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HMS Blazer tests the skills of students from Southampton, Portsmouth and Solent Universities; she’s sea training vessel for Southampton University Royal Naval Unit.
HMS Blazer (P279) is currently on deployment
University Training
United Kingdom
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HMS Blazer is an Archer-class P2000 Fast Patrol Boat, built by Watercraft Marine in 1985 – one of five based in HMNB Portsmouth.
The ship’s motto is ‘Premier in the First’, and she has hosted royalty onboard, including Prince Michael of Kent.
HMS Blazer has a compliment (minimum) crew of five: one Lt, two CPOs, one LH and one AB. However, she can carry a maximum of 20 personnel on board She deploys twice a year, usually at around Easter and again in the summer.
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The year Blazer was built
HMS Blazer weighs 54 tonnes
7th ship to carry the name
HMS Blazer trains tomorrow’s talent by running weekly drill evenings in term-time, before heading off for adventurous deployments during holidays.
Broadening the understanding of the Royal Navy among university students by offering them a taste of life at sea.
Alongside in Portsmouth Naval Base.
HMNB Portsmouth
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Blazer plays a unique and valued role engaging the public, inspiring the next generation and getting involved in other operations when she’s called on.
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.
During the ten-week university term, six or seven weekends will be spent at sea. Then, in the summer and over Easter, HMS Blazer and her students make five two-week deployments. In the past, these have included port visits to the Channel Islands, France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.
The first, a wooden gunboat, was named by the 2nd Earl Spencer, George John, First Lord of the Admiralty. He named it after a dog in his foxhound pack!
In the 1800s a further five ships, both wooden and steam-powered gunboats, carried the name, winning battle honours in 1814 and 1855.
The last Blazer, a gunboat, was sold in 1919.
The current HMS Blazer was built in 1985.
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