Introduction

The Faslance Patrol Boat Squadron forms part of the First Patrol Boat Squadron, which is part of the Surface Fleet of the Royal Navy, the maritime component of the British Armed Forces.

What is the Role of the Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron?

The Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron provides Force Protection in and around Faslane and on the River Clyde, Scotland.

What is the Aim of the Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron?

The principle aim is to help safeguard Britain’s nuclear fleet.

Where is the Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron Based?

The Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron is based at Her Majesty’s Naval Base (HMNB) Clyde.

When was the Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron Formed?

The Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron was formed in March 2010.

Commander Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron

The Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron forms part of the First Patrol Boat Squadron which is led by a Commander (OF-4).

In April 2012, Sue Moore became the first female commander of the squadron (Hopkins, 2012; Moore, 2018).

Organisation of the Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron

The Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron is composed of:

• A headquarters element.
• HMS Raider (P275):
  • Commanded by a Lieutenant (OF-2) (Royal Navy, 2016).
  • The present HMS Raider is a glass reinforced plastic Archer Class Fast Patrol Boat.
  • She was commissioned alongside her sister ship HMS Tracker in 1998.
  • Raider, formerly of Cambridge University Royal Naval Unit (URNU), became Bristol URNU’s training ship in Summer 2010, superseding HMS Trumpeter.
  • In October 2012, she joined the Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron to replace HMS Dasher, which returned to Bristol URNU (Royal Navy, 2013).
  • The third vessel to be named Raider.
• HMS Tracker (P274):
  • Commanded by a Lieutenant (OF-2).
  • Commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1998 alongside her sister HMS Raider.
  • HMS Tracker replaced the Oxford URNU’s previous training craft, Loyal Chancellor.
  • In October 2012, both HMS Tracker and HMS Raider joined the Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron.
  • The third vessel to be named Tracker.
• HMS Pursuer (P273):
  • An Archer-class P2000 patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy.
  • Built at Vosper Thornycroft and commissioned in 1988.
  • The famous greyhound Ballyregan Bob was guest of honour at her launch, a unique recognition of the greyhound on her badge.
  • Between 1988 and 2003, HMS Pursuer was the training vessel of Sussex University Royal Naval Unit (SUSURNU).
  • 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. HMS Pursuer and HMS Dasher were sent to Cyprus ahead of Operation Telic, the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, transported on board the CEC Mayflower. 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.
  • In 2000, the Cyprus Squadron was disbanded and HMS Pursuer was assigned to the Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron, protecting the ballistic missile submarines at HMNB Clyde.
  • In September 2012, her force protection duties were taken over by the more modern HMS Tracker and she was reassigned to Glasgow URNU.

References

Hopkins, N. (2012) First woman to command Royal Navy frigate takes helm. Available from World Wide Web: https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/may/22/first-woman-to-command-royal-navy-frigate. [Accessed: 19 June, 2018].

Moore, S. (2018) Linkedin Biography. Available from World Wide Web: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-moore-09968442/. [Accessed: 19 June, 2018].

Royal Navy (2013) Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron Off To Flying Start. Available from World Wide Web: https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2013/january/28/130128-faslane-patrol-boat-squadron-off-to-flying-start. [Accessed: 19 June, 2018].

Royal Navy (2016) Royal Navy Patrol Boat HMS Raider hosts BBC One Show. Available from World Wide Web: https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2016/august/25/160825-royal-navy-patrol-boat-hosts–bbc-one-show. [Accessed: 19 June, 2018].