Archer class patrol vessel
Encyclopedia
The Archer class (or P2000) is a class
of patrol and training vessels in service with the British
Royal Navy
, commonly referred to as a Fast Training Boat.
i coastguard cutter, from Watercraft Marine. They are twin-shaft vessels with moulded glass-reinforced plastic
hulls. After that company went into liquidation
, the balance of the order was completed by Vosper Thornycroft.
The Archers were initially used as Royal Navy patrol craft and as training tenders for the Royal Naval Reserve
(RNR) and University Royal Naval Unit
s (URNU). Four identical vessels were ordered for the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service (RNXS) as Example-class tenders. When that service was disbanded in 1994, the Examples were transferred to the Royal Navy for similar duties as their Archer-class brethren (under the same names under which they served as "XSVs", all of which begin with the first syllable "Ex"). Until 2005, the 4 Examples were still painted with a black hull.
In 1998 two additional vessels (Raider
and Tracker
) of this design were commissioned into the Royal Navy from Ailsa Shipbuilding Company
, to replace Loyal Watcher and Loyal Chancellor as URNU training vessels to the two newest URNUs, serving Cambridge and Oxford Universities respectively. This brought the total of Archer class vessels in the Royal Navy to 16, of which 14 form the 1st Patrol Boat Squadron (formerly the Inshore Training Squadron), each one attached to an URNU (one per unit) under the command of a Lieutenant
. The remaining 2 vessels (Pursuer
and Dasher
), having formed the Cyprus Squadron
from 2003 to 2010, and URNU vessels before that, returned to the UK in April 2010 to form the Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron, performing security duties within HMNB Clyde
- these can be identified by a number of pintle-mounted L7 7.62 mm GPMG machine gun
s and armour plating. Ranger
and Trumpeter
were also formerly allocated to the Gibraltar Squadron
for guard ship
and search and rescue
duties, but were replaced by the dedicated Scimitar class
. Unlike the remainder of the class, both these ships remain capable of being mounted with a 20mm
cannon on the fo'c'sle.
The NATO designation of a P2000 is "PBR", denoting a "Patrol Boat - Riverine and Harbours".
Ship class
A ship class is a group of ships of a similar design. This is distinct from a ship-type, which might reflect a similarity of tonnage or intended use. For example, the is a nuclear aircraft carrier of the Nimitz class....
of patrol and training vessels in service with the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, commonly referred to as a Fast Training Boat.
History & operations
Ten vessels were ordered as the P2000 class, based on a design of an OmanOman
Oman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...
i coastguard cutter, from Watercraft Marine. They are twin-shaft vessels with moulded glass-reinforced plastic
Glass-reinforced plastic
Fiberglass , is a fiber reinforced polymer made of a plastic matrix reinforced by fine fibers of glass. It is also known as GFK ....
hulls. After that company went into liquidation
Liquidation
In law, liquidation is the process by which a company is brought to an end, and the assets and property of the company redistributed. Liquidation is also sometimes referred to as winding-up or dissolution, although dissolution technically refers to the last stage of liquidation...
, the balance of the order was completed by Vosper Thornycroft.
The Archers were initially used as Royal Navy patrol craft and as training tenders for the Royal Naval Reserve
Royal Naval Reserve
The Royal Naval Reserve is the volunteer reserve force of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. The present Royal Naval Reserve was formed in 1958 by merging the original Royal Naval Reserve and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve , a reserve of civilian volunteers founded in 1903...
(RNR) and University Royal Naval Unit
University Royal Naval Unit
A University Royal Naval Unit is a Royal Navy training establishment connected to a university, or a number of universities concentrated in one area...
s (URNU). Four identical vessels were ordered for the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service (RNXS) as Example-class tenders. When that service was disbanded in 1994, the Examples were transferred to the Royal Navy for similar duties as their Archer-class brethren (under the same names under which they served as "XSVs", all of which begin with the first syllable "Ex"). Until 2005, the 4 Examples were still painted with a black hull.
In 1998 two additional vessels (Raider
HMS Raider (P275)
HMS Raider is an Archer class patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy, used to fulfil the sea-training syllabus of the Bristol University Royal Naval Unit . Based in Devonport, HMS Raider is used to conduct sea-training at weekends during term-time; travelling to ports on the south...
and Tracker
HMS Tracker (P274)
HMS Tracker is an Archer-class patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy, used for training purposes by the Oxford University Royal Naval Unit . Part of the 1st Patrol Boat Squadron , the vessel is based at HMNB Portsmouth, and is the third ship to bear the name HMS Tracker...
) of this design were commissioned into the Royal Navy from Ailsa Shipbuilding Company
Ailsa Shipbuilding Company
-History:The company was founded in 1885 by the 3rd Marquess of Ailsa.In 1902 the Ailsa yard fitted out the polar exploration ship Scotia for the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition of 1902-04...
, to replace Loyal Watcher and Loyal Chancellor as URNU training vessels to the two newest URNUs, serving Cambridge and Oxford Universities respectively. This brought the total of Archer class vessels in the Royal Navy to 16, of which 14 form the 1st Patrol Boat Squadron (formerly the Inshore Training Squadron), each one attached to an URNU (one per unit) under the command of a Lieutenant
Lieutenant (naval)
LieutenantThe pronunciation of lieutenant is generally split between or , generally in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Commonwealth countries, and or , generally associated with the United States. See lieutenant. is a commissioned officer rank in many nations' navies...
. The remaining 2 vessels (Pursuer
HMS Pursuer (P273)
HMS Pursuer is an Archer-class patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy, currently part of the Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron at HMNB Clyde....
and Dasher
HMS Dasher (P280)
HMS Dasher is an Archer-class P2000-type patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy, currently part of the Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron at HMNB Clyde....
), having formed the Cyprus Squadron
Royal Navy Cyprus Squadron
The Royal Navy Cyprus Squadron was a Royal Naval Squadron based on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. It was formed in February 2003 in support of Operation Telic, the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, and disbanded in April 2010...
from 2003 to 2010, and URNU vessels before that, returned to the UK in April 2010 to form the Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron, performing security duties within HMNB Clyde
HMNB Clyde
Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy...
- these can be identified by a number of pintle-mounted L7 7.62 mm GPMG machine gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
s and armour plating. Ranger
HMS Ranger (P293)
HMS Ranger is an Archer-class patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy, based in HMNB Portsmouth. She is affiliated to Sussex and Brighton Universities' University Royal Naval Unit , which has its offices at the University of Sussex, Brighton...
and Trumpeter
HMS Trumpeter (P294)
HMS Trumpeter is an Archer-class P2000-type patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy. It was named in honour of the visit in 1901 of The All American Trumpeters to the UK....
were also formerly allocated to the Gibraltar Squadron
Gibraltar Squadron
The Gibraltar Squadron is a unit of the British Royal Navy. It is the only resident sea-going Royal Naval unit in Gibraltar, attached to British Forces Gibraltar...
for guard ship
Guard ship
A guard ship is a warship stationed at some port or harbour to act as a guard, and in former times in the Royal Navy to receive the men impressed for service...
and search and rescue
Search and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
duties, but were replaced by the dedicated Scimitar class
Scimitar class patrol vessel
The Scimitar class is a class of fast patrol boat in service with the British Royal Navy.The two vessels of this class are of a commercial design known as the Lifespan Patrol Vessel built by Halmatic , and formerly served in an inshore waterways anti-terrorist role in Northern Ireland...
. Unlike the remainder of the class, both these ships remain capable of being mounted with a 20mm
Oerlikon 20 mm cannon
The Oerlikon 20 mm cannon is a series of autocannons, based on an original design by Reinhold Becker of Germany, very early in World War I, and widely produced by Oerlikon Contraves and others...
cannon on the fo'c'sle.
The NATO designation of a P2000 is "PBR", denoting a "Patrol Boat - Riverine and Harbours".
Vessels
| Name | Pennant | Builder | Commissioned | Deployment (2010) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archer HMS Archer (P264) HMS Archer is the lead ship of the Archer-class. As the lead ship she was one of the few of her class to be completed by Watercraft Marine, the original shipbuilders - most of the remaining vessels were completed or built by Vosper Thornycroft.She is attached to Aberdeen Universities' Royal Naval... |
P264 | Watercraft Marine, Shoreham-by-Sea Shoreham-by-Sea Shoreham-by-Sea is a small town, port and seaside resort in West Sussex, England. Shoreham-by-Sea railway station is located less than a mile from the town centre and London Gatwick Airport is away... |
1985 | Aberdeen URNU |
| Biter HMS Biter (P270) HMS Biter is an Archer-class P2000-type patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy. She is assigned to Manchester & Salford Universities Royal Naval Unit, a Royal Naval Reserve unit based in Manchester. The ship is based at HMS Eaglet, the Royal Naval Headquarters in Liverpool... |
P270 | Watercraft | 1986 | Manchester URNU |
| Smiter HMS Smiter (P272) HMS Smiter is an Archer-class patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy.On being accepted into service, she initially served with the Clyde Division of the Royal Naval Reserve until 11 October 1990. She then transferred to the University Royal Naval Unit of Glasgow and Strathclyde... |
P272 | Watercraft | 1988 | Glasgow URNU |
| Pursuer HMS Pursuer (P273) HMS Pursuer is an Archer-class patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy, currently part of the Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron at HMNB Clyde.... |
P273 | Vosper Thornycroft, Woolston | 1988 | HMNB Clyde Duties |
| Blazer HMS Blazer (P279) HMS Blazer is an Archer-class Fast Patrol Vessel built by Vosper Thornycroft. She is just over 20 metres long and 5.8 metres wide and powered by two Rolls-Royce turbo engines. The ship is based at HMS Nelson Shore Base in Portsmouth and was commissioned in 1988.She has four crew plus a commanding... |
P279 | Vosper Thornycroft | 1988 | Southampton URNU |
| Dasher HMS Dasher (P280) HMS Dasher is an Archer-class P2000-type patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy, currently part of the Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron at HMNB Clyde.... |
P280 | Vosper Thornycroft | 1988 | HMNB Clyde Duties |
| Puncher HMS Puncher (P291) HMS Puncher is an Archer-class P2000-type patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy built by Watercraft of Shoreham and fitted out by Vosper Thorneycroft in Portsmouth.... |
P291 | Vosper Thornycroft | 1988 | London URNU |
| Charger HMS Charger (P292) HMS Charger is an Archer-class Fast Patrol Vessel completed by Vosper Thornycroft. She is just over 20 metres long and 5.8 metres wide and powered by two Rolls-Royce turbo engines... |
P292 | Vosper Thornycroft | 1988 | Liverpool URNU |
| Ranger HMS Ranger (P293) HMS Ranger is an Archer-class patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy, based in HMNB Portsmouth. She is affiliated to Sussex and Brighton Universities' University Royal Naval Unit , which has its offices at the University of Sussex, Brighton... |
P293 | Vosper Thornycroft | 1988 | Sussex URNU |
| Trumpeter HMS Trumpeter (P294) HMS Trumpeter is an Archer-class P2000-type patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy. It was named in honour of the visit in 1901 of The All American Trumpeters to the UK.... |
P294 | Vosper Thornycroft | 1988 | Cambridge URNU |
| Example HMS Example (P165) HMS Example ' is an Archer-class patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy, based at HMS Calliope in Gateshead, England. Example was originally built for the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service as the lead ship of the 'Example Batch', which were identical to the Archer Class being built... (ex-XSV Example) |
P165 (ex-A153) | Watercraft | 1985 | Northumbrian URNU |
| Explorer HMS Explorer (P164) HMS Explorer is an Archer-class P2000-type patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy.The ship is assigned to the Yorkshire Universities Royal Naval Unit , serving the universities of York, Hull, Sheffield and Leeds. The commanding officer has been Lieutenant Dafydd Bryden since the... (ex-XSV Explorer) |
P164(ex-A154) | Watercraft | 1986 | Yorkshire URNU |
| Express HMS Express (P163) HMS Express is an Archer-class P2000-type patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy.Express was the only P2000-type vessel in the fleet to retain the black hull inherited from the original operator; the RNXS. She was also the only black-hulled surface vessel in the entire Royal Navy... (ex-XSV Express) |
P163 (ex-A163) | Vosper Thornycroft | 1988 | Wales URNU |
| Exploit HMS Exploit (P167) HMS Exploit is an Archer-class patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy, built in Woolston by, Vosper Thornycroft and commissioned in 1988. She was originally ordered for the now defunct Royal Naval Auxiliary Service and had a distinctive black hull like other RNXS vessels... (ex-XSV Exploit) |
P167 (ex-A167) | Vosper Thornycroft | 1988 | Birmingham URNU |
| Tracker HMS Tracker (P274) HMS Tracker is an Archer-class patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy, used for training purposes by the Oxford University Royal Naval Unit . Part of the 1st Patrol Boat Squadron , the vessel is based at HMNB Portsmouth, and is the third ship to bear the name HMS Tracker... |
P274 | Ailsa Shipbuilding Company Ailsa Shipbuilding Company -History:The company was founded in 1885 by the 3rd Marquess of Ailsa.In 1902 the Ailsa yard fitted out the polar exploration ship Scotia for the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition of 1902-04... , Troon Troon Troon is a town in South Ayrshire. It is situated on the west coast of Scotland, about eight miles north of Ayr and three miles northwest of Glasgow Prestwick International Airport. Lying across the Firth of Clyde, the Isle of Arran can be seen. Troon is also a port with freight and ferry services... |
1998 | Oxford URNU |
| Raider HMS Raider (P275) HMS Raider is an Archer class patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy, used to fulfil the sea-training syllabus of the Bristol University Royal Naval Unit . Based in Devonport, HMS Raider is used to conduct sea-training at weekends during term-time; travelling to ports on the south... |
P275 | Ailsa | 1998 | Bristol URNU |