Back in England after her record-breaking stint in the Navy’s Gibraltar Squadron, HMS Ranger — one of the smallest ships in the Royal Navy — is now starting life as training ship for the Sussex University RN Unit.

The 49-ton Archer Class patrol vessel returned in March on the back of a chartered Dutch container vessel, having completed thirteen years’ service in the squadron for what is described by the RN Historical Branch as the longest period a Royal Navy ship in continual commission has been away from the UK in the last 100 years.

Under her new Commanding Officer, Lt James Parkin, she has just completed a re-fit before embarking on a summer of activities.

Built at Shoreham in 1987, Ranger is the sixteenth in an illustrious line.

This includes the sloop hired in 1718 by Lt Robert Maynard to capture and kill the notorious pirate Blackbeard, and the Opossum Class WWI destroyer which was notable for being the first command of future Admiral of the Fleet David Beatty.

In between came the sixth rate frigate which was originally the French privateer Deux Couronnes, captured by HMS Gloucester in 1747; the cutter which saw the ship get her only battle honour (the Glorious 1st of June) in 1794; the Philomel Class wooden steam gun vessel which spent the period 1860-1867 successfully fighting the West African slave trade of the coast of Niger; and the Algerine Class composite steam gun vessel which spent seven years on the East Indies station.

Sussex University Royal Navy Unit (URNU), one of 14 located on or near university campuses around the UK, is the only naval presence in East or West Sussex.

Each unit has a shore headquarters, comprising offices, classrooms and officers’ mess and a training vessel like the Ranger of the P2000 Class.

Since coming out of her re-fit on May 10, Ranger’s company has been undergoing a period of training, culminating in operational sea training over the first week of this month.

She will then undergo a six-week summer deployment when the vessel will travel anti-clockwise round the east coast of the UK, through the Caledonian Canal and down the west coast of Scotland and England.

To round off 2004 – Trafalgar Night comes too early in the academic year – students instead celebrate Blackbeard night (in mid-November).

Facts and Figures
Class:	Archer class P2000
Displacement:	54 tonnes
Length:	20m
Beam:	5.8m
Draught:	1.9m
Complement:	17 (5 ship's company)
Top Speed:	20kts
Range:	550nm at 15kts
Dimensions:	20.8mX19mX5.9m
Main machinery:	2 RR CV 12 M800T diesels; 1,590 hp (1.19 MW);
Radars:	Navigation: Racal Decca 1213; i-band
Guns:	Fitted for but not with 1 Oerlikon 20mm and 2 7.62mm MGs

(Ship of the Month June 2004)

Join Ship of the Month and receive a new postcard sized photograph every month!
Each month Navy News looks at a different ship, her compliment, armoury, propulsion and her recent activities. Join the many subscribers who have been collecting Ship of the Month since 1969. more>