BRISTOL URNU

HMS Raider

Bristol URNU, in common with other URNUs, operates an inshore training ship of the P2000 or Archer class. Bristol's ship is HMS Raider; she is 20 metres in length, powered by two MTU diesel engines, capable of 24 knots and has accommodation for 12 crew and trainees on board. HMS Raider is a "batch 2" P2000, built in 1998, and equipped with more powerful engines than the 14 batch 1 ships.   In addition to the Officer-in-Charge of the URNU, who is also HMS Raider 's Captain, the ship has a crew of four Royal Navy personnel. The craft's primary peacetime role is to give members of the Unit training in navigation, operations and seamanship. She has a number of subsidiary roles including support to Flag Officer Sea Training, Small Ship Navigator training and the provision of sea experience for members of the Combined Cadet Forces and Sea Cadet Corps.

History

   The current HMS Raider is the third 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 16 such vessels in service with the Royal Naval Reserve.

   The first HMS Raider was one of a class of 62 destroyers built between 1916 and 1917 for the Royal Navy. She was built by Swan Hunter and launched on 17 July 1916. HMS Raider was of 991 tonnes displacement, 276 ft (84 m) in length, 26 ft 9 in (8.15 m) in the beam, 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) draught. Her maximum speed was 36 knots and she had a crew of 82. Her armament comprised three QF 4-inch Mark IV guns, one single 2 pdr pom-pom MkII AA and four 21 in torpedo tubes.

   The R class destroyers were an improvement, specifically in the area of fuel economy, of the earlier M-class destroyers. The most important difference was that the Admiralty 'R' class had two shafts and geared turbines, compared with the three shafts and direct turbines of the Admiralty 'M' class, but in appearance the 'R' class could be distinguished from its predecessors by having the after 4-inch gun mounted in a bandstand. The Admiralty ordered the first two of this class of ships in May 1915. Another seventeen were ordered in July 1915, a further eight in December 1915, and a final twenty-three in March 1916 (of which eleven were to a slightly modified design). They were the last three-funnelled destroyers ordered by the Royal Navy. All of the class saw extensive service in World War I.

   After the end of WWI HMS Raider was sold for breaking up on 29 April 1927.

   The second HMS Raider was an R or Rotherham class destroyer ordered as part of the 4th Emergency Flotilla from Cammell Laird at Birkenhead on 2nd April 1940. The ship was laid down on 16th April 1941 but construction was delayed during May 1940 and did not recommence until September because of the priority given to repair of destroyers during operations off Norway and in the Channel. Raider was launched on 1st April 1942 and build was completed on 16th November 1942. HMS Raider displaced 1705 tons, was powered by two Admiralty 3-drum type boilers providing a top speed of 34 knots and was armed with four 4.7 inch guns, four 2 pdr pom-pom guns, eight 20 mm anti-aircraft guns and eight 21 inch torpedo tubes.   

   On commissioning, HMS Raider took part in covering operations for several Russian convoys. From March to June 1943 she was deployed to the Indian Ocean. In July 1943 she took part in Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily. She remained in the Mediterranean for the rest of 1943, taking part in the Salerno landings amongst other operations. In January 1944 she joined the Eastern Fleet in Trincomalee. Throughout 1944 she was involved in operations in the Indian Ocean and East Indies. In 1945 she was involved in the retaking of Burma and the planned operations to retake Malaya.

   After the Japanese surrender HMS Raider returned to UK via Trincomalee and was placed in Reserve at Devonport in January 1946. She was recommissioned for service in the Mediterranean on 6th May 1946 and was extensively deployed for plane guard duties with aircraft carriers. She returned to UK in August 1947 and was again reduced to Reserve status. In 1949 she was sold to the Indian Navy where she served as INS Rana until 1976, being finally sold for breaking up in 1979.