The 2,000-tonne vessel joined the Naval family as a fully-fledged member of the Overseas Patrol Squadron twelve months to the day when ten sailors assembled in a dry dock in Glasgow and started Tamar's transformation from a lifeless hull to a warship.

On 6 November 2013, it was revealed that the Royal Navy had signed a Principle Agreement for the construction of three new River-class offshore patrol vessels, and BAE Systems had signed a contract to develop the ships on the Clyde in Scotland.

The HMS Tamar is an offshore patrol vessel of the Batch 2 River-class designed for the Royal British Navy. The River class is a class of offshore patrol vessels designed mainly for the United Kingdom's Royal Navy. For the Royal Navy (RN), a total of nine were built, of which four were Batch 1 and five were Batch 2.

In appearance and capabilities, the Batch 2 ships are radically different from the previous Batch 1.

Two diesel engines rated at 7,350kW each drive the HMS Tamar. Two Wärtsilä propellers also make up the propulsion system. With a maximum cruising range of 5,500 nmi, the ship can reach 24 kn (44 km/h) (10,200 km). With a crew of 34 people, she has an endurance of 35 days.

The HMS Tamar is armed with one automatic DS30B 30mm Mark 44 Bushmaster cannon, two 7.62mm caliber general purpose machine guns and two Miniguns. The vessel has an aft flight deck to fly a Merlin helicopter.

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