Archer class

HMS Archer

HMS Archer is the first of the Archer P2000 class 20m Fast Patrol Boats built by Watercraft in 1985. She became Aberdeen University Royal Navy Unit (URNU) training vessel in March 1991.

Aberdeen URNU was the first of the 14 URNUs and formed in 1967.

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HMS Biter

HMS Biter is a P2000 Class Coastal Training Craft. Her primary tasking is in support of Manchester and Salford Universities’ Royal Naval Unit, taking students to sea for weekends in the Irish Sea and for extended periods in UK and foreign waters. Other tasking includes supporting Royal Navy exercises and training, working with youth groups and cadets, and engagement with the local community.

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HMS Blazer

HMS Blazer is tendered to the University Royal Naval Unit (URNU) at Southampton Solent University, Portsmouth University and Southampton Institute. Weekly drill evenings are held every Thursday of term time. Tuition falls into three areas: basic navigation and seamanship, leadership and team building skills and strategic studies and current affairs.

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HMS Charger

Tendered to the Liverpool University Royal Naval Unit (URNU) since 1990, HMS Charger is based at Brunswick Dock on the site of the new Royal Naval Headquarters, Merseyside. The sixth ship to be named HMS Charger, she was built originally by Watercraft Limited, Shoreham, but completed and fitted out Vosper Thornycroft, being commissioned in June 1988. She has a displacement of 49 tonnes, a length of 68ft and a beam of 19ft.

After service with the Severn Division RNR at Bristol, she was transferred in October 1990 to the Liverpool URNU, which was formed in October 1971 and is now located within Royal Naval Headquarters (RNHQ) Merseyside. Here the students receive instruction on seamanship, navigation management and leadership. The unit meets formally every Thursday evening at 1930, such 'drill nights' involving theoretical instruction and practical chart work. Sport and practical teamwork include football, bowling, skiing and many other sporting and adventurous training activities. Each student will normally attend three training weekends and one two-week deployment over the Spring and Summer holidays.

HMS Charger provides the practical navigation and seamanship training at sea. Recruitment to the unit takes place annually in early October from the universities in Liverpool and also from Lancaster University.

Further information is available from:

Commanding Officer

Liverpool University Royal Naval Unit

RN Headquarters Merseyside

East Brunswick Dock

Sefton Street

Liverpool

L3 4DZ

Tel: 0151 707 3438

Fax: 0151 707 3397

Email: HMS Charger

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HMS Dasher

HMS Dasher is one of two P2000 Patrol Boats that form the Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron (FPBS) Formed in March 2010, the Squadron provides Force Protection in and around Faslane, Scotland. The two patrol boats HMS Pursuer and Dasher were relocated to HMNB Clyde from Cyprus in April 2010, arriving at their new home on 6 May 2010.

Wearing the pennant number P280, Dasher is a fully-fledged armed patrol boat. Fitted with Kevlar armour and able to operate three 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) she has become, with her sister ship HMS Pursuer, part of a growing Force Protection (FP) cadre based at Faslane. These two ships are fully engaged in FP duties and do not undertake university training.

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HMS Example

HMS Example is tendered to the Northumbrian University Royal Naval Unit (URNU). The ship's main role is to provide Navigation, Seamanship and general Naval Training. The unit is based at HMS Calliope, a Royal Naval Reserve Base adjacent to the Tyne Bridge on Gateshead Quayside. The NURNU provides a three-year package of training and activities in order to broaden their knowledge of the Royal Navy and its activities worldwide.

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HMS Exploit

HMS Exploit is the Birmingham University Royal Navy Unit's Training Patrol vessel, although the unit covers a wide area, taking undergraduates from eight Universities in the region including Loughborough and Warwick. Built by Vosper Thornycroft and commissioned as HMS Exploit in 1988, the ship is berthed in Penarth, near Cardiff.

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