HMS Tracker (P274)
Encyclopedia
HMS Tracker (P274) is an Archer-class
(P2000) patrol and training vessel of the British
Royal Navy
, used for training purposes by the Oxford University Royal Naval Unit
(URNU). Part of the 1st Patrol Boat Squadron (1PBS), the vessel is based at HMNB Portsmouth
, and is the third ship to bear the name HMS Tracker. Tracker's primary role is to be the training ship for Oxford University Royal Naval Unit (Oxford URNU), but she also trains regular officers in navigation, supports fleet training, usually by acting as the enemy, provides sea experience to the Cadet Forces and can provide VIP transport.
Oxford URNU and Tracker are affiliated with the town of Dover
, the Type 42 Destroyer HMS Gloucester, the Trafalgar-class
SSN
, HMS Turbulent
and 824 Naval Air Squadron
(NAS) based at RNAS Culdrose
in Cornwall.
The ship's company comprises one Officer, two Senior Ratings and two Junior Ratings who train up to twelve students, undergraduates from Oxford University, Oxford Brookes University
or Reading University, for up to fourteen days at a time. During a day's training the students practice navigation and seamanship as well as a wide array of other naval skills. Most of these have been taught in the classroom environment at weekly Drill Nights during the University term. At sea they carry out many of the functions of the Ship's Company and as their skill levels increase they can understudy the Captain and eventually gain RYA qualifications.
During university term time, Tracker takes students to sea for weekends, with destinations including Weymouth, Cowes
, Yarmouth
and Poole
. During Easter and Summer vacations, the ship deploys for longer periods (four weeks at Easter and six weeks in the summer) and further afield (France, Belgium, Holland, Spain) with students on board for two weeks at a time.
She has recently completed her 2010 summer deployment to Gibraltar
in company with HMS Raider
.
Archer class patrol vessel
The Archer class is a class of patrol and training vessels in service with the British Royal Navy, commonly referred to as a Fast Training Boat.-History & operations:...
(P2000) patrol and training vessel of 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...
, used for training purposes by the Oxford 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...
(URNU). Part of the 1st Patrol Boat Squadron (1PBS), the vessel is based at HMNB Portsmouth
HMNB Portsmouth
Her Majesty's Naval Base Portsmouth is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the British Royal Navy...
, and is the third ship to bear the name HMS Tracker. Tracker's primary role is to be the training ship for Oxford University Royal Naval Unit (Oxford URNU), but she also trains regular officers in navigation, supports fleet training, usually by acting as the enemy, provides sea experience to the Cadet Forces and can provide VIP transport.
Oxford URNU
One of 14 University Royal Naval Units, Oxford URNU recruits from Oxford, Reading and Oxford Brookes Universities. Members of the unit undergo shore-based training at weekly drill-nights held in Falklands House in Oxford. Sea-training takes place at weekends during term time and during Easter and Summer deployments. Students also have opportunities to spend time on larger Royal Navy warships and naval bases, to participate in adventurous training and to gain RYA qualifications.Oxford URNU and Tracker are affiliated with the town of Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
, the Type 42 Destroyer HMS Gloucester, the Trafalgar-class
Trafalgar class submarine
The Trafalgar class is a class of nuclear-powered fleet submarines in service with the Royal Navy. They are a direct follow on from the Swiftsure class and were, until the introduction of the Astute class, the Royal Navy's most advanced nuclear fleet submarines.Seven boats were built and...
SSN
SSN
SSN may refer to:*Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh, a primary school in Cork City Ireland*Secure Service Network, a network behind a firewall or IPS containing systems which can be accessed from both the internal and external networks, but cannot reach the internal network*Streaming Sports Network, an...
, HMS Turbulent
HMS Turbulent
Five vessels of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Turbulent: was a launched in 1805 and captured by the Danes captured in 1808. She was sold in 1814. was a Talisman-class destroyer launched in 1916. She served in World War I and was sunk at the battle of Jutland on 1 June 1916. was an...
and 824 Naval Air Squadron
824 Naval Air Squadron
824 Naval Air Squadron is a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm squadron first formed on 3 April 1933, disbanding and reforming several times before assuming its current role at RNAS Culdrose as a training squadron....
(NAS) based at RNAS Culdrose
RNAS Culdrose
Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose , based in Cornwall, near Helston, on the Lizard Peninsula, has three major roles: serving the Fleet Air Arm's front line Sea King and Merlin helicopter squadrons; providing search and rescue for the South West region; and training specialists for the Royal Navy...
in Cornwall.
Details
Tracker commissioned alongside her sister , Cambridge University Royal Naval Unit's training craft, in January 1998, with Tracker replacing Oxford University Royal Naval Unit's previous training craft, HMS Loyal Chancellor. Tracker and Raider are Batch 2 P2000s and are fitted with two MTU V12 diesel engines instead of the Perkins CV12 engines which the rest of the squadron are fitted with, meaning that Tracker and Raider can travel at a higher speed than the Batch 1s, mainly as she can get her hull to plane, the hydrodynamic mode in which it was designed to operate.The ship's company comprises one Officer, two Senior Ratings and two Junior Ratings who train up to twelve students, undergraduates from Oxford University, Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University is a new university in Oxford, England. It was named to honour the school's founding principal, John Brookes. It has been ranked as the best new university by the Sunday Times University Guide 10 years in a row...
or Reading University, for up to fourteen days at a time. During a day's training the students practice navigation and seamanship as well as a wide array of other naval skills. Most of these have been taught in the classroom environment at weekly Drill Nights during the University term. At sea they carry out many of the functions of the Ship's Company and as their skill levels increase they can understudy the Captain and eventually gain RYA qualifications.
During university term time, Tracker takes students to sea for weekends, with destinations including Weymouth, Cowes
Cowes
Cowes is an English seaport town and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. Cowes is located on the west bank of the estuary of the River Medina facing the smaller town of East Cowes on the east Bank...
, Yarmouth
Yarmouth, Isle of Wight
Yarmouth is a port and civil parish in the western part of the Isle of Wight, off the southern coast of mainland England. The town is named for its location at the mouth of the small Western Yar river...
and Poole
Poole
Poole is a large coastal town and seaport in the county of Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester, and Bournemouth adjoins Poole to the east. The Borough of Poole was made a unitary authority in 1997, gaining administrative independence from Dorset County Council...
. During Easter and Summer vacations, the ship deploys for longer periods (four weeks at Easter and six weeks in the summer) and further afield (France, Belgium, Holland, Spain) with students on board for two weeks at a time.
She has recently completed her 2010 summer deployment to Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
in company with HMS Raider
HMS Raider
Three ships have been called HMS Raider.*The first Raider was an R class destroyer launched in 1916*The second Raider was a Rotherham class destroyer launched in 1942....
.
External links
- HMS Tracker Home Page - Royal Navy website
- Oxford URNU