HMS Puncher (P291)

Background
HMS PUNCHER (Pennant Number P291) is an Archer Class P2000 Patrol Vessel of the Royal Navy. She is permanently based at HMNB Portsmouth and forms part of the First Patrol Boat Squadron (1PBS). Puncher is primarily tasked with training the Officer Cadets and Midshipmen of the University of London's University Royal Naval Unit (London URNU). She also provides a training platform for Young Officers undertaking training during the Royal Navy's Initial Warfare Officers course, and has also been used in the coastal protection role, most notably during OP OLYMPIC, the security operation surrounding the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Deployments
Puncher operates from HMNB Portsmouth conducting navigation training in and around the Solent. She also regularly deploys out of area, often in the company of other P2000s, with the task of providing practical Navigation and Seamanship training to the ships students. Recent deployments have included the Baltic and Northern Europe. Puncher attended Kieler Woche 2011 (Kiel Week) with her sister ship HMS Express alongside ships from several navies.

Ship's Company
Puncher has a permanent crew of five regular Royal Navy personnel, one officer and five ratings, who fulfil the minimum necessary seagoing compliment of the vessel, these are:

Position                                    Rank/Rate

Officer Commanding:               Lieutenant

Executive Officer:                     Chief Petty Officer

Marine Engineering Officer:      Chief Petty Officer (Engineering Technician)

Weapons Engineering Officer:  Leading Engineering Technician

Navigator's Yeoman:                 Able Seaman (Seaman Specialist)

The ship's company is also regularly boosted by up to 12 (more typically 10) URNU Officer Cadets and Midshipmen who are normally accompanied by a List 7 RNR Training Officer. Alternately the berths may be used by any other personnel who are required to live aboard.

Affiliations
Like most Royal Navy ships Puncher is affiliated with various organisations and a port, these are shown below (Correct as of July 2013):

Borough of Eastbourne

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

The Worshipful Company of Bakers

Moira House Girls School

Eastbourne

HMS Westminster

HMS Talent

TS Dundas (Harrow and Wembley Sea Cadet unit)

Shiplake College CCF