the range of 25mm or 30mm cannons.

User Base: The gun system is currently used by over eight allied nations with over 70 units in operation, indicating its reliability and cost-effectiveness in diverse naval roles.

Bofors 57mm Mk 3/Mk 110 naval gun system

“Fitting a Bofors 57mm Mk 3/Mk 110 naval gun system to a ship is a major capital investment, typically costing between $7 million and over $10 million per unit for the hardware alone. When including installation, integration into the ship’s Combat Management System (CMS), and initial training, the cost per gun system can rise significantly, with some estimates for total acquisition exceeding $20 million per unit.

Unit Cost (Hardware): A single Bofors 57mm Mk 110 (US designation) mount costs approximately $7.2 million.

Installation & Integration: The cost of installing and integrating the gun into the ship’s combat system is separate from the hardware purchase, often requiring shipyard time and engineering, which can exceed the cost of the mount itself.

Ammunition: The 57mm 3P (Pre-fragmented, Programmable, Proximity-fused) ammunition is specialised, with individual rounds costing roughly £3,800 to £4,200 ($4,500–$5,000+) depending on the contract.

Total System Package: A 2019 contract for three Mk 110 mounts, along with spare parts and training, was valued at $22.7 million, putting the per-unit cost at around $7.5 million before final installation.”

“The Batch 2 River-class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs)—HMS Forth, Medway, Trent, Tamar, and Spey—are designed for high efficiency with a lean crew of approximately 34 to 45 regular personnel, although some reports state they can operate with as few as 36 or up to roughly 60. ”

This makes a lot of sense, but Arrowhead 120 would probably cost the roughly the same and would be quicker to build because as a mini type 31 we wouldn’t need to reinvent new fire control systems and new layouts.

Like these proposals but not sure with the Batch IV that you could fit 32 vls in here if you’re meaning 4x mk41s? Maybe 1-2 mk41s or mk41 plus two CAMM x6 silos? Like the possibility of reusing ex-T23s Artisan’s & 30mm and maybe their ashms. Batch III for Ukrainian Navy? The RN might need them first!

CAMM silos are incredibly space inefficient. 24 takes up about the same deck space as 20 mk.41 which hold 80 CAMM.

The ExLS is a good low cost system for CAMM however, Sweden is putting them on the Visby, comes in 3 cells units and each cell is pretty much just a Mk.41 without hot launch. They’re going for 3 modules on the 750 tonne ship.

IMO, any time we know they’ll be a minimum number of CAMM on a ship, instead of using the CAMM silo we should be using ExLS as it’s so much more space efficient.

The problem with that is the second the treasury think an OPV is a frigate replacement we’ll never be given the funds to make a frigate again

Defence to a prce…Not a Need..?

We need everything we have in the quickest time possible, with some teeth fitted.

Preaching to the Coverted….! Tell it to HMG/HMT…! Money to them is Everything…!

VLS like in the Halifax’s…….

Trent built a formidable record in 2024, seizing illegal cargo worth £750m and becoming the first RN warship to hunt down a narco-submarine.

Good enough for me, get them to the North Atlantic and they can go after the Northern Fleet’s SSNs.

How would they do that? Dangle some poor middy of the aft end and ask him/her/them if can see anything?

Twas sarcasm, my good man.

I feel rather embarrassed when all we can do is send the toy boats instead of real ships.

The RN didn’t want them when they were initially ordered, basically to keep shipbuilders in work until new orderswer ready to kick off. Now I would ask their detractors-where would we be without them? With no representation in the the Indian, Pacific, South Atlantic or Caribbean theatres-thts where! Some forget that in the Carib and near Atlantic we have 6 Overseas territories plus numerous Commonwealth partners

British Goverments Have Let a lot of People Down with their ‘We Will Protect You’… A Rather Hollow Claim..!!

TERRITORIES and COMMONWEALTH Must Wonder if its Vise Versa…????

The river class ships do not have the sensor suite to enable them to use upgraded weapons like a 40 mm Beauford guns for anti-missile or anti-aircraft work. They would also struggle against drones as a result.

So it’s not just the cost of the guns upgrades it would need an expensive sensor suite upgrade and integration.

OPV availability puts the rest of what remains of a Royal Navy to shame. Best not mention the remains of the RFA.

I think I will give a shout out to Protector on that score, and HMS Scott.

I reckon, given todays election results, you can wright off any increased defense spending, the government will be pouring more money into civil requirements to win the next election. The back benchers will not countenance more MOD spending.

Not at all. the Defence budget increases are locked in until the next election. Governments are more aware of their own next election – 3 years away

Wonder if they’ll Wait last Minute..? May try to bring Election Forward to Catch The other Parties on the Back Foot..?

They may Not Want Any More HMS DRAGON Debacle Stories or the State of Britain’s Defences in the Media…? Just Talking to People over the Past Year.. Suprised How Many talk About ..’Welfare Britain’…’Pub Closures’…’Cost of Living’ And ‘Immigration’.!… And The more Recent Ones ..!

‘Defence !! ‘ And ‘Unemployment’ All Headlines That Haven’t Exactly Gone Down Well With JO PUBLIC…!

Now in the ultimate ironic joke Gordon Brown, who gutted the defence budget which Tone was fighting all his moral wars, is in charge of negotiating funding mechanisms.

Look forward to more PFI style joy.

Perhaps a Rumoured Reshuffle in The Near future will give Us a New Chancellor…? Maybe a New Defence Secretary…?…

Ah..! BROWN..The man Who Sold 395 tonnes !!!! Yes I did say tonnes..!!!. of Gold At $275 per oz.. When at a 20yrs Price Low…! Current Price 23yrs late…!!! ~$4650 !!!! That’s a current £44bn !!

Maybe a New Defence Secretary

Not whilst starmer is still in no 10

John Healey is one of his very few allies who is left sat around the cabinet table

Come to think of it……one of his very few allies left anywhere (note 1)

Note 1 And he has definitely not got a fan in the oval office in the white house: the Uks key ally

Have posted ..Wonder if He would be Next Chancellor…?? NO Previous Experience Required and All that…! But Ed Miliband Appears Fav for that Position…!! We Really Need Someone Close to Goverment to Comment ..? Perhaps We Should ask Duker..?

As for the Oval Office.!!. I think that Was a Given from Day One..!

I saw her coming into the harbour in Bermuda a few days ago; she’s been docked in Hamilton since then.

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Source: https://www.navylookout.com/hms-trent-sets-sail-for-her-third-caribbean-deployment/