Falklands' patrol vessel HMS Forth, P222 has arrived back in the Islands to resume her duties as a guard ship following a refit and maintenance operation in Gibraltar.
Argentina has dropped out of this year's UNITAS annual naval exercises sponsored by the United States, with the participation of South American and other extra-region naval units, which are currently taking place in the Atlantic organized by Brazil.
HMS Forth, naval guardians of the Falklands have spoken of their pride of patrolling the Islands at keeping the eternal flame of 1982 burning. As such they joined the Falklands' fortieth anniversary of liberation and end of the war, on 14 June together with RAF and Army personnel, VIPs and Islanders marking Liberation Day. June 14 is a public holiday in the Falklands since the Argentine surrender 40 years ago and was commemorated with a memorial service, parade and reception in Stanley.
The Royal Navy has shown off the capabilities of its Falkland Islands' guardian to the other Armed Forces tasked with protecting the South Atlantic islands.
The British Forces South Atlantic Islands and the Falkland Islands welcomed the arrival on Tuesday of the Royal Navy's next-generation patrol ship, HMS Forth. The ship has taken over the mission from HMS Clyde, which has offered protection to the Falklands and nearby South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands for the past 12 years.
Brazilian media are reporting that the country is to take over HMS Clyde when the Offshore Patrol Vessel leaves Royal Navy service in the Falkland Islands. The news was reportedly announced during a recent event, “Brazil-United Kingdom Defense Industry Dialogue”, held in the Brazilian Navy Cultural Center in São Paulo.
The Daily Mail has reported that the Royal Navy is to keep old offshore patrol vessels it was due to decommission to ensure it has enough vessels to police Britain's borders after Brexit. This allegedly means the Falkland Islands patrol HMS Clyde, which was to be replaced by HMS Forth from the new batch of patrol vessels and which is scheduled to become active operational next September, will remain in service in the South Atlantic.
British Defense Minister Guto Bebb formally announced on Thursday the acceptance of HMS Forth, the Royal Navy’s new Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), from manufacturer BAE Systems at the company’s Scotstoun shipyard.