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HMS Charger (P292)
Encyclopedia
HMS Charger (P292) is an Archer-class Fast Patrol Vessel completed by Vosper Thornycroft. She is just over 20 metres long and 5.8 metres wide and powered by two Rolls-Royce turbo engines. The ship is based at the Royal Naval Headquarters (Merseyside) in Liverpool and was commissioned in 1988.
She has 4 crew plus a Commanding Officer, and sails with a Training Officer and a complement of students. She is attached to the Liverpool University Royal Naval Unit
Liverpool URNU recruits undergraduates from the Universities of Liverpool
, Lancaster
and John Moores
. Over 50 students attend drill evenings and other activities ashore.
The students may also learn to fly in URNU flying courses or go on a Liverpool URNU organised expedition. Expeditions including skiing in Europe and mountain climbing in the UK. Recruitment for Liverpool URNU takes place each September.
, Douglas
and Fleetwood
, and deployments during the Easter and summer holidays when she visits ports around the UK and northern Europe.
The ship is affiliated to the Cumbrian town of Maryport
and regularly visits the town during deployments and for Remembrance Day
ceremonies.
HMS Charger flies the White Ensign
at events such as the Northern Ireland International Airshow, the start of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race and the Honda Powerboat Championships, as well as providing a constant reassuring presence to mariners in the Irish Sea and further afield.
She has 4 crew plus a Commanding Officer, and sails with a Training Officer and a complement of students. She is attached to the Liverpool University Royal Naval Unit
University Royal Naval Unit
A University Royal Naval Unit is a Royal Navy training establishment connected to a university, or a number of universities concentrated in one area...
Liverpool URNU
Liverpool University Royal Naval Unit (Liverpool URNU) is one of 14 URNUs in the country with the mission statement to 'educate a wide-spectrum of high calibre undergraduates and future opinion formers into the need for and role of the Royal Navy and career opportunities available within the forces'.Liverpool URNU recruits undergraduates from the Universities of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
, Lancaster
Lancaster University
Lancaster University, officially The University of Lancaster, is a leading research-intensive British university in Lancaster, Lancashire, England. The university was established by Royal Charter in 1964 and initially based in St Leonard's Gate until moving to a purpose-built 300 acre campus at...
and John Moores
Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool John Moores University is a British 'modern' university located in the city of Liverpool, England. The university is named after John Moores and was previously called Liverpool Mechanics' School of Arts and later Liverpool Polytechnic before gaining university status in 1992, thus...
. Over 50 students attend drill evenings and other activities ashore.
Sports
Competitions are held with other university hockey, rugby and netball teams and the unit also has a sailing team. The highlight of the sporting calendar is an inter-URNU sports weekend when the students compete against the 13 other URNUs. Liverpool URNU has fielded many successful teams, and had won the best mascot trophy in the majority of years. In 2009 Liverpool URNU came joint second with Bristol URNU overall only losing out to Wales URNU.The students may also learn to fly in URNU flying courses or go on a Liverpool URNU organised expedition. Expeditions including skiing in Europe and mountain climbing in the UK. Recruitment for Liverpool URNU takes place each September.
Sea-time
Sea time is combined with time aboard HMS Charger at weekends, when she visits local ports such as HolyheadHolyhead
Holyhead is the largest town in the county of Anglesey in the North Wales. It is also a major port adjacent to the Irish Sea serving Ireland....
, Douglas
Douglas, Isle of Man
right|thumb|250px|Douglas Promenade, which runs nearly the entire length of beachfront in Douglasright|thumb|250px|Sea terminal in DouglasDouglas is the capital and largest town of the Isle of Man, with a population of 26,218 people . It is located at the mouth of the River Douglas, and a sweeping...
and Fleetwood
Fleetwood
Fleetwood is a town within the Wyre district of Lancashire, England, lying at the northwest corner of the Fylde. It had a population of 26,840 people at the 2001 Census. It forms part of the Greater Blackpool conurbation. The town was the first planned community of the Victorian era...
, and deployments during the Easter and summer holidays when she visits ports around the UK and northern Europe.
Social
There is a social calendar, with formal and informal events which include a formal mess dinner and annual ball.Maryport
Maryport is a town and civil parish within the Allerdale borough of Cumbria, England, in the historic county of Cumberland. It is located on the A596 road north of Workington, and is the southernmost town on the Solway Firth. Maryport railway station is on the Cumbrian Coast Line. The town is in...
and regularly visits the town during deployments and for Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, are also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth...
ceremonies.
HMS Charger flies the White Ensign
White Ensign
The White Ensign or St George's Ensign is an ensign flown on British Royal Navy ships and shore establishments. It consists of a red St George's Cross on a white field with the Union Flag in the upper canton....
at events such as the Northern Ireland International Airshow, the start of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race and the Honda Powerboat Championships, as well as providing a constant reassuring presence to mariners in the Irish Sea and further afield.