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HMS Pursuer (P273)

HMS Pursuer (P273) is one of 16 Archer-class patrol vessels assigned to the Coastal Forces Squadron, providing maritime security and operations within Europe’s coastal waters.

Role

Fully fuelled and victualed, HMS Pursuer has an unsupported endurance of over 240nm at her maximum speed of 20kn. So, though she is one of our smaller ships at just 20.5 meters long, she has travelled further than you might imagine - travelling as far afield as Cyprus, where she formed part of the Cyprus Squadron.

These days, she mostly remains in UK waters, giving young sailors a fun, hands-on opportunity to learn seafaring skills and gain an insight into what a career in the Royal Navy might lead to.

Capability

Glasgow & Strathclyde University Royal Naval Unit (URNU) is a fantastic opportunity for undergraduates in the Glasgow area to get out on the water, build navigation and leadership skills, and have a lot of fun along the way.

Though Pursuer’s crew are mainly focused on URNU duties, they also support for Royal Navy-sponsored undergraduates right across southern Scotland.

Did you know? HMS Pursuer holds the Freedom of the Town of Newhaven.

Archer class

Crew

Led by Lieutenant commander A Colman, HMS Pursuer trains tomorrow’s talent by running:

  • Mid-week drill sessions
  • Weekend seaborne training
  • Adventurous deployments during holidays

Students build navigation and leadership skills, taking part in sports, adventurous training and exciting challenges.

Unit history

1942

First HMS Pursuer

The first, formerly the St George was launched in the United States on 18 July 1942, and loaned to the UK, to be returned in February 1946.
1944

Second HMS Pursuer

The second was the tank landing ship LST 3504, built by Vickers in Montreal and launched in 1944.
1947

Renamed

She was renamed Pursuer in 1947, and became the Ministry of Transport ship Empire Tern in 1956 before being broken up in 1969.
1988

The Third Pursuer

The current HMS Pursuer was commissioned in 1988, and was launched in Southampton and sponsored by Ballyregan Bob.

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