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HMS Dasher
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Bristol URNU, in common with other URNUs, operates an inshore training ship of the P2000 or Archer class. Bristol's ship is now HMS Trumpeter. But, for 15 years, from 1988 until 2003, Bristol URNU's ship was HMS Dasher and many old members will remember the Dasher with great affection. This page tells something of the story of HMS Dasher. Like HMS Trumpeter she was 20 metres in length, powered by two Rolls-Royce Perkins diesel engines, capable of 21 knots and has accommodation for 12 crew and trainees on board. |
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History
The current HMS Dasher is the fifth ship of this name to see service with the Royal Navy. She belongs to the P2000 or 'Archer' class of coastal training craft and is one of 14 such vessels in service with the Royal Naval Reserve. Her hull was built by Watercraft at Shoreham and her fitting out was completed by Vosper-Thorneycroft at Hythe. She was commissioned in 1988 at Bristol and was used by the Bristol University Royal Naval Unit as the Unit's tender until January 2003 when she was trasferred to the RN's Cyprus Squadron.
The first HMS Dasher was a 18-gun sloop launched at Bermuda in 1797. She displaced 402 tons (bm), was 104ft (31.7m) long, 29ft (8.8m) in the beam, drew 10ft (3.0m) and carried a crew of 80 men. She took part in the operations which led to the capture of Java from the Dutch in 1811. For the last 6 years of her life she served as a convict hulk until she was finally broken up in 1838.
The second HMS Dasher was a 2-gun paddle vessel launched at Chatham in 1837. This Dasher displaced 260 tons (bm), was 120ft (36.6m) long, 21ft (6.4m) in the beam, drew 5ft (1.5m) and carried a crew of 12. She was employed, for part of her career, on packet service at Weymouth and as Channel Island guardship. She was sold for breaking up in 1885.
The third HMS Dasher was a twin-screw torpedo-boat destroyer of the 'A' class, built by Yarrows at Poplar on the Isle of Dogs in London and launched in 1894. She displaced 255 tons (259.1 tonnes), was 190ft (57.9m) long, 18ft (5.5m) in the beam and drew 5ft (1.5m). Her engines were rated at 3182 horsepower and she was capable of 27kts. She mounted one 12-pdr and five 6-pdr guns and two torpedo tubes. She was sold for breaking up in 1912.
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The 4th HMS Dasher
The fourth HMS Dasher was an escort aircraft carrier of the 'Avenger' class, converted from the merchant vessel Rio de Janeiro and completed by the American shipyard of Tietjen and Laird in 1942. She displaced 8,200 tons (8331.6 tonnes), was 468ft (142.6m) long, 66ft (20.1m) in the beam, drew 21ft (6.4m) and carried a crew of 555 men. Her engines were rated at 8500 horsepower and she was capable of 16kts. She mounted three 4inch and fifteen 20mm guns and carried 15 aircraft. She was supplied to the Royal Navy under the 'lend-lease' scheme. She first sailed from Halifax with convoy HX205 arriving in the UK in September 1942. She then took part in operation Torch, the Allied invasion of North Africa, in November 1942. On her return to the UK she underwent repairs and modifications and rejoined the Home Fleet at Scapa Flow in February 1943. She sailed for Murmansk with convoy JW53 but, after only two days, was forced to turn back following heavy storm damage to her hull. After further repairs she was preparing to return to active service when, on 27 March 1943, she was lost in the Firth of Clyde following an aviation fuel explosion, sinking in 3 minutes with the loss of 27 officers and 331 ratings of her company. There are several memorials in the area of the tragedy and a number of www sites dealing with the 4th HMS Dasher's career and loss.
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Java |
1811 |
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Atlantic |
1942 |
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North Africa |
1943 |
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Arctic |
1943 |
Technical Specification
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Type P2000 (Archer) class 20m
coastal training craft Dimensions Length Overall
(LOA) 20 metres Length at Waterline
(LWL) 18 metres Beam (maximum) 5.8 metres Draught (maximum) 2 metres Air draught 10 metres Displacement light 42.5 tonnes half load 46.0 tonnes full load 49.0 tonnes Maximum
speed 25 knots Maximum
complement 20 Normal complement (with
students embarked) 18 Construction Moulded GRP (glass reinforced
plastic), double chine hull stiffened by foam
filled web frames and longitudinal members. Deck
and superstructure of GRP/Balsa wood sandwich. Six
watertight bulkheads. Engines (2) Manufacturer Perkins
(Rolls-Royce) Capacity 26.11 litres Type CV12 diesel, 60ºV, two
banks of 6 cylinders Weight 2.242 tonnes Rating (max
continuous) 710 BHP @ 2000 rpm Fuel Type Dieso F-76 Capacity 1200 gallons Propellors Fixed pitch, outward turning,
0.8 metres diameter Rudders Twin, semi-balanced,
unpowered Generators
(2) G & M Power Plant
generator sets, powered by Perkins 4.236 diesels
running driving 25kW alternators Electrical
power 240V, 60Hz, single phase AC
and 24V DC
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