University Royal Naval Unit
Encyclopedia
A University Royal Naval Unit (URNU) is a Royal Navy
training establishment connected to a university, or a number of universities concentrated in one area. There are 14 URNUs nationwide in the UK, and each URNU has land-based facilities near the university in question, up to four training officers (members of the Royal Naval Reserve
) and a dedicated training vessel (an Archer-class
P2000 fast patrol boat).
URNU ships are part of the 1st Patrol Boat Squadron, 1PBS. 1PBS is commanded by Commander 1PBS, who is also Commander URNU. The mission statement of 1PBS is to provide high-quality Sea Training experiences in support of the URNU mission and to deliver P2000 operational capability in support of other Fleet tasking.
or Royal Marines
after graduation (although a significant proportion of the Royal Navy
's new officer intake each year comes from the URNUs). Even if the students do not choose to join the Navy afterwards, they will take away a greater understanding of modern naval forces with them into civilian life.
While the URNUs are commanded by Commander URNU (also Commander 1PBS) they fall under the overall jurisdiction of Commodore
BRNC (the officer-in-charge of the Britannia Royal Naval College
, Dartmouth. Each URNU is commanded by a Lieutenant RN or a Lt Cdr who also takes command of the unit's P2000. Each URNU comprises 51 undergraduates who join for the duration of their degree, with the option of taking years out or leaving at any time.
Undergraduates join for three years, or in some cases the duration of their course. Members hold the rank of Honorary Midshipman
in the Royal Naval Reserve. A notable difference between this and other ranks in the Royal Navy is that there is no call-up liability and members may leave at any time.
and seamanship
, and this is put into practice during sea weekends, and longer deployments during the summer and Easter vacations.
There is also a social element to URNU life from formal mess dinners including the main naval social event of the year, Trafalgar Night, to informal socialising in the unit's mess.
There are sporting activities held within the URNU units, informal contests between the units and an annual sports weekend between all units.
External link
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Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
training establishment connected to a university, or a number of universities concentrated in one area. There are 14 URNUs nationwide in the UK, and each URNU has land-based facilities near the university in question, up to four training officers (members of the Royal Naval Reserve
Royal Naval Reserve
The Royal Naval Reserve is the volunteer reserve force of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. The present Royal Naval Reserve was formed in 1958 by merging the original Royal Naval Reserve and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve , a reserve of civilian volunteers founded in 1903...
) and a dedicated training vessel (an Archer-class
Archer class patrol vessel
The Archer class is a class of patrol and training vessels in service with the British Royal Navy, commonly referred to as a Fast Training Boat.-History & operations:...
P2000 fast patrol boat).
Units and ships
The units and their ships are| Unit | Ship |
|---|---|
| Aberdeen | Archer HMS Archer (P264) HMS Archer is the lead ship of the Archer-class. As the lead ship she was one of the few of her class to be completed by Watercraft Marine, the original shipbuilders - most of the remaining vessels were completed or built by Vosper Thornycroft.She is attached to Aberdeen Universities' Royal Naval... |
| Birmingham | Exploit HMS Exploit (P167) HMS Exploit is an Archer-class patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy, built in Woolston by, Vosper Thornycroft and commissioned in 1988. She was originally ordered for the now defunct Royal Naval Auxiliary Service and had a distinctive black hull like other RNXS vessels... |
| Bristol | Raider HMS Raider (P275) HMS Raider is an Archer class patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy, used to fulfil the sea-training syllabus of the Bristol University Royal Naval Unit . Based in Devonport, HMS Raider is used to conduct sea-training at weekends during term-time; travelling to ports on the south... |
| Cambridge | Trumpeter HMS Trumpeter (P294) HMS Trumpeter is an Archer-class P2000-type patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy. It was named in honour of the visit in 1901 of The All American Trumpeters to the UK.... |
| Glasgow | Smiter HMS Smiter (P272) HMS Smiter is an Archer-class patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy.On being accepted into service, she initially served with the Clyde Division of the Royal Naval Reserve until 11 October 1990. She then transferred to the University Royal Naval Unit of Glasgow and Strathclyde... |
| Liverpool | Charger HMS Charger (P292) HMS Charger 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... |
| London | Puncher HMS Puncher (P291) HMS Puncher is an Archer-class P2000-type patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy built by Watercraft of Shoreham and fitted out by Vosper Thorneycroft in Portsmouth.... |
| Manchester & Salford | Biter HMS Biter (P270) HMS Biter is an Archer-class P2000-type patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy. She is assigned to Manchester & Salford Universities Royal Naval Unit, a Royal Naval Reserve unit based in Manchester. The ship is based at HMS Eaglet, the Royal Naval Headquarters in Liverpool... |
| Northumbria | Example HMS Example (P165) HMS Example ' is an Archer-class patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy, based at HMS Calliope in Gateshead, England. Example was originally built for the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service as the lead ship of the 'Example Batch', which were identical to the Archer Class being built... |
| Oxford | Tracker HMS Tracker (P274) HMS Tracker is an Archer-class patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy, used for training purposes by the Oxford University Royal Naval Unit . Part of the 1st Patrol Boat Squadron , the vessel is based at HMNB Portsmouth, and is the third ship to bear the name HMS Tracker... |
| Southampton | Blazer HMS Blazer (P279) HMS Blazer is an Archer-class Fast Patrol Vessel built 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 HMS Nelson Shore Base in Portsmouth and was commissioned in 1988.She has four crew plus a commanding... |
| Sussex | Ranger HMS Ranger (P293) HMS Ranger is an Archer-class patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy, based in HMNB Portsmouth. She is affiliated to Sussex and Brighton Universities' University Royal Naval Unit , which has its offices at the University of Sussex, Brighton... |
| Wales | Express HMS Express (P163) HMS Express is an Archer-class P2000-type patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy.Express was the only P2000-type vessel in the fleet to retain the black hull inherited from the original operator; the RNXS. She was also the only black-hulled surface vessel in the entire Royal Navy... |
| Yorkshire | Explorer HMS Explorer (P164) HMS Explorer is an Archer-class P2000-type patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy.The ship is assigned to the Yorkshire Universities Royal Naval Unit , serving the universities of York, Hull, Sheffield and Leeds. The commanding officer has been Lieutenant Dafydd Bryden since the... |
URNU ships are part of the 1st Patrol Boat Squadron, 1PBS. 1PBS is commanded by Commander 1PBS, who is also Commander URNU. The mission statement of 1PBS is to provide high-quality Sea Training experiences in support of the URNU mission and to deliver P2000 operational capability in support of other Fleet tasking.
Aim
The aim of a URNU is to provide an insight into naval life for undergraduates - however, there is no commitment for the students to join the Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
or Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
after graduation (although a significant proportion of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
's new officer intake each year comes from the URNUs). Even if the students do not choose to join the Navy afterwards, they will take away a greater understanding of modern naval forces with them into civilian life.
Membership
Commodore (Royal Navy)
Commodore is a rank of the Royal Navy above Captain and below Rear Admiral. It has a NATO ranking code of OF-6. The rank is equivalent to Brigadier in the British Army and Royal Marines and to Air Commodore in the Royal Air Force.-Insignia:...
BRNC (the officer-in-charge of the Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College is the initial officer training establishment of the Royal Navy, located on a hill overlooking Dartmouth, Devon, England. While Royal Naval officer training has taken place in the town since 1863, the buildings which are seen today were only finished in 1905, and...
, Dartmouth. Each URNU is commanded by a Lieutenant RN or a Lt Cdr who also takes command of the unit's P2000. Each URNU comprises 51 undergraduates who join for the duration of their degree, with the option of taking years out or leaving at any time.
Undergraduates join for three years, or in some cases the duration of their course. Members hold the rank of Honorary Midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
in the Royal Naval Reserve. A notable difference between this and other ranks in the Royal Navy is that there is no call-up liability and members may leave at any time.
Training
Training focuses on navigationNavigation
Navigation is the process of monitoring and controlling the movement of a craft or vehicle from one place to another. It is also the term of art used for the specialized knowledge used by navigators to perform navigation tasks...
and seamanship
Seamanship
Seamanship is the art of operating a ship or boat.It involves a knowledge of a variety of topics and development of specialised skills including: navigation and international maritime law; weather, meteorology and forecasting; watchstanding; ship-handling and small boat handling; operation of deck...
, and this is put into practice during sea weekends, and longer deployments during the summer and Easter vacations.
There is also a social element to URNU life from formal mess dinners including the main naval social event of the year, Trafalgar Night, to informal socialising in the unit's mess.
There are sporting activities held within the URNU units, informal contests between the units and an annual sports weekend between all units.
See also
- Officers Training CorpsOfficers Training CorpsThe Officer Training Corps is a part of the British Army which provides military leadership training to students at UK universities...
(OTC) - organisational counterpart in the British ArmyBritish ArmyThe British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England... - University Air SquadronUniversity Air SquadronUniversity Air Squadrons are training units of the Royal Air Force which primarily provide basic flying training, force development and adventurous training to undergraduate students at British universities...
(UAS) - organisational counterpart in the Royal Air ForceRoyal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
External link
- URNU - Royal Navy website