'Tireless' HMS Spey conducts more ops after defying China warnings with crew put through 'high-tempo' regime

Professional Royal Navy sailors who defied repeated warnings from China have conducted further operations in the Pacific.

HMS Spey, forward deployed in the region but calls Portsmouth her home, has been completing a busy calendar of operations. After undergoing a major overhaul in Singapore at the start of 2026, the River-class vessel has completed a couple of months of training and is due to start her third patrol since being declared fully operational.

Several of these were conducted in the South China Sea and area around the Spratly Islands, an archipelago where China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines and Brunei all push claims for some of the them, or the entire cluster. Despite previous warnings issued by Beijing, HMS Spey patrolled the area to uphold the freedom of navigation, in accordance with international law.

Earlier this year, a specialist team from the Royal Navy’s Fleet Operational Standards and Training organisation assed the 55-trong ship’s company on their performance across more than 70 serials. Spread over a fortnight and building up in size and complexity, the assessments ran through complex machinery breakdown drills and major firefighting incidents to medical emergencies, weapons exercises and man overboard drills to many of these problems running simultaneously following a simulated collision.

Commander George Blakeman said: “The crew’s transition from a period alongside into a demanding, high-tempo training and assurance environment has been managed effectively. Personnel engaged positively, embracing a clear ‘whole ship’ ethos and across all departments, there was a consistent willingness to learn, adapt, and raise standards. It is evident that the Commanding Officer has fostered a culture of professionalism, positivity, and pride throughout HMS Spey.”

Sign up for The Week in Defence with Freddie Webb - our newsletter rounding up the sector’s must-read stories

Commander Dan Briscoe, who took charge of HMS Spey in the closing stages of her overhaul in Singapore, added: “To take command of HMS Spey during such a pivotal period has been a privilege. The ship’s company has worked tirelessly through regeneration, training and assessment to return this ship to operations. I am immensely proud of what the team has achieved.”

After completing patrols in the South China Sea, the warship headed to the Philippines. She was invited by the host nation for combined training drills, which bookended a visit to the capital Manila for diplomatic meetings. A reception and demonstration was hosted on board. Cdr Briscoe was invited to the Philippine Navy’s headquarters to discuss future joint training and operations focused on the safety and security of the region’s waters.

The ship’s company got stuck into a community project in the Tondo district of Manila. Devastated recently by fire, a centre dedicated to giving young people crucial life/work skills looks a lot smarter (and a lot more purple) thanks to Spey’s DIY efforts. The ship then proceeded to Kure, the port of Hiroshima in Japan, before heading to South Korea to change crew.

Operations Officer Lieutenant Ollie Kenzie said: “Spey is often described as a ‘small ship’ but at just under 100 metres long, she does not feel particularly small. You quickly realise that a much smaller crew is asked to manage a significant area of real estate. All of us often go above and beyond to achieve what is required with fewer hands than perhaps I am used to. This so-called ‘small ship’ life presents a uniquely vibrant and close-knit way of working. My early months in Spey have confirmed the strength of this ship’s company: small in size but significant in output.”