producing larger vessels, especially for the many emerging navies of post-colonial countries, including the Mark V or Alvand-class frigate, with VSEL, for the Iranian Navy. Vosper alone, however, was unable to produce craft of this size, and in 1966 a merger with John I. Thornycroft & Company provided the shipbuilding capacity and experience to produce the larger vessels being designed by Vosper. The new group was known as Vosper Thornycroft. The former Vosper designs were developed by the new company into the Mark 10 or Niteroi-class frigates for the Brazilian Navy and subsequently elaborated into the handsome and pioneering Type 21 or Amazon-class frigate for the Royal Navy, the first major Royal Navy warship built to a private design since World War II. Vosper Thornycroft continued trading in Woolston, Southampton until 2003 when they relocated shipbuilding operations to Portsmouth operating as VT Group. The Vosper name is continued by "Vosper International", an independent ship design bureau since 1987. In July 2008 VT Group and BAE Systems merged their shipbuilding and naval support businesses in a joint venture which traded as BVT Surface Fleet. VT Group exited the shipbuilding industry in 2009 when BAE Systems acquired VT Group's interest in the joint venture. BVT Surface Fleet now trades as BAE Systems Surface Ships. See also British Coastal Forces of World War II British Power Boat Company Electric Launch Company Fairmile Marine References Further reading Allied Coastal Forces of World War Two, Volume II : Vosper designs – by John Lambert and Al Ross, 1993, 1871 establishments in England Companies based in Portsmouth Companies established in 1871 Defunct shipbuilding companies of the United Kingdom Marine engine manufacturers Engine manufacturers of the United Kingdom British Shipbuilders