The origins of the Archer class originated in a Police cutter built for the Omani coast guard, called Dheeb Al Bahari (1985).

She would be built by Watercraft Marine, Shoreham on the sea, using a moulded glass reinforced hull, for speed of construction due to her hull being of a civilian design. (This would also help in the future for the Royal Navy)

Dheeb Al Bahari (1985) pictured alongside - Circa 2003 (Unknown origin of this image)

She was laid down around 1984/85, launched in 1984/85, and subsequently commissioned into the Omani coast guard in 1985.
Her status is listed as in commission, active service. However, this is unconfirmed due to the ship not possessing an AIS transmitted, so we can’t see when she last went to sea, but we know she has seen seen alongside the base at Bandar Sidab on satellite imagery

We now get onto the Archer class patrol boats.
By 1983, the Royal navy was operating in the regions of 22 patrol vessels, ranging from the large offshore vessels like HMS Endurance (A171), Island and Castle class vessels, to the smaller inshore patrol boats like HMS Tenacity (P274) and the Attacker class patrol boats.

The Attacker class were a 3 strong class and were assigned to the URNU (University Royal Navy Unit), but the navy wanted more vessels to for fill the role a coastal patrol boat and of a URNU training vessel to be attached to more universities.

So, it was at the time they were starting to put an order in for the patrol vessels. The Omani Navy, we're looking for a patrol vessel of ourselves. The Navy probably looked at this and thought is a very good export opportunity and the order for construction of the Omani vessel came in, the Navy ordered there’s to a slightly different design.

Overall, the hull was. Made from the same mould as the Omani vessel. But what the Royal Navy would do was to change the ships superstructure. With the Omanis, they had this three-tier bridge structure. Whereas what the Navy did went for an enclosed bridge and flying bridge atop.

Class Name		Archer class
Builders		Watercraft Marine, Shoreham-By-Sea Vosper Thornycroft, Woolston Ailsa Shipbuilding Company, Scotland


Operators		Royal Navy
		Royal Omani Police
Preceded by		Attacker Class
		Scimitar class
Succeeded by		Scimitar class Cutlass Class
		Scimitar class Cutlass Class
In Commission		1985 - Present

Total of units		17
Active Units		17
Specifications
Type		Coastal Patrol Boat & training vessel
Displacement		54t (53 Long Tons)
Length		20.8m (68ft 3 inchs)
beam		5.8m (19ft)
Draught		1.8m (5ft 11 inches)
Propulsion		2 x Cat C18 ACERT diesel engines
		2 shafts
Speed		25 Knots
		45 Knots (Max speed for hull. Limited by engine fit)
		45 Knots (Max speed for hull. Limited by engine fit)
Range		550nm (630 mi; 1,020 km)
Compliment		5 (Standard)
		12 (Operational)
		18 (Training)
Radar Fit		1 x Decca 1216 Navigational radar (I Band)

Armour		Bulletproof plating (Flying bridge and Forecastle gun mount)
Armament		1 x Oerlikon 20mm cannon (Forecastle) (Fitted for, not with) (Tracker, Raider, Dasher, Pursuer)
		3 x General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) (Tracker, Raider, Dasher, Pursuer)

3D render of HMS Archer (Unreal Engine 5) ***©TheShipYard***

From reading between the lines. The class leader HMS Archer would have likely been laid down post the launch of the Dheeb Al Bahari.

There would be 16 vessels ordered and built for the Royal navy. With the lead ship being HMS Archer. (See table below for the class)

Name	Pennant number	builder	Commissioned	Squadron
Archer	P264	Watercraft Marine	1985	Coastal forces Squadron
Biter	P270	Watercraft Marine	1986	Coastal forces Squadron
Smiter	P272	Watercraft Marine	1988	Coastal forces Squadron
Pursuer	P273	Vosper Thornycroft, Woolston	1988	Coastal forces Squadron
Blazer	P279	Vosper Thornycroft	1988	Coastal forces Squadron
Dasher	P280	Vosper Thornycroft	1988	Coastal forces Squadron
Puncher	P291	Vosper Thornycroft	1988	Coastal forces Squadron
Charger	P292	Vosper Thornycroft	1988	Coastal forces Squadron
Ranger	P293	Vosper Thornycroft	1988	Coastal forces Squadron
Trumpeter	P294	Vosper Thornycroft	1988	Coastal forces Squadron
Example	P165	Watercraft Marine	1988	Coastal forces Squadron
Explorer	P164	Watercraft Marine	1988	Coastal forces Squadron
Express	P163	Vosper Thornycroft	1988	Coastal forces Squadron
Exploit	P167	Vosper Thornycroft	1988	Coastal forces Squadron
Tracker	P274	Ailsa Shipbuilding Company	1998	Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron
Raider	P275	Ailsa Shipbuilding Company	1998	Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron

The Archers would be built essentially in three batches. The first batch was Archer Biter, Smiter, Pursuer, Blazer, Dasher, Puncher, Charger, Ranger, and Trumpeter. All these ships would be commissioned as HMS (Her Majesties Ship) …….

The second batch of ships would be Example, Explorer, Express and Exploit. All these ships would don the moniker of XSV. Standing for auXiliary Service Vessel. These would also be named after a word beginning with EX.

The third batch would be the last two vessels, Tracker, and Raider, being commissioned 10 years later than the rest of the class.

Service Careers

At the beginning of the ship’s lives, they were initially used as frontline patrol vessels around the United Kingdom being training tenders for the Royal Navy Reserve, as well as the University Royal Naval units. and in this guise, the 4 Example’ would also fulfil the role but for the Royal Navy auxiliary service until its disbandment in 1994. After this, all 14 ships then commissioned would fill URNU and RNR roles.

On 29th 1993 HMS Blazer was involved in a fishing incident with French trawlers at the port of Cherbourg. According to the witnesses. Laser wars seized by French fishermen last manoeuvring outside the port and sailed into Cherbourg harbour under French control. Her crew of 16 were forced to remain below deck for about 3 hours and the fishermen burned the white Ensign. French authorities subsequently put an end to the situation and possibly expelled fishermen from each blazer. They were then arrested by the French Navy, and HMS Blazer was able to return to RN service.

In 1998, two additional vessels, HMS Raider and Tracker, were ordered to be commissioned for the Royal Navy as part of the new training vessels for Cambridge and Oxfordshire. Being built by the Ailsa shipbuilding company in Scotland. This brought the compliment the archers to 16 vessels. All being part of the. First patrol boat squadron, as well as being assigned to a single university respectively.

In the post-9/11 world. In 2003. The Royal Navy pushed Pursuer and Dasher out to the eastern Mediterranean. Being based out of Cyprus and forming the Cyprus Squadron from 2003 to 2010. These vessels were fitted with GPMGs as well as Kevlar armour to protect their flying bridge and the gunner on the forecastle. These vessels were stationed out in Cyprus due to Cyprus being a logistical stop for British troops and logistics heading out to the Middle East for Op Telic. The vessels were transported to RAF Akrotiri on the deck of a merchantman MV CEC Mayflower.

In 2005. All vessels of the Example subclass were to change their hull colour. Originally their hull colours were black with a white Pennant number. But now they will be changed to the standard Royal Navy Pussers grey with a black pennant number and white outline.

Since 2010, and the return of Pursuer and Dasher, the Faslane Patrol boat squadron was formed, for the protection of submarines in the Clyde estuary. Pursuer and Dasher would be in this role until 2012 when they were relieved by the newer Raider and Tracker, who currently hold this duty.
In the remainder of the 2010s, the vessels took part in excursions for URNU members as well as taking part in BALTOPS and simulating FAC’s (Fast Attack Craft).

During 2020, Dasher and Pursuer were assigned to the Gibraltar squadron, relieving HMS Saber, and Scimitar as they were brought home to subsequently be decommissioned. These would remain on station until HMS Cutlass and Dagger were brought into service.

Currently, all Archer class patrol vessels are in active service. All are assigned to a University around the British Isles, with some being used in exercises like BALTOPS 23.

Archer (P2000) Class