Archer, Modified Archer & Example Class Coastal Training Craft

With thanks to Mark Pendleton, Lieutenant Royal Navy Reserve (Retired). You can read his memories of these vessels here.

The Archer Class Training Craft are amongst the smallest commissioned vessels in the Royal Navy. Officially classified as PBR (Patrol Boats Rivers) they are also known as the 'P2000' class.

History

The design of what was to become the Archer class was originally produced in the late 1970s by Watercraft of Shoreham for the Omani Coastguard. However only one was purchased for this purpose, as the engines fitted could not reach the 40 knots specified. A decade later the Royal Navy ordered ten for use by the Royal Navy Reserve (RNR) and University Royal Navy Units (URNU). However, before completion the builders Watercraft went into liquidation- having bought 14 engines that were later found to be incapable of reaching the 22 knots expected by the Royal Navy, the company had gone broke. The unfinished hulls were completed by Southampton based shipbuilders Vosper Thornycroft at their Woolston Yard and the first unit, Archer, was launched on 25th June 1985 and the second unit on October 17th the same year. Eight other vessels followed. Upon commissioning they all entered the first Fast Patrol Boat Squadron and were assigned to University Units and RNR stations around the United Kingdom. It was rumoured they were commissioned as Royal Navy vessels to help the Conservative government boost Royal Naval numbers! In 1991 those attached to Royal Navy reserve units were reassigned to university units, whilst Trumpeter and Raider were deployed to Gibraltar where they replaced H.M Ships Cormorant and Hart in the Gibraltar Squadron. This was commissioned 28th April 1985 after the RAF maritime presence was disbanded.

Four vessels of the same design- Example, Express, Explorer and Exploit- were built for service with the Royal Navy Auxiliary Service (RNXS). They carried the prefix 'XSV', meaning 'Auxiliary Service Vessel', and could be distinguished from the Archer Class by their black hulls. However when the Royal Navy Auxiliary Service (RNXS) was disbanded on March 31st 1994, the four craft transferred to the Royal Navy, where they serve as Sea Training Tenders from Royal Navy University Units (URNU).

On May 8^th 1998 two new modified Archer Class vessels- Tracker and Raider- commissioned into the Navy to replace auxiliaries Loyal Watcher and Loyal Chancellor as tenders for the Royal Navy Units at Oxford and Cambridge Universities. They differ slightly from the earlier vessels of the class.

Role

The main function of the Archer Class is to serve with the University Royal Navy Units (URNU) and with the Royal Navy Reserve (RNR) and they were envisaged to provide additional capacity for navigational and seamanship training. Their relatively small size made them ideal for this role compared with other vessels operated by the RNR (namely the River Class Minesweepers), as the Archer Class could provide basic training without requiring a complement of 30 or so and in addition officers of junior rank could get experience of command. They are also used for Royal Navy Navigational Sea Training and with the Sea Cadet Corps (SCC). They often undertake good will visits to ports in the United Kingdom where other, larger Royal Navy ships cannot go. Occasionally they undertake longer deployments abroad to Europe and as far a field as Russia. In wartime these vessels can be fitted with a 20mm gun and two machine guns forward of the bridge. In this situation their role would change from that of Training Vessel to Patrol Craft and they would probably patrol coastal waters, the entrances to ports, harbours and anchorages and generally support the fleet.

The principle function of the Gibraltar Squadron is to carry out Search and Rescue (SAR) operations and to maintain a constant British presence in the territory- 'flying the flag' in potentially turbulent waters. They also support units of the fleet and undertake routine policing and defence duties of the British territorial waters around the Rock. Trumpeter and Ranger operate in the squadron alongside two inflatable craft and one is always on standby.

Specifications

The Archer class are just 40 tonnes in displacement and are twenty metres long with a breadth of 5.8 metres. They have a complement of ten and are unarmed, except in wartime, although they do carry a small gemini inflatable boat at their aft. Tracker and Raider both have a displacement of 49 tonnes and measure 20.8 metres in length, with a beam of 5.6 metres and a draught of 1.8 metres. They have a speed of 25 knots and although unarmed can be fitted with small caliber guns. Normally each vessel will have 2 Royal Navy officers and four ratings from the Royal Navy Reserve (RNR). They are capable of 550 miles at 15 knots and are propelled by twin Rolls Royce Eagle Engines- the same type used by the British Army's Chieftain tank.

See also Mark Pendleton's memories of the Archer Class vessels.

Above: H.M.S Puncher at sea. © Crown Copyright.

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© Written and researched by Jeremy Olver. Last updated 29th October 2000. Disclaimer.