HMS Pursuer (P273)
HMS Pursuer is an Archer-class P2000 patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy.History
Pursuer was built at Vosper Thorneycroft 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. Prior to 2003 Pursuer was the training vessel of Sussex University Royal Naval Unit.
Pursuer and were sent to Cyprus ahead of Operation Telic, the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, transported on board the CEC Mayflower. 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. Both were fitted with Kevlar armour and three FN MAG General Purpose Machine Guns, with an extra crew member employed as a Gunners Yeoman. In 2007 she helped rescue the fishing vessel Seafighter3 which had run aground on Cape Zevgari.
The Cyprus Squadron was disbanded in 2010 and 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 and she was reassigned to Glasgow URNU.
In 2020 she was posted to Gibraltar Squadron
