HMS Dasher (P280)

HMS Dasher at Faslane in 2010
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Dasher
Operator:	Royal Navy
Builder:	Vosper Thornycroft
Commissioned:	1988
Homeport:	HMNB Devonport
Identification:	Pennant number: P280
Status:	in active service
General characteristics
Class and type:	Archer-class patrol vessel
Displacement:	54 tonnes
Length:	20.8 m
Beam:	5.8 m
Draught:	1.8 m
Propulsion:	2 shafts, [Caterpillar] [Cat C18 ACERT diesel engine], 873 bhp
Speed:	21 kn (39 km/h) 45 kn (83 km/h) (Hull design, but limited due to engine fitted)
Range:	300 nmi (560 km)
Complement:	18 (training) 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

HMS Dasher is an Archer-class P2000 patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy. She is currently the training vessel for Bristol URNU, based at HMNB Devonport in Plymouth, but in the past has served in Cyprus and at Faslane.

Dasher was built at Vosper Thorneycroft and commissioned in 1988. Prior to 2004 Dasher was based at Devonport as the training vessel for Bristol University Royal Naval Unit (URNU).

Dasher and HMS Pursuer were sent to Cyprus ahead of Operation Telic, the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, transported on board the CEC Mayflower. The Royal Navy Cyprus Squadron was created in February 2003 to protect ships around the Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus, a vital staging post in the British logistic chain to Iraq. Both were fitted with Kevlar armour and three FN MAG General Purpose Machine Guns, with an extra crew member (compared to the P2000s assigned to URNU duties) employed as a Gunners Yeoman.

The Cyprus Squadron was disbanded in 2010 and Dasher was assigned to the Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron, protecting the ballistic missile submarines at HMNB Clyde. In September 2012 she swapped places with the more modern HMS Raider and returned to Devonport as the training vessel of Bristol URNU.