HMS Ranger is an Archer-class patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy, based in HMNB Portsmouth.[1][2] She is affiliated to Sussex and Brighton Universities' University Royal Naval Unit (or SUSURNU), which has its offices at the University of Sussex, Brighton. Her badge is a ship's wheel superimposed on seven blue roundels, representing the seven seas.
 HMS Ranger, 2007
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMS Ranger |
| Operator | Royal Navy |
| Builder | Vosper Thornycroft |
| Commissioned | 1988 |
| Homeport | HMNB Portsmouth |
| Identification |
|
| Motto | Range far to seek the foe |
| Status | In active service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Archer-class patrol vessel |
| Displacement | 54 tonnes |
| Length | 20.8 m (68 ft 3 in) |
| Beam | 5.8 m (19 ft 0 in) |
| Draught | 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Propulsion | 2 shafts, Cat C18 ACERT diesels |
| Speed | |
| Range | 550 nmi (1,020 km) |
| Complement |
|
| Armament | |
Construction
editHMS Ranger was built at Shoreham-by-Sea by Watercraft Ltd. in 1987.
Operational history
editRanger was originally allocated to Ulster Division of the Royal Naval Reserve based in Belfast on HMS Caroline and used for Junior Officer training. In 1991 she went to Gibraltar with HMS Trumpeter to form the Gibraltar Squadron, and returned to the UK to become Sussex URNU's allocated P2000 in early 2004. Being a cadet training ship, Ranger is not equipped with live weaponry unless required for a supervised training exercise. It is fitted for – but not with – a 20 mm 85 GAM Cannon, as well as storage for four standard service rifles and two GPMGs.
Alongside HMS Trumpeter she was deployed on the Thames for the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant as part of the Royal Squadron escorting the Royal Barge. Subsequent to this, she departed upon a twelve-week deployment in company with Trumpeter, Example and Explorer around the Baltic, representing the UK at Kiel Week.[3]
In June 2017, Ranger, in company with HM Ships Smiter, Archer and Exploit, deployed to the Baltic to take part in the NATO BALTOPS exercise, the first time that Royal Navy P2000s have been involved in such an exercise.[4]
Role
editRanger provides sea training to members of the Sussex University Royal Naval Unit. She can also be tasked with maritime security, search and rescue and inshore patrol.
Affiliations
edit- Sussex and Brighton University Royal Naval Unit
- Seaford College CCF
- Lewes District Council
- TS Defiance (Newhaven & Seaford Sea Cadets)
- Bond of Friendship - Ocracoke, North Carolina
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ "Patrol Boats – Archer class". Royal Navy. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
- ^ "Archer Class P2000 (URNU)". Armed Forces.net. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
- ^ Edvvc (3 June 2012). "HMS Ranger & HMS Trumpeter". Flickr. Archived from the original on 8 October 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
- ^ "1st Patrol Boat Squadron's Baltops endeavour". Royal Navy. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
External links
edit
- "HMS Ranger". Royal Navy.