HMS Smiter (P272)

History
HMS Smiter on the Solent outward bound from Portsmouth Naval Base 17 June 2016.
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Smiter
Operator:	Royal Navy
Builder:	Watercraft Marine
Laid down:	1985
Launched:	1985
Completed:	22 January 1986
Commissioned:	4 September 1986
Homeport:	HMNB Portsmouth
Motto:	"Strike hard and often"
Status:	in active service
Badge:
General characteristics
Class and type:	Archer class patrol vessel
Displacement:	54 tonnes^[1]
Length:	20.8 m
Beam:	5.8 m
Draught:	1.8 m
Propulsion:	2 shafts, Rolls Royce M800T diesels, 1,590 bhp
Speed:	14 kn (26 km/h) 45 kn (83 km/h) (Hull design, but limited due to engine fitted)
Range:	550 nmi (1,020 km)
Complement:	18 (training)^{[N 1]} 12 (operational)
Sensors and processing systems:	Decca 1216 navigation radar
Armament:	1 × Oerlikon 20 mm cannon on fo'c'sle ("for but not with") 3 × General purpose machine guns^{[N 2]}

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Smiter.

HMS Smiter is an Archer-class patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy.

Service history

On being accepted into service, she initially served with the Clyde Division of the Royal Naval Reserve until 11 October 1990. She then transferred to the University Royal Naval Unit (URNU) of Glasgow. In September 2012 she became the training vessel Oxford University Royal Naval Unit . She replaced HMS Tracker in this role, which transferred to the Faslane Force Protection Squadron.

The Oxford University Royal Naval Unit is one of 14 URNUs supporting the countries' leading Universities in England, Wales and Scotland. The organisation's Mission is to "educate a wide spectrum of high calibre undergraduates who show potential as society's future leaders and opinion formers in order to better inform them of the need for and role of the Royal Navy, and to develop awareness of career opportunities in the Service."

Students from the URNU get the chance to deploy on sea weekends or sea days aboard the ship, where they learn how to handle and navigate the vessel under the instruction of the permanent RN crew of five. The ship also goes on twice yearly deployments, at Easter and in the summer.

Notes

↑ 5 ship's company, 1 training officer, 12 URNU students.
↑ When operational and not in URNU role.

References

↑ Royal Navy - Patrol Boats - Archer class, royalnavy.mod.uk, Retrieved 14 June 2014

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to HMS Smiter (P272).

Royal Navy HMS Smiter (royalnavy.mod.uk)
HMS Smiter in Dover Harbour March 2013 (panoramio.com)

Archer-class patrol vessel

Archer Biter Smiter Pursuer Blazer Dasher Puncher Charger Ranger Trumpeter Example Explorer Express Exploit Tracker Raider

List of patrol vessels of the Royal Navy

Commissioned ships of the Royal Navy

Submarines

Vanguard class	Vanguard Victorious Vigilant Vengeance

Trafalgar class	Torbay Trenchant Talent Triumph

Astute class	Astute Ambush Artful

Destroyers

Type 45	Daring Dauntless Diamond Dragon Defender Duncan

Frigates

Type 23	Argyll Lancaster Iron Duke Monmouth Montrose Westminster Northumberland Richmond Somerset Sutherland Kent Portland St Albans

Amphibious
warfare ships

Albion-class LPD	Albion Bulwark

Ocean-class LPH	Ocean

Mine counter
measures vessels

Sandown class	Penzance Pembroke Grimsby Bangor Ramsey Blyth Shoreham

Hunt class	Ledbury Cattistock Brocklesby Middleton Chiddingfold Atherstone Hurworth Quorn

Patrol vessels

Ice patrol vessel	Protector

River class	Mersey Severn Tyne Clyde

Archer class	Archer Biter Smiter Blazer Puncher Charger Ranger Trumpeter Express Example Explorer Exploit Tracker Raider Pursuer Dasher

Scimitar class	Scimitar Sabre

Survey vessels

Ocean survey vessel	Scott

Echo class	Echo Enterprise

Survey launch	Gleaner

Miscellaneous
vessels

Type 82	Bristol (static training vessel)

Ship of the line	Victory (flagship of the First Sea Lord)

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